Shevi'i Shel Pesach
Chof
Nissan
Volume
1
Issue
30
The Connections people
Chinuch
Yaldei Hashluchim: Connections Va’ad
Hashluchim:
|
A
project of
CHINUCH
YALDEI HASHLUCHIM
cyh@shluchim.org
a
division of
THE SHLUCHIM OFFICE
The Last Days of Pesach
The Yom Tov of Pesach is connected with the true and final Geulah through Moshiach Tzidkeinu. This is because the Geulah will have many things in common with Yetzias Mitzrayim. We learn this from the Navi Micha, who tells us “כימי צאתך מארץ מצרים אראנו נפלאות” In the final Geulah, Hashem will show us miracles just as He did in the days when we left Mitzrayim.
The end of Pesach: Shvi’i Shel Pesach and Acharon Shel Pesach, the seventh day and the last day of Pesach, have an even closer connection to the
future Geulah.
On the seventh day of Pesach, Hashem performed the great Nes of Krias Yam Suf. Hashem split the sea to allow His people to cross on dry land; the Mitzriyim who followed the Yidden drowned. The Haftorah of the last day of Pesach tells that Hashem will split the river Pras in the final Geulah just as He split the Yam Suf. What can we do to merit the complete Geulah, when Hashem will change the darkness of Galus into the great light of the Geulah? All the Jewish people, beginning with young children, must first change the darkness of the Yetzer Hara within us into goodness and light.
We already saw this at the time of Biur Chametz. Just as we burn our chametz, every one of us must drive away the Yetzer Hara and burn it completely.
In this way, we will bring the Geulah Shleimah right away, mamash, very very quickly. We will then go, immediately, to Eretz Yisrael, on the clouds of heaven. And we will meet all our relatives in Yerushalayim, the holy city, and in the third Beis Hamikdash.
‘The Rebbe Speaks to Children’ (Nissan 18, 5751)
I’m something that is compared to being humble. My first letter is the number of years that the Yidden were in the Midbar.
_____ _____ _____
Please send your answers to connections@shluchim.org
Last weeks’ brain buster: If you take the ה out of me, I’ll be a closet. What am I?
Answer: אהרן
“Hey what’s all that shaking, did I fall asleep in shul again!?” I thought groggily as the Boeing 747 touched down with several bumps.
“Where am I?” I rubbed my eyes awake. Oh that’s right! How could I forget, of course, of course, didn’t I tell you? You mean I didn’t tell you? Mrs. Getzel says I’ve been clumsy lately, I even misplaced one of my most expensive lenses that took me several years to wait for the glue to finish drying before I could use it. Then I managed to find it, in the most unimaginable place. Behind my green roofed house there is a small shed where I keep my succah. When I cleaned it before Pesach, just to make sure there was no chometz there, there sandwiched between two boards was this invention – flat as a pancake.
Well where was I, oh that’s right. I was telling you that I had forgotten to tell you (since I’ve been so clumsy lately) why I’ve been so busy lately.
Well let’s see, it’s been quite some time now. It all started with a phone call on my ultrasonic-satellite-wave-transmitter. It was Dr. Mabbit from Eretz Yisroel. He had recently become frum through one of the shluchim in Eretz Yisroel and was very interested in what Chassidus teaches. He had a shiur in Chassidus every day for an hour-and-a-half before davening, which he does with tremendous kavanah.
So there I was, on Chol Hamo’ed, in Eretz Yisroel visiting Dr. Mabbit and learning with him as well. Mrs. Getzel had packed me lots and lots of Matzah and chicken and potatoes (well there’s not much we can eat on Pesach) because I’m extra careful with what and where I eat on Pesach. I also brought along Ma’amorim from the Rabbeim which discuss the inside stuff about Pesach.
We were working on a new lens together, and we figured that Eretz Yisroel has the right air for creating such an invention. This new lens would give a whole new look to the world. You have to put it on right when you wake up in the morning and wear it for an entire day.
The problem we had was that it was too big to wear all day without bumping into other people. Yet this lens has a special seeing device that lets you see how Hashem is constantly creating the world again and again every second of the day! It shows how the great light of Hashem changes into trees, water, land and people! It was an amazing invention and we even got a patent. Yet who could wear it all day?
Finally we had a solution! We made it invisible! We called it a Perspective-Lens and sent it out via express mail to all Tzeirei Hashluchim around the world. Because it is invisible we put it in invisible envelopes. I hope you got it.
I keep mine on all day because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to find it! Have you ever tried looking for something invisible? Mrs. Getzel is glad that this invention won’t take up place in her crowded kitchen.
Dr. Getzel
Leaving מצרים Every Day
One of the 12 פסוקים תורה we say is:
”בכל דור ודור חייב אדם לראות את עצמו כאילו הוא יצא ממצרים“
“In every generation one must look upon himself as if he personally had gone out of מצרים"
Why? What is so special about פסח that we are supposed to feel as if we are leaving מצרים every day of our lives?
There are a few answers:
1. The Jews that left מצרים are our great-great-great-great grandfathers. If ה‘ had not taken them out of מצרים, we would still be there today. So every day we thank ה‘ for this freedom and we promise ה‘ to use our freedom for good things - to serve ה‘.
2. מצריםwas the first גלות and גאולה. Unfortunately, it wasn't the last. There have been other גליות since then. In fact, we are now in a very long גלות and we are waiting eagerly for the גאולה.
מצרים wasn't only the first of the גליות, but it's also the root of all גליות. The story of the גאולה from מצרים is not just a story; it has in it many important hints for us about our own גלות and גאולה.
Can you think of some hints?
What did the Jews do when times were hard? They davenned to ה‘.
When ה‘ sent a leader who promised them that they would be redeemed, did they mock him? No, they believed in what he said.
When ה‘ told them to take a sheep and sacrifice it, did they listen? Yes, they listened without hesitation.
Did ה‘ punish those who persecuted the Jews? Yes, they got every last bit of punishment they deserve.
Our חכמים teach us that בנ“י were redeemed because of their strong unwavering אמונה in ה‘, and it will be our אמונה in ה‘ that will cause us to be freed from our גלות.
This is why we have to review the story again every year during Pesach, and think about it every day. The story of Pesach is full with little clues, as to how we are supposed to deal with our גלות today. All the lessons we learn from Pesach are relevant every day of the year.
Yisrolik Kievman, age 10
Liverpool, England
My name is Yisrolik Kievman and I am 10.
I live in Liverpool, England.
Our house is the Chabad house.
My parents organize lots of Shiurim and activities.
My favorite programs are Purim and Shul in our house.
I help make Mishloach Manos and lots more.
I go to school in Manchester.
I have a Rebbe picture collection.
My shluchim friends are Mendel, Yankie and Levi Jaffe from Bowdon and Mendel Chein from Cheadle.
I am very proud to be a shliach.
___________________________________
Ahuva Rosa Kittner, age 11
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hi , My name is Ahuva Rosa Kittner and I am a shlucha in Milwaukee,Wisconsin.
There are all sorts of languages spoken here. I can speak Russian, English, and Hebrew. We have a big Chabad House that used to be a big house. My parents are both teachers, my mother teaches at a nursery school for little Jewish kids and my Tatty teaches Russian Jews about Yiddishkeit.
I like the camps for shluchos in the U.S.A. I go to three good camps. I don't go to a Lubavitcher school but I do help them learn more about what life is like being a shlucha. I have a few friends that are on shlichus.
My family never gets bored because we have a big family.
I am super glad that I am shlucha because it is so much fun and I help the world bring Moshiach closer to the world.
We want Moshiach now!
שביעי של פסח
After the אידן left מצרים, they were followed by Egyptian spies, sent to make sure that they would come back. When they saw that the אידן were not returning to מצרים, the spies hurried back to tell פרעה. In a rage, פרעה gathered an army of 600 chariots, and thousands of foot soldiers.
On the sixth day after the אידן had left Egypt, Paraoh’s army caught up with them. The אידן were in great distress. פרעה’s army was drawing closer. The אידן were trapped by the sea.
Some people said, “Let’s fight to the death.” “You can’t fight them,” others said. “Might as well just go back to Egypt.” “We’d rather drown!” said a third group. “There’s nothing we can do except daven to Hashem,” said a fourth group.
But Hashem said, “Now is not the time for תפילות. Keep going!” The Jews were afraid. How could they go through the water?
Only Nachshon, the נשיא of the שבט of Yehuda, was not afraid. He went straight into the sea. At first nothing happened. Nachshon went further and further, till the waters finally reached up to his neck. Then he cried out to Hashem to save him, and at last the sea split. Then the אידן went across the water as if on dry land. The Egyptians chased after them, but suddenly, the water closed in on them, and drowned them all!
Crossing the sea, the אידן experienced great ניסים and revelations. Even a maidservant saw things that the greatest נביאים would never witness.
The
אידן
visibly saw how
ה‘
was taking care of them, and were filled with gratitude. Every year,
we relive that experience, on
שביעי
של פסח.
Just as the
אידן
crossed the
ים סוף
throughout the night, many people stay up learning Torah all night on
this Yom Tov; and in return,
ה‘
pours His blessings down on His people.
אחרון של פסח
On the last day
of
פסח,
אחרון של פסח,
the idea of
גאולה
is at its strongest.
In the הפטרה, we read about the coming of Moshiach, and the way the world will be when that happens. “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the young kid.... For the earth will be full of knowledge of ה‘ as the waters cover the sea.”
On this day of Yom Tov, the בעל שם טוב used to eat three meals. He called the third meal, eaten in the afternoon, משיח סעודה. This is because the light of משיח shines strongly and openly at this time. At this meal we eat Matzah and drink four cups of wine (or grape juice) just like we did at the Seder. The four cups of wine remind us of the four different ways Hashem promised to take us out of גלות.
The first days of Pesach celebrate our redemption from גלות in מצרים with משה רבינו. The last day of Pesach, אחרון של פסח, is the Yom Tov of Moshiach who will take us out of גלות forever. (Adapted from Tzivos Hashem Newsletter)
‘והגדת
לבנך’
This story
was told by a
איד
(not a Lubavitcher Chassid) living in B’nei
Brak, Israel. We’ll call him Reb Yitzchok.
He was born in Paris a few years after the Second World War ended, an
only child, born when his parents were already older. When he was still
young they moved to Yerushalayim. At a young age he realized that there
was some kind of secret about his birth, though his parents never spoke
about it.
It was not until Reb Yitzchok was 24 years old, a short while before he
got married, that his father told him this story:
During the war his parents fled from Poland to Tashkent in Russia where
they met a lot of Lubavitcher Chassidim. They admired the Chassidim a
lot for their Mesiras Nefesh, their willingness to help others, their
kavana in davening and most of all their Mesiras Nefesh for chinuch of
Jewish children.
When the war ended, his father was already 50 and his mother was about
40. They had been married for over 20 years and didn’t have any
children. They left Russia for Paris where they found many fellow
refugees, among them a large group of Lubavitchers, some of whom they
knew from Tashkent.
One day, soon after they arrived in Paris, his father heard from one of
his Chabad friends that an important visitor had come to the city –
Rabbi Schneerson [the Rebbe], the son-in-law of the Frierdiker Rebbe. He
had come from New York to Paris to meet his mother after she arrived
from Russia.
Reb Yitzchok’s father met with the Rebbe from time to time in Shul and
discussed Torah matters with him. He got much pleasure from these talks.
When they first met, it was close to Pesach. During their conversation,
Rabbi Schneerson asked his father about his family. He began to cry and
said that he had no children. Rabbi Schneerson took his father’s hand
warmly and said, “With Hashem’s help, next year on Pesach you will be
able to fulfill the Mitzvah of ‘והגדת
לבנך’ -
‘And you shall tell it [the story of Pesach] to
your son (children).’”
Reb Yitzchok was born 10 months later. On the night of the Seder, he was
two months old. With tremendous emotion his father fulfilled the Mitzvah
of, “And you shall tell it [the story of Pesach] to your son
(children).”
Reb Yitzchok remembers that the Seder night was always a very special
and emotional time in his house. His father used to carefully answer any
questions he had and explain everything with great patience and detail.
It was only after his father told him the story of how he was born that
he understood why the Seder was always so special.
Reb Yitzchok’s daughter is married to a Yeshiva student from Lakewood,
New Jersey. On Pesach, a few years ago, she was due to give birth. Reb
Yitzchok, his wife and his children traveled to New Jersey to help and
be with her for Pesach.
On the first Shabbos there, he told my son-in-law that he wanted to see
the Lubavitcher Rebbe. His son-in-law told him that on Sunday the Rebbe
“gives out dollars.” Anyone could come at that time.
They arranged a ride into Brooklyn for that Sunday. When they got to
Crown Heights, to “770,” Reb Yitzchok was shocked to see the length of
the line. There were thousands of people. He and his son stood for about
5 hours. During those five hours, Reb Yitzchok managed to tell him – for
the first time – the wondrous story about his birth. His son was very
moved. Now he understood why Reb Yitzchok really wanted to see the Rebbe.
It was around 5:00. they arrived at the place near where the Rebbe gives
out dollars and Reb Yitzchok could see the Rebbe’s face. Looking at the
Rebbe had a tremendous impact on him. The Rebbe’s energy, despite the
fact that he had been standing for so many hours giving dollars to
thousands of people, was amazing.
People passed by quickly. Reb Yitzchok hadn’t prepared anything to say.
He only wanted to see the Rebbe one time. It would be his way of
thanking the Rebbe.
His turn came quickly. His son went before him. The Rebbe gave him a
dollar and told him, “ברכה
והצלחה”.
Then he asked the boy in Yiddish, “Are you ready to ask the
מה נשתנה?”
His son answered that he was and the Rebbe gave him another dollar,
saying with a smile, “This is for the
מה נשתנה.”
Then the Rebbe gave Reb Yitzchok a dollar and told him, “ברכה
והצלחה.” The Rebbe
gave him another dollar and said, “This is for the explanation of the
מה נשתנה.”
Suddenly, the Rebbe looked closely at him and, with a very big smile, he
said, “And this is for the ‘והגדת
לבנך’.”
Reb Yitzchok doesn’t remember what happened next. He only knows that a
moment later he found himself outside, overcome with emotion. He was
told that he had stood there in front of the Rebbe motionless until
someone had led him out.
We'd love to hear
your feedback! Send us your comments, ideas and suggestions to: connections@shluchim.org
Click
here for a printable version of Connections Pesach in PDF format