 |
| 
A
project of The Shluchim Office
|
| *Please
note: If the Connections becomes wider than your screen,
click the refresh button and it should return to normal size. |
| English
Printable version
|
|
|
|
| Parshas
Vayakhel
Chof Gimmel Adar Alef 5765
|
Volume
1
Issue 22 |
|
PARSHAS
VAYAKHEL
The afternoon school buses were running very late because of the stormy
weather, so Yehoshua and Chaim were glad when their teacher offered
them a ride home.
“Come on, boys," Rabbi Davidson called. "I go right
past your houses, and the quicker you get home in this weather, the
better."
“Thank you, Rabbi," said Yehoshua as the boys got in the
car. "We really appreciate your offer. Actually, I'm very happy
because I wanted to ask you a question."
“Go right ahead, Yehoshua," said Rabbi Davidson.
Yehoshua looked down bashfully. "I didn't ask you in class because
I didn't want to announce to everyone what we were doing. You see, Chaim
and I have decided to do something extra in honor of Yud-Alef Nissan,
besides what the school is doing. Every day, we say the Chitas together."
Rabbi Davidson was extremely pleased. "I'm very proud of you boys,"
he beamed. "Now what was your question?"
“Well, while we were studying the Chumash, we realized that this
parshah is repeating everything we read two weeks ago in Parshas Terumah.
In Parshas Terumah, the Torah tells us that HaShem commands the Jewish
people to build the Mishkan, and in Parshas Vayakhel, the Torah tells
us that the Jews built it, repeating the details again."
Rabbi Davidson explained. "You're right, Yehoshua. But the two
parshiyos are not really the same. You see, all mitzvos contain two
steps. First, there is HaShem's commandment - the mitzvah as it exists
in HaShem's wisdom. When Moshe Rabbeinu was on Har Sinai, HaShem taught
him about the Mishkan and its keilim. And HaShem told Moshe to build
the Mishkan "as you were shown on the mountain," meaning that
the Mishkan should have this same holiness. This is what Parshas Terumah
teaches us.
"But HaShem's commandment from Above is not enough. The most important
part of a mitzvah is when a Jew actually fulfills it. This is what building
the Mishkan was all about - making a dwelling place for HaShem's holiness
here in this world. It is the same with every mitzvah. Actually carrying
out HaShem's will, doing the mitzvos, brings down His holiness into
this world. This is what Parshas Vayakhel tells us about.
From ‘Please tell me what the Rebbe Said’ (Adapted from
Likkutei Sichos, Vol. I, Parshas Pekudei; Vol. XXVII, p. 205)
|
|
Last
Week's Brain Buster:
Answer: Moshe (in hebrew letters)
Parshas
Vayakhel My
head and tail is Adam’s son. My middle is the number of Luchos
that Hashem gave the B’nai Yisroel.
What am I?
Please
send your answers to connections@shluchim.org
Congratulations to Chaya Mushka Kalmanson, 9, from Mason, OH for solving
the brain buster.
|
Chodesh Adar
Adar is a happy month. Actually, we should be happy
all year long. Happiness helps us get done what needs to be done.
When we are happy, we have more energy and want to do good things.
This is important all of the time. But in Adar we are extra happy.
Our Chachomim teach us that as soon as Adar begins, Simcha is increased.
Why is Adar such a happy time? Haman wanted to kill the Yidden, and
looked for a good time to do this. He finally decided on Adar, because
he thought that Hashem might not protect the Jews as much during Adar
as during other months. Haman did not realize that the exact opposite
was true! Hashem protects the Yidden even more during Adar, and Hashem
did not let Haman carry out his evil plan.
Haman wanted Adar to be a sad time; he wanted bad things to happen
to the Yidden during Adar. Instead, Hashem protected and saved the
Yidden. Hashem hid Himself; we could not see that Hashem was going
to save us, but He did.
During Adar, Hashem helps us even when things do not seem to be going
so well. People might think that they will hurt us, but Hashem will
make sure to protect us. We don’t have to worry. This is a great
reason for us to stay extra happy during Adar, no matter what seems
to be going on.
And, of course, this will help us be happy the rest of the year, too.
|
From the Secret Files of Dr. Getzel
Hi there friends from all four corners of the world (How does the
world have four corners if it’s round?). You have landed right
in the middle of a mystery. This morning I woke up, said Modeh Ani,
washed negel vasser, memorized a chapter of Tanya, did my sixty-four
jumping jacks and one hundred and seven push-ups and looked around
my room. That’s when I realized that something looked different.
I quickly jumped back into bed and closed my eyes, pretending to be
asleep. Then slowly, very slowly, I opened one eye a crack. You need
to be careful when you’re spying and I was being sneaky, very
sneaky. I wanted to look like I was asleep so I could spy on my room
to make sure it wasn’t playing tricks on me. In fact, I was
doing such a good job of pretending to be asleep that I almost did
fall back to sleep. Luckily, I caught myself before I fell. I looked
again and this time I was sure. It was a teeny-tiny difference; an
itsy-bitsy change that happened to my room. I don’t think anyone
else would have noticed it, but I did because I’m a professional
seeing and noticing specialist and it’s my job to notice things.
Could it really be?! (dum, da-dum-dum,duuum) I checked my watch, then
my one hundred year calendar. That’s when I realized that it
was exactly three weeks before Purim and my room was getting ready
for the big day. There were smiley faces on the windows and clowns
hanging from the ceiling. A border of graggers and hamentashen circled
the room. There was a big sign hanging from wall to wall that said,
“Mishenichnas Adar Marbim B’Simchah!”
My room really put me in the Adar spirit. It reminded me that Purim’s
around the corner and I have so much to do to prepare. I have to help
Mrs. Getzel with the hamentashen (I don’t actually help with
the baking part, but I help with the tasting part.). I need to make
Mishloach Manos to send to my friends. I need to arrange my Purim
costume (I bet you’ll never guess what I’m dressing up
as. I’ll be so well disguised that I won’t even recognize
myself!). I need to write up a mitzvah checklist so that I don’t
forget to do any of the mitzvos of Purim. And I need to practice my
smile in the mirror. I’m going to be mighty busy until Purim.
I better get to work!
Bye till next week. Keep Smiling!
Dr.
Getzel
|
| 
The
Luchos
“Vayakhel
Moshe Es Kol Adas B’nai Yisroel”
What lesson can each and every Yid learn from Parshas Vayakhel?
Most years the Parshiyos of Vayakhel and Pekudei are read together.
Vayakhel teaches us about gathering together, about the Achdus of the
Yidden. Pekudei teaches about counting the Yidden and shows us how every
person is important on their own and how every person can use their
nature and talents to serve Hashem.
Even though the fact that the two Parshiyos are normally together shows
us that they are connected, each Parsha has its own lesson that it teaches
us. And we see this more in a year like this year, when they are separate.
The message of Parshas Vayakhel shows the Achdus of the Yidden and teaches
us Ahavas Yisroel that we have the Mitzvah of VeAhavta Lere’acha
Kamocha - to love our friend as our self. We can do this because, as
it says in the Tanya, every Yid has a Neshama that is part of Hashem.
This is so important that the Alter Rebbe, when he was putting together
the Nusach Ari Siddur, put Hareini at the beginning of davening, that
we accept upon ourselves to fulfill the Mitzvah of VeAhavta Lere’acha
Kamocha.
This is the lesson that each and every Yid can learn from Parshas Vayakhel.
When we work hard to have Achdus with all Yidden then we will have the
zechus of the ultimate Achdus, the gathering of all the Yidden together
in Eretz Yisroel when Moshiach comes.
(Adapted from Vedibarta Bam)
|
Nechama Esther Cunin
Age
10
Pacific Palisades, California
One Shabbos I invited my friend Dani to my house who wanted
to experience a Shabbos in our home. It was a big privilege for me to
teach her about Shabbos, like teaching her not to turn the light on
or off on Shabbos etc..
It was also very nice to see how she would react to lighting Shabbos
candles. the joy on her face to be able to do a mitzvah and not only
that, being able to stay at the rabbi’s house. She was also observing
how a Chabad family lives, do they behave not good or very very good.
So I had to behave extra good to show her that the Rebbe’s Shluchim/children
are warm and welcoming to all.
This
Shabbos is Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Adar Beis
Shabbos morning I made sure to say Tehillim. (Remember to do your quota
for the World-Wide Tehillim club)
I went to shul and made the special brocho for the new month of Adar
Beis. (The bracha can be found in the siddur after Shacharis for Shabbos)
*Please note: In honor of Rosh Chodesh Adar Beis, we will once again
be playing a game with all the Yaldei Hashluchim who are being home
schooled. This will take place on Thursday, 29 Adar Aleph at 1:30 pm
EST. We will send you all the information you need early next week.
|
| 
|
THE
BAAL SHEM TOV SAVED SHAUL - A PURIM STORY
Purim with the Baal Shem Tov in Mezibuz was extra special.
Each year, the Baal Shem Tov would discuss Haman, the enemy of
the Jewish people, and his ancestor, Amalek. "Amalek has
the same gematria as 'safek' - doubt. He represents the confusion
about Hashem," the Baal Shem Tov would say. "We must
totally wipe out Amalek from our Avodas Hashem, and trust in Hashem
sincerely and joyfully."
On one particular Purim, the Baal Shem Tov called up a small child,
Shaul. Even though Shaul was only five years old, he had a sweet
and beautiful voice. The Baal Shem Tov asked him, "Shaul,
sing for us. Show us how to serve Hashem with sincerity and joy."
Shaul sang the song "Shoshanas Yaakov," which is normally
sung after leining Megillas Esther on Purim. When Shaul finished
singing, the Baal Shem Tov asked Shaul's father to allow the boy
to remain with him for Shabbos. "Don't worry, Tatty. I want
to stay with the Baal Shem Tov. I will not cry," Shaul reassured
his father.
Shabbos passed uneventfully, and at the end of the holy day, the
Baal Shem Tov called upon two of his closest Chasidim to go with
him to return Shaul to Lemburg.
Along the way, the small group stopped at an inn. Inside, the
local peasants were partying, singing rowdy songs and behaving
wild. The Baal Shem Tov went into the middle of the room, clapped
his hands and called out, "Silence!" Surprised, everyone
listened.
"Would you like to hear real singing?" the Baal Shem
Tov asked the peasants. And with that, he called Shaul to the
center of the room and told Shaul to sing "Shoshanas Yaakov."
Despite the strange and unusual surroundings, Shaul sang even
more beautifully than he had just a few days earlier in Mezibuz.
When he completed the song, there was a look of admiration and
awe in the eyes of even the most drunken peasants.
The Baal Shem Tov called over three young children who had been
playing in a corner of the inn. "What are your names?"
the Baal Shem Tov asked the three lads. They responded in order,
"Ivan," "Stephan," and "Anton."
"Do you boys like the way my little friend Shaul sang?"
the Baal Shem Tov asked the boys.
Shyly, the boys nodded their heads. "Do you like Shaul?"
he asked them. Once again, they nodded their heads. "I want
you boys to always remember the song Shaul sang and to always
like Shaul and be his friend," the Baal Shem Tov said softly.
A third time the boys nodded their heads.
With that, the Baal Shem Tov took Shaul's hand, motioned for his
two Chasidim to follow him, and returned to his carriage.
Many years passed. Shaul was now a successful businessman and
well-known Talmud Chacham. One year, in early spring, Shaul was
traveling back from a business trip. The journey had taken longer
than he had expected and he wanted to be home by night in time
for Purim. But it was getting late and he still had to travel
through a dangerous forest. Shaul pushed his horses harder and
filled his mind and heart with joyous thoughts.
Suddenly, his carriage was forced to stop. A robber had jumped
out of some trees and grabbed the horses' reins. Then two more
thieves appeared and pulled Shaul out of the carriage. Quickly
the thieves found Shaul's money. Then they wanted to kill him.
Shaul begged them to give him a few moments to say his final tefillos.
They sneered at him and said, "Your prayers won't help you,
but go ahead and do as you like."
With that Shaul began to say Viduy. As he recited the tefillah,
his thoughts wandered through highlights of his life, and he remembered
the day over 40 years earlier when he had spent Purim with the
Baal Shem Tov.
"Amalek has the same gematria as 'safek' - doubt. He represents
the confusion about Hashem," he remembered the Baal Shem
Tov saying. "We must totally wipe out Amalek from our Avodas
Hashem, and trust in Hashem sincerely and joyfully." With
that, Shaul decided to spend his last moments in this world sincerely
and joyfully trusting in Hashem. He began to sing the song that
he had sung so many years earlier before the Baal Shem Tov and
all of his Chasidim, "Shoshanas Yaakov." The song burst
forth from him as sweetly as ever. His heart filled with joy and
his Neshama soared as he sang.
When Shaul was finished he saw that the three robbers were staring
at him in surprise and wonder. He looked at them closely and then
said softly, "You must be Ivan, aren't you. And you are Stephan
and surely you are Anton," Shaul said, pointing at each one
in turn.
The three men looked at Shaul and whispered, "And you are
Shaul, whom we promised to always be your friend." The three
gave Shaul back his money and accompanied him out of the forest.
All the while Shaul told the robbers about the Baal Shem Tov,
his wondrous teachings and miraculous ways. There and then, the
robbers decided to change and become good people.
(Adapted from L’chaim Weekly)
|
|
|
Did you do anything extra to be happy in honor
of Chodesh Adar? If you did
e-mail me at
E-mail me at connections@shluchim.org
|
|
LAST
WEEKS WINNERS
Level
1: Yehoshua Zelig Katzman, age 6, Omaha, Nebraska & Chana
Piekarski, age 5, Hamden, CT
Level
2: Mendy Rapoport, age 10, Vineland, NJ & Menucha Ferris,
age 8, Berkeley, CA
See
the Printable Version of Connections for incredible FUN PAGES on Parshas
Vayakhel!!
|
|
This parsha tells about giving presents. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
There were all sorts of presents given in this week's parsha. As a matter
of fact, there was a present given by every Jewish person. Everyone
got to take part in giving presents for the mishkan.
Yes, the children did get to join in too. They did not have to stand
on the sidelines and watch the adults have all the fun. The children
took a very important part in the nedavos hamishkan - gifts for the
mishkan.
So? What does this have to do with us, now?
Now we are looking forward to the building of the third Beis Hamikdosh.
Very soon we will leave golus and see the Beis Hamikdosh itself. And
we have to start preparing for that right away.
How?
We can get ready by making each of our homes a place where Hashem is
comfortable, where Hashem can dwell. Hashem is comfortable in a place
where people act like He wants. That means following Torah and Mitzvos,
no fighting, and making sure people can tell that our homes are special.
Of course, every person in the house has to join in making sure this
happens. That means that children have a very important part in making
sure their homes are like a mishkan for Hashem.
This is our preparation for the Beis Hamikdosh. Why wait? I want to
see the Beis Hamikdosh right away! How about you?
So, let's get moving! Children, don't wait around for the adults to
do something. Start fixing whatever needs to be fixed in your home,
and hopefully everyone else will join along. It's up to you!
|
|
Chinuch
Yaldei Hashluchim
Rabbi M. Shemtov
Rivky Lokshin
Dabrushy Pink
Aydla Vechter |
Connections
Proof-Readers:
Rabbi A. Lipsey
Mrs. G. Junik
Rabbi L. Zirkind |
Va’ad
Hashluchim:
Rabbi Y. Deren
Rabbi O. Goldman
Rabbi Y. Greenberg
Rabbi B. Levertov
Rabbi Y. Shemtov
|
|
| |
