COLlive Magazine - Adar 1, 5784

ISSUE 16 |

SHEVAT 5784 / FEBRUARY 2023

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‫כאן צוה ה‘ את הברכה‬

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‫בס”ד‬

M A G A Z I N E

HOW 770 BECAME HEADQUARTERS Chof Beis Shevat

Soups for the winter

The Rebbetzin’s early years in Europe

Great ways to beat the flu

Shluchos on the front lines

New sections:

Chabad’s care for Israel’s heroes

Business Digest Chinuch Matters The Inside Track

STARDIRECT 11207 Brooklyn, NY 11225

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PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGE

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Shluchos on front lines Serving Jews in the wake of October 7 attack

Dvar Malchus

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From The Publisher

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Empowering our own

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Caring for Israel’s heroes

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Moments with the Rebbe

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Lessons from gemstone dealers

Letter from the Rebbe Mica Soffer

Chof Beis Shevat 5752

Essay by Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

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Rebbetzin’s early years A peek into the story of her years in Europe

22_ Becoming headquarters The original controversy of 770 Eastern Parkway

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Free for the taking

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Chinuch matters

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From 770, we’re marching in

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Beating the flu

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Power of a blessing

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Teamwork makes dreamwork

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Business Digest

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Meet the author

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Soup for every palate

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Crown Heights Food Guide

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Clay Shabbos candle

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Kids Korner

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The Inside Track

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A voice in the forest

Halacha by Rabbi Shraga Homnick New section on education

Panel of health experts Story by Asharon Baltazar Raisethon profile

By Zev Gotkin

David Nesenoff

Four tasty recipes

Parsha Studio

Fun by Sari Kopitnikoff Music by Sruly Meyer Nigun by Rabbi Yossi Lipskier

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The antisemite handbook

Humor by Mordechai Schmutter

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Then & Now

1304 President Street

by Zev Gotkin

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INSIDE

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PUBLISHER Mica Soffer EDITOR Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mendel Levy Libby Herz Dovid Zaklikowski Danit Schusterman Sruly Meyer Asharon Baltazar Tzemach Feller Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin Mordechai Schmutter Zev Gotkin Sari Kopitnikoff Bentzion Mishulovin Rabbi Yossi Lipskier Rabbi Shraga Homnick COVER PHOTO Aaron Gelis PHOTOS JEM Hasidic Archives Nechama Photography ADVERTISING Phone: 718-427-2174 ext. 2 Email: ads@COLlive.com EDITORIAL INQUIRIES OR SUBMISSIONS Phone: 718-427-2174 ext. 1 Email: Editor@COLlive.com COLlive Magazine is published in print periodically by the Collive Media Group Inc. and is distributed free in Brooklyn, NY. COLlive does not endorse any products or services reported about or advertised in COLlive Magazine unless specifically noted. The acceptance of advertising in COLlive Magazine does not constitute a recommendation, approval or other representation o quality of products or services, or the credibility of any claims made by advertisers including, but not limited to, the kashrus or advertised food products. The use of any products or services advertised in COLlive Magazine is solely at the user’s risk and COLlive accepts no responsibility or liability in connection therewith.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER When we published the first issue of the COLlive Magazine for Tishrei 5780 (2019), we chose for the cover a photo of 770 Eastern Parkway and the tent at its entrance to accommodate the many guests. The article “How 770 Expands - During Tishrei” explained how “attending 770 during Tishrei was just not possible with the annual influx of international guests.”

Each subsequent issue of the magazine featured 770 in some variation or other: 770 with passing Mitzvah Tanks, a shofar, a portable Menorah, a taxi, balloons, and even donuts. We wanted to feature the centerpiece of our world here in Crown Heights, and each image was a reflection of how we view the Rebbe’s Shul in our daily life.

In Kuntres ‘Beis Rabbeinu Shebebavel,’ the Rebbe mentions how “Lubavitch has experienced ten exiles.” It began in the town of Lubavitch and then moved to Rostov and Petersburg in Russia.

The next stop was Riga in Latvia, Warsaw and Otwock in Poland, and then “a few places” in the United States of America, until settling in 770.

The acquisition of 770 itself faced opposition, as recounted by Dovid Zaklikowski in this issue. Local secular Jews protested against the Frierdiker Rebbe’s move to Crown Heights and the purchase of the distinctively arched building that would become Lubavitch World Headquarters.

Despite the challenges, Lubavitch prevailed, and 770 emerged as a beacon of light and spirituality in the world. It was the address people wrote to receive guidance; the Shul people went to witness pure holiness and the place that had a line of people out the door to receive brachos.

770 is not merely a physical space. The Rebbe described 770 as “The house of the Nosi Hador, who includes the entire generation” and the place where the future Beis Hamikdosh will be revealed, and from there, it will return to Jerusalem.” As such, the Rebbe added, its holiness is not only permanent, but grows with time.

Regardless of how each of us feels about the current state of 770 (and what to do about it), it deserves our utmost respect and reverence. We should continue to show up there and be passionate about it because 770 was and remains the home base of every Chossid.

Mica Soffer

MicaSoffer

Mica Soffer Publisher

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THE REBBE EXPLAINS THE MESSAGE OF A LEAP YEAR AND ITS UNIQUE CONNECTION TO JEWISH WOMEN

Shevat 5784

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LEAPING AHEAD

By the Grace of G-d Rosh Chodesh Adar 1, 5730 Brooklyn, N.Y. To All Participants in the Eighth Annual Mid-Winter Conference of Neshei UBnos Chabad Cincinnati, Ohio Blessing and Greeting: This year’s Conference, taking place in the month of Adar I, brings to mind the significance of our Leap Year, and its relevance to our daily life.

For, although our Jewish calendar year has a basic reason of its own, it, too, like everything else in Jewish life, must be related in a practical and tangible way to our personal lives and responsibilities.

The fundamental reason for adding an extra month in our Leap Year is, of course, the fact that the Torah requires our Calendar to be based on the Lunar Year, which is shorter than the Solar Year by approximately eleven days. At the same time it requires that our festivals take place in their due season (Pesach in the Spring, Succos in the Autumn, etc.). This necessitates an adjustment once in two or three years, in order to make

Furthermore, just as the Leap Year not only makes up the deficiency, but also provides an “advance” on the future, so must the individual from time to time, not only make up what he has failed to accomplish in the past, but also make a special and extra effort to go a step forward as a reserve for the future.

In addition to the above, the Jewish Leap Year has a special relevance to Jewish women, mothers and daughters. The sun and the moon were created as “the two great luminaries,”’ but each has been given its own place and function. The moon acts as a reflector and transmitter of the sun’s light. In this way it has a special quality in that it transmits the solar light and energy to those areas in nature where direct sunlight would be too intense to be of benefit.

Similarly the worthy Jewish wife, in many respects, must reflect and transmit the Torah way of life of her husband to the entire household, and it is in this way that she fulfills her great responsibility and privilege of being the Akeres Habayis. At the same time there are areas in Jewish life where the Jewish woman, rather than the man, can make the greatest contribution, using her special qualities to best and fullest advantage.

In taking stock of your accomplishments in the past, you will find much to be gratified with, but these very accomplishments will also reveal that with a little more effort, a great deal more could have been accomplished. It is, therefore, to be hoped that you will resolve not only to make up the “deficiency,” but in keeping with the spirit of the Leap Year, make also an advance on the future.

After all, true progress cannot be limited to making up deficiencies. It is necessary to forge ahead steadily, and from time to time, to advance also by leaps and bounds.

May G-d grant that each and every one of you individually, and by concerted effort through your respective groups, will make the utmost of the special qualities which G-d has bestowed upon each of you, to strengthen Torah-true Yiddishkeit, illuminated with the vitality and warmth of Chasidus, in your homes and in your surroundings, in the fullest measure. May you do so in good health and happy circumstances, with joy and gladness of heart.

With blessing for Hatzlocho in your work, and for happy tidings in all above, M. Schneerson ______________ 1) Bereishis 1:16.

Source: Photocopy of original Published: Letters by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, (Kehot 5739), 299

COLlive Magazine

The lesson contained in this Calendar arrangement is that a person can in one year make up for deficiencies in past years.

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up the deficiency of the Lunar Year in relation to the Solar Year.

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SHLUCHOS

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ON THE

FRONT LINES Shluchos share the challenges and triumphs of serving Israel’s Yidden in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack

By Tzemach Feller

When they called the Sasonkins and told them they had to evacuate their home, right away, Bracha Leah Sasonkin and her husband Rabbi Moshe Sasonkin didn’t spend long packing.

“We threw a few things in a suitcase and left within a half hour,” Bracha Leah Sasonkin said. “We thought we would be coming back soon.”

“That ‘soon’ hasn’t come yet.”

For more than three months, Chabad of Metula, Israel, has operated “in exile,” as the town on the border with Lebanon has been evacuated. Now, barriers with ominous “danger ahead” warnings block the roads leading to the town, and the only ones still there are active-duty

IDF soldiers.

Still, the Sasonkins — and the hundreds of other Chabad-Lubavitch shluchim and shluchos across Israel — continue to serve their communities during this crisis. They’ve seen tragedies and heartwarming moments of hope. Some are welcoming evacuees, and some have themselves become evacuees along with their communities. But all of them are continuing in their mission as shluchim and shluchos of the Rebbe.

Serving a Community Exiled from their Homes Bracha Leah Sasonkin lives about as far from the Gaza border as you can in Israel.

That’s because she lives several hundred meters away from Israel’s northern

border with Lebanon.

But when the country came under attack on the dark day of October 7, it immediately became clear that their little town was at risk as well.

Rocket artillery, mortars, anti-tank guided missiles, and even small arms fire began to rain down on Northern Israel as Hezbollah terrorists joined in attacking the Jewish People. Sirens sounded multiple times each day, and those in border towns had brief seconds to run for shelter.

For a few days, the Sasonkins remained in Metula, visiting the soldiers whose numbers were swelling by the hundreds each day, and offering encouragement and the opportunity to put on tefillin. As Israel struggled

“We coordinated with Chabad in nearby Kiryat Shemona, which runs a soup kitchen, and they cooked meals for the soldiers in Metula,” Bracha Leah Sasonkin said. “We prepared the meals for the soldiers, children wrote cards with greetings, and

But as the war quickly intensified, the situation in Metula became untenable for the civilian population.

Chabad of Metula is several hundred meters from the Lebanese border — “We can see Lebanese people walking around each day,” Bracha Leah Sasonkin relates — and on Wednesday, October 10, they got the call to evacuate — immediately.

With one hastily-packed suitcase, they hit the

road to Afula, to Rabbi Moshe Sasonkin’s parents’ home. But despite being evacuated — and despite their entire community evacuating as well — the Sasonkins realized that their shlichus during this crisis was only beginning.

“What did not change is that we are still in touch with our community,” Bracha Leah Sasonkin said.

“It’s just that now, instead of living in Metula, most of the residents are in hotels in Teverya.”

So the Sasonkins adapted.

They speak with community members each day, and often make the two-hour round trip drive to visit their community in the hotels.

One hotel houses older residents, while others are hosting young families with children. The Sasonkins visit them all.

“On Chanukah, we were there every day,” Bracha Leah Sasonkin related. “We lit the menorah with people, we did mivtzoim, we held children’s programs. People were very thankful; very emotional that we came from an hour away to be there for them.”

More than any physical help they might need, Bracha Leah Sasonkin has found that what her community thirsts for is chizuk, inspiration. “They always ask us, ‘what do you say?’ We tell them how the Rebbe said that Eretz Yisroel is the safest place in the world; that surely Hashem will help. We bring up all the miracle stories,

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now the chayalim could return from missions to a warm meal.”

COLlive Magazine

to keep the logistics flowing to the more than 300,000 reservists who reported for duty in the days after the attack, the Sasonkins realized that many of these soldiers were risking their lives going on missions, and then coming home to cold canned rations — if that.

10 Shevat 5784

we encourage them to say Tehillim and daven for everyone in harm’s way.”

But being far from the infrastructure they built so painstakingly over decades serving as shluchim to Metula has been a difficult challenge. Their home, hastily evacuated, had been left deserted for months before the military recently allowed them to visit — for a few short hours — in middle of the night. “We turned off the water and electricity, emptied the fridge and freezer, and took some winter clothing that we hadn’t brought when we first evacuated,” Bracha Leah Sasonkin related.

“We closed our home.”

But Mrs. Sasonkin says that even more difficult than losing access to their home has been losing access to the mikvah. Built 22 years ago, the mikvah in Metula is beautiful, well-kept, and very private. Many women from surrounding kibbutzim who otherwise might have little to do with Yiddishkeit have begun going to the mikvah each month with

Mrs. Sasonkin. Now, that mikvah is shuttered.

“A lot of women call and tell me how hard it is for them to go elsewhere, how they really miss going to the mikvah in Metula — and I can’t help them,” Bracha Leah Sosonkin says.

“The most I can do is go with them to a different mikvah, but it’s not the same. I keep in touch with them and encourage them to continue going to the mikvah, despite the challenges.”

The few times the Sasonkins have briefly returned to Metula have been stark reminders of the dangers that continue to exist amid the ongoing war.

They joined two levayas in Metula. One was in the middle of the night, as the Sasonkins’ vehicle was accompanied by a military escort on their way to and from the cemetery. The second, which took place during the day, was even more harrowing, as gunfire began ringing out as the levaya was underway, with Israeli troops returning fire

to protect the procession.

But despite the loss, dangers, and challenges, they soldier on.

Bringing Light to the Judean Mountains Kiki Newman directs Chabad Efrat for English Speakers along with her husband, Rabbi Shloime Newman. Situated a few hundred meters from Arab towns, Efrat has historically gotten along well with its neighbors, but the war has brought challenges to the community.

Amid rising tensions across Yehuda and Shomron, additional soldiers have been sent to secure Efrat.

And the mass callup of reserves saw many heads of their families leaving their loved ones behind to defend the Holy Land.

“We have had to pivot to include a lot more support for the community, the many families of the husbands serving in the army and support for the many IDF units in our area,” Kiki Newman said.

From the first days of the war, Rabbi Shloime Newman and Rabbi Nissan Nachshon, who directs Chabad of Efrat, have been visiting soldiers, distributing hundreds of Chitasim and pairs of tzitzis.

On Chanukah, they went from post to isolated post, bringing menorahs, frying latkes, sharing sufganiyot, and bringing a smile to weary faces.

Back at home, Efrat’s community — like communities across Israel — is facing the challenges of life without many of the husbands and fathers who have been serving for more than three months.

The Newmans have

They recently hosted a “Magical Night Out” for wives and mothers of reservists, as a group of mentalists and magicians provided a few hours of much-needed distraction to these women who have become the sole providers and caretakers for their families while their husbands are at war.

The greatest challenge for Kiki Newman has been to continue to host Rosh Chodesh women’s events, Shabbos meals, and shiurimwhile knowing that not far away, our fellow Jews continue to languish in captivity.

But despite the additional work they have thrown themselves into, they have also continued to lead their community, as always. “We are continuing all the usual programming, Shiurim, Shabbos minyan, kids’ programs, Mommy and Me,” Kiki Newman said.

“This is in addition to all the additional peulos for the soldiers and their families.”

They hosted local women for Menorahs and Margaritas. More than 1000 people gathered for

“The greatest challenge is staying strong and continuing to have a positive and cheerful outlook when our brothers and sisters are suffering, while knowing that there are still hostages in Gaza, while going from funeral to a shiva for local IDF soldiers in Efrat and the Gush and then going back to give a shiur or run a kids program,” she said.

But it has been worth it.

“The greatest triumph is witnessing the way the community here have come together as one family, caring for total strangers

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the first-ever Gelt Drop in Israel, honoring the parents of Roey Weiser, a soldier from Efrat who heroically gave his life on October 7th.

They welcomed more than 400 children of soldiers to a magic show.

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thrown themselves into the task of supporting the local families of reservists who have been called up, helping them with their needs and getting together for events to encourage and inspire them.

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as if they were their own immediate family,” Kiki Halperin said.

— they’re doing an amazing job!’ The Rebbe says twice to this person, ‘good news,’” Bracha Leah Sasonkin related. “That was a very emotional regards from the Rebbe; telling us we’re still his shluchim, we’re still on shlichus to Metula, even if we’re not there.”

The Strength to Continue

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Amid the challenges and difficulties the shluchos continue to face, they have turned to the Rebbe for the inspiration to continue — and they have felt the Rebbe’s guidance and brachos lifting them up.

“The Rebbe is taking care of us and we mamash feel it.”

After being evacuated from Metula, Bracha Leah Sasonkin faced the reality of not being allowed into her makom hashlichus. But then she got a message.

B”H

“Not long after we evacuated, someone sent me a video of Dollars. In the video, someone is telling the Rebbe ‘We have regards from your couple in Metula

As she faced the challenge of not being able to bring mekuravimto the mikvah, Bracha Leah Sasonkin got another sign. A woman from Petach Tikva came to Ganei Chabad to sign up her child for preschool.

When she was asked why she wanted to send her son to Chabad, she related her story.

brought me to the mikva in Metula during the ninth month of my pregnancy.

When we were done, she gifted me with a Shir Hamaalos card and instructed me to keep it with me when I was giving birth.”

“The birth did not go smoothly, and both my life and the life of the baby were in grave danger. They rushed me into emergency surgery, and thank G-d, our lives were saved. When I came to, I noticed the Shir Hamaalos card stuck to my shoulder. I feel that it saved me.”

“That day, I promised that when my baby grew up, I would send him to Chabad.”

“A few years ago, Rebbetzin Bracha Leah Sasonkin

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14 Shevat 5784

THE REBBETZIN’S EARLY YEARS A peek into the fascinating story of the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin during their years in Europe.

In honor of the birthday of Rebbetzen Chaya Mushka Schneerson OBM yahrtzeit, we present an excerpt from an upcoming publication on her life spearheaded by R’ Mendel Notik, who dedicatedly served the Rebbetzin for many years

By Dovid Zaklikowski Some 700 miles away from Rostov, in Ekaterinoslav (today Dnipro), lived another Schneerson family.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak “Reb Levik” (1878-1944), the city’s rabbi, and Rebbetzin Chana (1880-1964), like the Schneersohns’ in Rostov, displayed self-sacrifice for Jewish life in their city, and beyond.

Young Mendel, born in 1902, watched his parents struggle for the spiritual and material welfare of the Jewish community. Curious by nature, he devoured volumes of scholarly texts on a myriad of subjects.

Despite his modest nature, like his distant cousin

Rebbetzen Moussia, he was compelled to step in at times.

“Since I was the eldest of the family,” he would later recall, “I was invited from time to time to the offices of the Yevsektsiya for interrogation where they would shout, pressure and curse me.”

In 1922, Rabbi Mendel traveled for the first time to Rostov to meet the Schneersohns, and to introduce himself as a potential match for their middle daughter, Rebbetzen Moussia. In the summer of 1923, Mendel met more extensively with Rebbetzen Moussia in the

spa city of Kislovotzk.

On the way home, Mendel stopped in Rostov to spend a week at the court of the Rebbe Rayatz, where they spent several hours together daily. Afterwards, the Rebbe Rayatz wrote to Rebbetzen Moussia, who remained in Kislovotzk, “This week I learned in great detail the ways of Mendel.” Like Moussia, he wrote, Mendel enjoyed the quiet of the North Caucasus mountains.

It was soon clear that Mendel would marry Rebbetzen Moussia. In a letter to her friend, Rebbetzen Moussia wrote, “I will still be a Schneersohn,

It was just after midnight on Wednesday, June 15, 1927 (the 15th of Sivan), and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak had finished receiving visitors.

The Rebbe Rayatz was sitting down to supper with his family when officers of the GPU, the Soviet secret service, barged into the home. It had already been an intense week for the Rebbe Rayatz, as he had collaborated with other

The Rebbe Rayatz was charged under two statutes. One was religious prejudices of the masses in order to incite, and the

second charge was for teaching religious beliefs to minors.

The punishment ranged from one year in prison to death via a firing squad.

“The famous Lubavitcher Rebbe has been arrested on the accusation that he collected money for the maintenance of his Yeshiva,” the Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA) reported in June. “The Yeshiva of the Lubavitcher Rebbe enjoyed great prestige in the Jewish world, being one of the most famous Yeshivas.

Rabbi Schneersohn holds a position of high regard and esteem.”

A month later, under pressure from Germany, United States, Latvia and others, the Soviet authorities commuted the Rebbe Rayatz’s sentence to exile, and then freed him entirely. “The Soviet government granted the request of leaders of the Jewish population in the Union and abroad,” reported the JTA, “to release [the rabbi] from arrest and exile. It was announced today that the ‘case’ will be dropped.”

Just after Sukkos, in the fall of 1927, the Rebbe Rayatz left the Soviet Union for Latvia, never to return to his country of birth.

Leaving the Soviet Union was difficult for Rebbetzen Moussia. “Despite the difficulties in our homeland, I still did not want to leave,” she wrote her friend. She

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rabbinical figures to stop a meeting that would have had detrimental effects on Jewish activities. At the end of the search, the Rebbe Rayatz was arrested.

Before driving away, he told his family, “Be well and strong, and may G‑d help us to be reunited soon in good health.” The car then sped off to the notorious Spalerno Prison.

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for my in-laws’ family name is Schneerson. The truth is that this is very gratifying to me.”

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The Rebbetzin (third from the right) at a wedding in New York seated next to her mother, Rebbetzin Nechama Dina.

felt that their escape had a dreamlike quality and did not believe it was happening “until we arrived to the other side of the border.”

She found the Latvian locals to be cold and apathetic.

“It is not a nice city, and we are estranged to the people here.” She wrote that they had difficulty finding an apartment and they were all tired, exhausted and, each in their own way, ridden with anxiety.

Rabbi Mendel, uninterested in public leadership positions, left for Berlin a month after his arrival to pursue a university education. Many weeks later, in April of 1928, he received his papers to remain in Berlin and study.

Simultaneously, preparations were underway for the longawaited wedding.

Rebbetzen Moussia worried about when the wedding would be, and what it would be like. Seven years prior, her sister had wed in a simple ceremony without food or dancing, and there was concern her wedding would follow suit.

In the summer of 1928, an aide of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak wrote to a colleague in the United States about their difficulty affording even basic necessities. He added that the wedding of Rebbetzen Moussia and Rabbi Mendel had been postponed repeatedly due to lack of funds and that this bothers Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak greatly, but it was difficult for the Rebbe to openly request that others fund the wedding.

As the months passed, Rebbetzen Moussia struggled in Riga. She wrote to her friend, “Life is boring

and monotone. Sometimes I feel like returning ‘home.’

I would [even] go there by foot. However, it seems this will not happen anytime soon.”

Once funds were secured, seemingly from supporters in the United States, and a date was finally set for the wedding, Rebbetzen Moussia felt her future was brighter. “I am preparing to travel to Warsaw for the wedding is there on November 27th. I would be so happy if you would be able to come, but it seems to be just a faraway dream.

Therefore, I ask of my dearest to remember me, your longtime friend, on this day.”

She wrote of her excitement to join Rabbi Mendel (referring to him as Michoel Louvitch, a Russian nickname for “the son of Levi”) in Berlin, away from

The typed invitation was divided into four stanzas.

The first letter of each stanza formed the word ahavah, love, in Hebrew.

Two weeks before the wedding, Rebbetzen Moussia travelled with her mother to Warsaw to prepare for the wedding.

The Rebbetzin in her wedding gown.

The Young Woman Several months after their marriage, in January 1929, the Rebbetzin and Rabbi Menachem Mendel (then known amongst Chassidim as the Ramash) traveled to Riga, where they remained for close to two months before continuing on to Berlin.

It had taken much effort on the Ramash’s part to convince his future motherin-law, Rebbetzen Nechama Dina, to allow her daughter to leave the family hub. He had opened the discussion several months before

the wedding, and tried to impress how good Berlin would be for the Rebbetzin.

He told her that Berlin was not just beautiful, but that the calm atmosphere would benefit his wife.

“The Germans permit themselves to stroll on the streets,” he descriptively wrote, “with their jackets in one hand, and a kerchief to wipe away the sweat in the other.” He continued, “At sundown, doors of the homes open wide, and families sit together. They gaze at the moon, happy with life, themselves, their spouses and children.”

When it finally came to their departure, it was hard for the Rebbetzin to leave her family. She knew it would be a good change for her, but she feared the repercussions it might have on others. “I am very worried about leaving,” she wrote to her friend, “since our family is very lonely. The house is empty and boring, and when we will leave, it will really be somber. These thoughts give me no rest, but I cannot change anything.”

In a letter dated shortly after their arrival in Berlin, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak wrote to his son-in-law that he needs to properly contemplate the good pearls “that G-d gave you.”

The Ramash did not fully understand what his fatherin-law was referring to.

Many months later, on the Rebbetzin’s 29th birthday, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak explained, “The good pearls are my daughter, your

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Thousands of invitations were printed, with several versions, including one for those in the Soviet Union who would not be able to attend. It read: “Since for reasons that are beyond our control, it will not be possible for them, or for us, to fulfill our hearts or your pure hearts desires, to celebrate together in joy.…

We ask that in one of the synagogues, or study halls, gather … with love and solidarity, in gladness and joy, to join the celebration from faraway.”

As the auspicious day approached, Rebbetzen Moussia’s grandmother, Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, was overjoyed, and wrote, “Thank G-d we are living in a better time, a time for joy… the wedding of my granddaughter.”

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life in Riga.

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esteemed wife.”

When they arrived in Berlin, the Rebbe continued his studies in Natural Philosophy, and after learning German, the Rebbetzin studied mathematics.

In numerous letters, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak pleads with them to return to Riga for a visit. In one letter, he writes, “My dear children, it is time for you to come home. I

The Rebbetzin also frequently visited her parents in Riga while the Ramash remained in Berlin. It was during those trips that she attempted to mitigate some of the changes that had taken place with her move to a faraway city. Once, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak penned a letter to the Ramash describing a vivid scene.

The hour was late, and he had not yet eaten

“My dear children, it is time for you to come home. I am asking you to do this as soon as possible.” am asking you to do this as soon as possible.”

In the summer of 1929, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak travelled to Israel, at the time Palestine, and then to the United States of America. The lengthy trip continued until the winter of 1930. During much of that time, the Rebbetzin’s family joined the young couple in Berlin, and from that time forward there were always other relatives with them in Berlin. In March 1930, the Ramash’s younger brother Leibel (1909-1952), escaped from Russia and arrived in Berlin.

During the next few years, he spent much of his time with the Ramash and the Rebbetzin.

or taken his daily walk.

“Your esteemed wife, our dear daughter, is sitting across from me,” he wrote, “gazing with her large, charming and clever eyes, encouraging me to finish my work.

While Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak was very emotional and descriptive in his writings, the Ramash seldom expressed his deep feelings. His father-in-law kept requesting that he give detailed reports of his days, and in the spring of 1930, the Ramash responded that the reason he does not is because there are a lack of interesting happenings in their life.

“There are those for whom life is centered and

highlighted around the world of study,” the Ramash wrote. “They are focused on the world of ideas, where the central functions … are internal, to the world set in their hearts, and not to the world that is around and out of them.”

With that, he went out of his way to be descriptive in letters to his mother-inlaw, Rebbetzin Nechama Dina. The Ramash understood that in order for his wife to be happy, her parents would need to be comfortable with them living at a distance.

It was central to the Ramash that his wife should always be happy, and in good spirits. He would take time to be with her, go on strolls and spend time together with the family. In the summer of 1931, the Rebbetzin’s sister Chana, and their nephew Shmerel, came for a visit.

After they left, the Ramash wrote to Rebbetzin Nechama Dina that they will surely give a detailed report of the happenings in Berlin.

“Moussia is preparing to light the [Shabbos] candles, and I am ending here with wishes for a good Shabbos.

The weather is good, and one of the most important things, a good mood.”

Dovid Zaklikowski is a journalist, biographer and archivist, his books are available at HasidicArchives.com, and can be reached at DovidZak@gmail.com.

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20 Shevat 5784

Empowering our own

Three organizations in Crown Heights help young women grow in their personal lives and in their Yiddishkeit

By Libby Herz Crown Heights is awash with wonderful organizations and programs that cater to every age group and need in our community. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at three incredible organizations for women and girls in Crown Heights: Machon L’Yahadus, Aliya Girls, and the Helping Our Own program in Beis Rivkah.

Machon L’Yahadus Machon L’Yahadus is a seminary geared toward girls ages 18-25 from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. The girls come to the seminary at all points in their Jewish journey, with some already keeping Shabbos and eating kosher. Many of them were previously involved in Chabad Houses on campus, where they were inspired by their Shluchim to grow in their Jewish journey.

Each of them, regardless

of their level, arrives at the seminary with a steadfast goal: to grow and thrive as a Jewish woman.

Under the dedicated leadership of Rabbi Shloma Majeski and vice principal Mrs. Yehudis Cohen, the school offers a one-year or two-year program, along with a twelve-day winter experience geared towards college students. “The winter program whets their appetite,” explains Mrs. Cohen, “and many of them go on to attend a seminary full-time. They return to campus and become more involved with Chabad and want to devote more time to learning Torah.”

Girls walk into Machon L’Yahadus with unique aspirations and personal goals that often shift after studying even for a brief semester. “During the application process, we ask the girls why they want to study at our school, and

once they begin learning their objectives often change. Girls who planned to study one semester suddenly realized the vastness of Torah and how much more there is to know.”

Many of the students dream of establishing a home similar to those run by their Shluchos whom they met at the beginning of their journey. “The girls are inspired by the Rebbe’s empowerment of women,” says Mrs. Cohen. “They are awed by these Shluchos who are knowledgeable and passionate about Yiddishkeit and identify as proud Chassidim of the Rebbe.” Some alumni are themselves Shluchos today; recently to Eilat, Florida, Arizona, and New York.

The school is unique, as each student genuinely wants to be there. “Many of the girls have mesiras nefesh to come, as their

Alumni remain a cherished part of the seminary. New initiatives to support and inspire alumni include monthly Zoom and inperson classes. Rabbi Majeski leads classes on topical issues through the Rebbe’s sichos, and each month a different teacher leads in-person gatherings on various Torah topics.

Teachers at Machon L’Yahadus are beloved by their students for the countless hours spent learning with them one-onone and in class and their constant guidance. They even make themselves available after hours, helping students with shidduchim, raising children, and navigating life’s challenges. Mrs. Shterna Rodal, the dorm mother, often spends her evening talking with students at their President Street dormitory, their conversations stretching into the wee hours of the morning.

A special closeness and inner bond exist among the girls, and they are there for each other in critical moments in their lives. “When students get married, start their homes, and have children, they support each other. They’ll host a Sheva Brochos, send over dinners when one of

Over the decades, Machon L’Yahadus has guided hundreds of women in their path to become shomrei Torah and Mitzvos and it continues to fill a critical need for aspiring baalei teshuvos.

Aliya Girls In 2013, Chaviva New and her husband Meir received a unique offer from Rabbi Moshe Feiglin, director and founder of the Aliya Institute to establish a center in Crown Heights geared towards teenage girls. They accepted and have never looked back.

Today, Aliya Girls has massively expanded their operation to include The Space and The Girls Loft, each catering to different needs. The programs, geared towards Crown Heights women and girls ages 13-30, are under the umbrella of Chabad Young Women Central (CYWC).

Each operation services unique populations and offers customized programs and experiences.

Additional staff were welcomed to the team in order to facilitate the added programs. For the past nine years, Rochel Deitsch has run The Girls Loft for girls ages 19 and over. Countless girls have been welcomed to her open home, touched by her wisdom and warm heart. Besides whipping up gourmet Shabbos and

Yom Tov experiences for the girls, she also teaches classes in her home, giving the girls a chance to experience Chassidus in an elegant, homey environment.

Hadassah Nemenow (Katz) and Chana Ciment joined the team with a vision to create a space where these girls and women can feel comfortable and be themselves. The duo redesigned the CYWC Empire Boulevard interior to give it an eclectic, cozy vibe and rebranded it The Space.

The Space has a warm and welcoming atmosphere with a variety of musical instruments available and an art center stocked with paint supplies and canvases. Soft couches and pillows adorn the main room while the kitchen is always open for a yummy snack.

“Enabling the girls to come and be themselves facilitates so much opportunity for healthy growth and connection,” says Mrs. New. “Afterschool programs are always happening, and there is plenty of chassidish, downto-earth staff to hang out with. It’s a special, magical place.”

The daily schedule begins with morning davening at 8:00 am for working girls, followed by Tanya with Chana Rachmani.

Throughout the day, young women do remote work in the sunlit, spacious

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them has a baby, and fly across the world to attend a classmate’s wedding”.

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families don’t approve of their journey. Some are pausing careers that they worked hard to establish.

But they are thirsting to learn, and they hang on to every word.”

22 Shevat 5784

environment, stopping for lunch and a chassidus class in the middle of the day. Girls will occasionally stop by for lunch breaks or to make a quick call while others pop in to study with a chavrusa.

Teen programming, directed by Chana Hayman and Toba Kievman, provides girls the opportunity to join farbrengens, spontaneous dance parties, or do

girl to volunteer for one hour. The experience was seared in Sara’s mind, and she realized the need for a community chesed program geared toward helping families with young children. The HOO program began shortly after, under the leadership of Mrs. Blau and Rabbi Benjy Stock.

HOO was established by two Beis Rivkah twelfth graders - Zeesy Gurevitch and Mirel

Each of them, regardless of their level, arrives at the seminary with a steadfast goal: to grow and thrive as a Jewish woman. yoga or art. There is also homework help to tap into thanks to another devoted team. Regular trips and excursions, and Shabbos and Yom Tov meals with the loving crew, keep the Aliya girls coming back for more.

Chabad Young Women Central is providing girls with a joyous taste of Yiddishkeit that is so essential to their growth and it is something that our community is blessed to have.

HOO-Helping Our Own When one young mother was in the hospital for an emergency procedure and her family desperately needed a babysitter, Mrs. Sara Blau ran to school, trying to find a

(Deitch) Heber - and is led today by Mrs. Shiffy Goldstein. “Chassidim ein mishpacha, this is part of our chinuch,” she says. “We are taught to be shluchim and help people who are not yet frum, but we must remember to also help families within our own communities.”

Volunteers to HOO commit to visit local families for one hour each week. In school, they are inspired to do chesed by hearing chesed stories from the Rebbe and other Jewish sources. The program prepares chesedthemed videos which reinforce the fact that chesed is a cornerstone of who we are as Yidden.

Committing to HOO can be challenging during the busy season of finals and

production; High school girls have packed schedules then, but it doesn’t stop them from helping others.

“We empower the girls to say when can I do HOO this week,” Mrs. Goldstein says.

“It may be difficult, but it’s not impossible.”

Besides the invaluable help the girls provide for families, the experience also positively affects them in their own personal lives.

“They become more aware of others, and learn to see things from another perspective.”

Some of the volunteers create homework charts for their small charges, bring in special games and projects, or take them out for ice cream or pizza.

Girls often go out of their way to help ‘their’ families, extending themselves well beyond the hour commitment. “They take extra time on Sunday to treat kids for a birthday,” says Mrs. Goldstein.

“Sometimes they’ll make a cake, send balloons, say pesukim, or make a farbrengen. It’s impressive to see girls go beyond what is expected of them.”

Each week, young families eagerly await the HOO volunteers who show up at their homes with beaming smiles and hearts filled with love. In the true spirit of Ahavas Yisroel, Beis Rivkah’s HOO girls continue to stand out, spreading joy and enthusiasm amongst the children of Crown Heights.

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24 Shevat 5784

HOW CROWN HEIGHTS BECAME HEADQUARTERS The origin story of how 770 and Crown Heights became the center of Chabad in America.

By Dovid Zaklikowski / Photos: Lubavitch Archives

As the Germans began their murderous march to conquer Europe, in Tishrei 1939, the world was in turmoil. No one could have ever fathomed their intentions, and while the Rebbe Rayatz beseeched anyone who would listen that they run from Poland, he at first did not want to leave the Jewish community behind in Poland.

Despite this, with the wheels already spinning for him to move to the United States before the war, the Lubavitch leadership in the United States feverishly began to lobby the United States bureaucracy to permit the Rebbe and his entourage to enter its

safe shores. It took many months—including that the Rebbe realized that if he did not leave it would mean his demise—of haggling, fundraising and logistics, until the Rebbe agreed to leave Europe and then finally arrive, on March 19, 1940, to New York City.

It immediately became national news, “1000 at Pier Welcome Rabbi, Polish Refugee: Head of Chabad Movement to Live,” one paper wrote. Telling of the Rebbe’s importance, it wrote, “Born in Russia, Rabbi Schneersohn was the head of Jewish religious life in that country in 1920 when he ran afoul of the Soviet authorities and was

25 COLlive Magazine

sentenced to be shot. The sentence was commuted to exile after prominent Americans. especially the late Senator Wilham E. Borah had interceded.”

The Rebbe wrote, “spiritual head of the Chabad movement to preserve Jewish Orthodoxy, who was forced to become a refugee from Poland after the German conquest arrived from Europe aboard the liner Drottningholm. He was greeted at the pier by 1000 Jews, including nearly 500 rabbis.”

“Rabbi Schneersohn plans to make his headquarters the United States,” they wrote, noting that from the many Nusach Ari shuls, “his movement has 150,000 followers,” that daven there.

But the question was where the headquarters would be.

Like many other refugees, the Rebbe, his family and entourage’s first stop was the Greystone Hotel on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Upon arrival there, news reports told of the Rebbe’s anguish, “Declaring that 3,500,000

Jews in Poland face annihilation.”

In a statement to the press in Yiddish, the Rebbe said, “You have to be thankful that you have been saved from the terrible fate, but your gratitude needs to be expressed with action.” He called for creating a fund to assist Jews in Poland. He also called for the United States to now become the center of Torah life. During the week a Lubavitch yeshivah was opened in the East Flatbush neighborhood Nusach Ari shul Oneg Shabbos.

26 Shevat 5784

As the Rebbe began his efforts for Polish Jewry, and building Judaism, a committee was formed of formidable Chabad and Lubavitch chassidim, many of them who resided in the country for close to two decades.

Like many other members of Nusuch Ari shuls who felt that they wanted to contribute to the flourishing of the Rebbe’s court, Charles Paston, a longtime Brooklyn insurance broker, offered his home in Lakewood to the Rebbe. Mr. Paston wanted to make his

entertain the idea. But the Rebbe wanted to reside in New York, he told the building committee, and a month after arriving in Lakewood, returned to the Upper West Side.

Tax Complications Uncharacteristic of the other homes on Eastern Parkway, Dr. Robert Kahan built himself an extravagant home in neo-gothic style investing in custom made furniture from Italy, and painting the stained glass windows with figurines and

Without an income, and facing other charges in the death of a pregnant woman who was operated on by another doctor on the premises, he was broke.

He ultimately lost the large home, located at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, to the bank.

The upper class Brooklyn neighborhood with a large, mostly non-religious Jewish population. “A considerable number of Jews who drank deeply from the wells of Western culture… concerned themselves with the problem of Judaism

I cannot understand how you can fight a Jew that dedicated his life, in selfsacrifice, to Jews and Judaism?”

Forest Avenue home a kosher sanatorium but was rebuffed by the local zoning board, and wanting that his large home come to good use offered it to the Rebbe.

“It is in the countryside,” the Rebbe wrote, ruling out that it was for longtime use, “close to New York, and he is offering it for free to rest while we cannot find a proper place to reside at.”

Despite the Rebbe ruling out staying in Lakewood, Mr. Paston continued to

what seems to be Asian words.

On the first floor of the home, which was completed in the mid1930s, he built his doctor’s office and treatment rooms. He was a successful doctor, who while building his dream home and office, was said to be defrauding the government from his taxes for more than eight years. He was arrested and in March 1939 pleaded guilty.

not in the positive sense but in a negative sense,” observed one commentator in the monthly Brooklyn Jewish Center Review. “They sought plausible ways and means of disassociating themselves from Jews and Judaism without too much violence to their selfrespect.”

In March of that year, the Review covered the arrival in America of the Rebbe Rayatz, who had been rescued from

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Nazi-occupied Warsaw.

Under the headline “Rabbi Schneiersohn [sic] Comes to America,” the article, riddled with factual errors, lauded the Rebbe’s accomplishments. “Scion of the most distinguished family in Israel, Rabbi Joseph Schneiersohn has demonstrated in his own life that he is a worthy successor of his greatgrandfather, the noted Rabbi Schneor Zalman Ladier, founder of the Chassidic sect known as Ha Ba D.” Readers might not

subscribe to the tenets of Chasidism themselves, the author noted, but they could surely appreciate that the Rebbe Rayatz, as he was known, was worthy of their welcome to the Land of the Free. “We express our welcome to the Libawitcher Rabbi. He has, on more than one occasion, shown himself to be a devoted Jew, a brave and learned son of Israel.”

the Conservative Jewish community across the street. Irwin Steingut, a lawyer, activist and New York Assemblyman, was a member of the Jewish Center. He had previously met a Lubavitch delegation when they were trying to save the Rebbe, and he heard from his friends that they were now looking for a large home for its headquarters.

As the building committee continued its searches, the controversy over 770 Eastern Parkway was making its way through

He organized with the Nasau Savings Bank, who held the banknote for the home, for the committee to visit. It was the perfect

28 Shevat 5784

location, and the bank wanted to offload it at a steep discount of $30,000 (around $600,000 in 2024). The Rebbe by then handicapped and in a wheelchair would need a ground floor for his home, or an elevator, which was rare to find in a private home. However, the large three-floor home had a large courtyard with an entrance to the basement, which had access to the home’s elevator.

from an abstract idea into a neighbor. Many members of the Brooklyn Jewish Center had purposely left Brownsville, then Brooklyn’s most famous Orthodox enclave—which included five Nusach Aris shuls, behind them. They were not happy at the prospect of a Chasidic court moving a mere block away, ensuring that they would be once more surrounded

by Orthodox Jews with long beards and black hats.

The committee took a

A meeting was announced to condemn the purchase.

Chabad soon purchased the building, but the Review’s news section did not even cover the Rebbe’s arrival to the neighborhood. Murmurs were heard that the Chassidim and the bachurim who attended the Rebbe’s new yeshivah would “bring down the real estate.”

During the summer, the Rebbe Rayatz went to visit the large home, and gave his blessing saying, “May this only be a temporary dwelling - a place of Torah,

The spirit of generosity among the assimilated Jews of Crown Heights quickly faded as the Rebbe transformed from an abstract idea into a neighbor.

liking to the home which had two apartments. One, they reasoned, would be good for the Rebbe’s and the for his daughter and son-in-law, the Gurary’s.

There was also room for an office for the newly founded yeshivah. On the first floor, there was room for more classrooms and a shul. The basement would be good to rebuild the Lubavitch library.

The spirit of generosity and tolerance among the assimilated Jews of Crown Heights quickly faded as the Rebbe transformed

During the meeting, one person stood up and said, “I cannot understand how you can fight a Jew that dedicated his life, in self-sacrifice, to Jews and Judaism?” Quoting the article from the Review, he said, “He just came from occupied Poland, and he wants to reside here in peace, and you do not permit him?”

The man walked over to where the petition protesting the sale to the Rebbe was laying and ripped it into pieces.

It ended the debate.

service of G-d - and soon we should be in the Holy Land with our redeemer.”

In what would become a home not just for Lubavitchers, the certificate of incorporation of Chabad stated, “To foster the spiritual of Judaism among its members and their families,” but had an important addition, “and among members of the Jewish faith.”

Dovid Zaklikowski can be reached at DovidZak@gmail.com. His books are available at www.HasidicArchives.com

WE SALUTE THE REBBE’S SHLUCHOS

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30 Shevat 5784

CARING FOR

ISRAEL’S HEROES

IN THEIR MOST DIFFICULT TIMES

How Chabad’s Belev Echad Wounded Soldier Program Transformed their Mission After October 7

By Tzemach Feller When Rabbi Uriel and Shevy Vigler founded Be’lev Echad in 2010, they could not have realized the way it would grow — and the crucial mission it would take on when Israel went to war.

Be’lev Echad started as a natural offshoot of the work the Viglers do as directors of the Chabad Israel Center of the Upper East Side in Manhattan. They come into contact with many Israeli veterans, many of whom continue to live with the physical and emotional scars of their tour of duty defending the Holy Land.

They realized that there was a need that needed to be filled: a support structure that would take care of every aspect of a wounded soldier’s needs — over and beyond what is already in place. “When a

soldier is injured, he or she is in a crisis—and so is their family,” Rabbi Uriel Vigler told Collive. “The spouse, parents, and children have all had their lives changed in a moment. We assess the need immediately, give them financial aid, and help them navigate their treatment in the hospital.”

concern does not stop when the soldiers are released from the hospital.

Recognizing that the road to physical and psychological road to recovery can take long months and years, Be’lev Echad purchased

Crucially, the individuals visiting wounded soldiers on behalf of Belev Echad are themselves wounded veterans, people who understand what these soldiers are going through in a way that very few others ever will.

“These are wounded veterans who were in those very hospital beds a few years ago,” said Vigler. “And now they’re the ones giving chizuk to others.”

Be’lev Echad’s care and

and set up a large house in Kiryat Ono, equipping it with everything and anything these recovering wounded heroes might need.

“Soldiers come to a place where they can spend time with other wounded

From caring for 600 soldiers before the war, our numbers have doubled in a few months professionals offer a variety of physical and emotional therapy. A chef cooks three meals a day, available to any wounded soldier.

Treatments available range from acupuncture to hyperbaric oxygen therapy for brain injuries to art therapy for soldiers with PTSD. There is a pool, a hot

tub, a gym, and a room for practicing mixed martial arts. There are bedrooms where soldiers can stay and living rooms and dining rooms where they can relax and eat.

soldiers, people who understand them,” Vigler said.

but unfortunately steady stream of soldiers injured in combat, training, and accidents.

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And most importantly, there is understanding, care, and empathy from the only people in the world who can truly understand what these soldiers have been through.

Then came October 7, and the world changed.

Tragically, one of the people murdered by terrorists on that dark day was Raz Mizrahi, who had survived a horrific ramming attack, underwent intense rehab, and had become an inspiration to many other wounded soldiers. She had worked with Belev Echad to help wounded soldiers, channeling her painful experience to help others.

Now, her life was cut short in a spate of violence and hatred.

Families are not neglected either, as financial aid is offered to those in need, and food packages are sent regularly to the homes of the wounded soldiers.

As the country scrambled to fight off the terrorists, triage the thousands of wounded, and bury the kedoshim, the Viglers and everyone at Be’lev Echad immediately realized that their mission would have to expand exponentially.

In the nearly 15 years since it was launched, Be’lev Echad had grown to serve some 600 wounded soldiers and veterans, providing aid and rehab for a slow,

Israel’s Ministry of Defense lists some 2,300 wounded, but that number is expected to climb to 12,500 disabled veterans by the time the war is over. “These

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Originally, the mansion was designed to be a place where recuperating soldiers could relax and receive therapy and rehabilitative services. There is a staff of Be’lev Echad employees and volunteers who keep the house in order and wellstocked. Trained medical

32 Shevat 5784

numbers are staggering; they haven’t existed in the history of the State of Israel,” Vigler said.

From focusing on rehab and supporting soldiers on their road to recovery, Be’lev Echad transitioned into focusing simply on saving lives during this acute emergency.

“From caring for 600 soldiers before the war, our numbers have doubled in a few months,” Vigler said.

“We’re in a race to save lives every day.”

As soon as the first ambulances began bringing in casualties on October 7, Be’lev echad teams began making their rounds, visiting wounded soldiers and racing to help save

their lives. The Be’lev Echad House in Kiryat Ono has been transformed into an acute rehab center, and more and more equipment and professionals are being brought in as the house swells with many of those injured during Operation Swords of Iron.

According to Vigler, not only is the quantity of wounded soldiers unprecedented, but the nature of their injuries are often far more gruesome than those seen in the past.

“Some of the weapons that Hamas is using have not been used before; these are injuries we haven’t seen in the 15 years we’ve been working with wounded soldiers,” Vigler said.

“There are soldiers with

eye injuries, soldiers who lost limbs, soldiers with bodies full of shrapnel. The numbers are staggering.”

Take Amitay Argaman.

Three weeks into the war in Gaza, Amitay and his squad were tasked with investigating an underground fortification.

As they approached, a 220-pound improvised explosive device was detonated. Four of Amitay’s fellow soldiers died, and the other six were injured.

Amitay lost both legs above the knee, and his entire body is filled with shrapnel scars and burn marks.

“Now I’m OK,” he said from his hospital bed. “You have to move forward.”

Amitay expressed the

B

The gifts are great too— Belev Echad volunteers brought Amitay a PlayStation 5, to help him focus on just getting better.

“It’s really a comfort when you know people are thinking about you,” he said. “In Israel, if you get injured, it’s not just you—it’s everyone; they’re really with you.”

Volunteers roam the halls of Israel’s hospitals each day, handing out gift bags of food and other items and offering to help in any way they can. And they mean it.

As the Be’lev Echad team raced to save lives in Israel, the Viglers pulled out all the stops to ensure the organization could meet the exponentially growing needs of those who sacrificed so much to protect our fellow Jews.

They recently held a gala in Manhattan to help fund these much-needed efforts. Titled “Restoring Our Soldiers to Life,” the sold-out event raised more than 4.4 million dollars, all of which will go towards helping wounded soldiers and their families.

Echad is committed to being there for each and every soldier, and their efforts are being supported by so many. Rabbi Vigler says that those who wish to join in this lifesaving work can create their own fundraising page, hold parlor meetings with friends, or simply visit their website and donate.

“Be’lev Echad was born out of the Rebbe’s approach to love every Jew, and to give them what they need,” Vigler said.

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Be’lev Echad will soon fly a group of severely wounded soldiers to New York City to receive second opinions on treatments to help save and improve their lives.

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importance and impact of the visits from Belev Echad volunteers. “It really can make you smile,” he said.

“And people like these— even if they wouldn’t have brought gifts—they come to you; they speak to you; they’re really happy.”

For more information, visit Belevechad.nyc or follow Belevechad on Instagram and Facebook.

As casualties mount, Be’lev

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Shevat 5784

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PRESENTED BY JEM

Special scenes from 770 on the 4th Yahrtzeit of the Rebbetzin obm 22 Shevat, 5752 - January 27, 1992

COLlive Magazine

Moments with the Rebbe

36 Shevat 5784

The Rebbe davens for the amud during shachris in 770.

Shevat, 5752 - January 27, 1992

37 COLlive Magazine The Rebbe receives the third aliyah during krias hatorah of shachris 22 Shevat, 5752 - January 27, 1992

38 Shevat 5784

The Rebbe delivers a Sicha in the overly crowded Shul at 770, Chof Beis Shevt, 5752.

During the 20-minute sicha, The Rebbe discussed the significance of Chof-Beis Shevat and the lessons to learn from it.

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40 Shevat 5784

The Rebbe hands out dollars to the crowd after Mincha to give to Tzedaka.

After Maariv, the Rebbe distributed a special kuntres that was prepared in honor of the occasion. The Rebbe stood for over 5 hours personally handing out 11,000 of these booklets to men, women, and children.

women Daven at the Rebbetzin ‘s Kever on her 4th yahrtzeit Chof Beis Shevat, 5752

41 COLlive Magazine Kuntres Chof-Beis Shevat The Rebbe distributes Kuntres Chof-Beis Shevat on the 4th Yahrzeit of his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, of righteous memory. Over the next five hours, the Rebbe would hand out over 11,000 of the booklet to men, women and children.

42 Shevat 5784

SEVEN LESSONS LEARNED FROM

GEMSTONE DEALERS

By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

Every winter, a red carpet is rolled out at the Tucson Convention Center, signaling the opening of the AGTA GemFair and the annual Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show. Some 65,000 guests from around the world descend upon southern Arizona to buy, sell and trade colored gemstones, cultured pearls, and exquisite jewelry at the various expos.

Observing sellers over the years has provided me with some valuable life lessons.

1.

Begin the day with agility.

As the sun rises each morning of the expo, sellers arrive early and swiftly prepare for the day ahead. They build beautiful booths and get ready to welcome the crowds, making do with what they have.

“Whatever one is happy doing, he does it with agility,” the Ben Ish Chai, Chacham Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, taught, encouraging us to begin the mornings with joy and enthusiasm.

2.

Welcome everyone with a smile.

Buyers come to the expo looking for a good deal, but many of

3.

Don’t forget the VIBs (very important buyers).

We are well advised when we are told to “Look not at the vessel, but at what it contains” (Avos 4:20). It’s worth taking the time to inspect quality.

6.

See opportunity everywhere.

While it’s nice to be welcoming to everyone, a group of people at the expo called the VIBs — very important buyers – gets all the attention they need and then some. After all, closing a deal with a VIB may be worth hours or days of smaller purchases.

To the sellers, there’s no such thing as a chance encounter at the expo. Everything from a chat in the parking lot to an encounter over lunch is seen as a potential business opportunity.

A principal in halacha called “Ikar v’tafel” distinguishes between “primary and secondary” for reciting blessings on foods.

The VIBs in our life - the people we love, the commitments we make, and the causes we care about - should be treated with top priority.

The Ba’al Shem Tov, founder of Chassidism, taught that every encounter we have takes place because of Divine personal providence. Every encounter is an opportunity to learn a lesson or make a difference.

4.

Don’t be deterred by a slow start.

7.

Place your treasures in trusted hands.

The first day or two of the expo tends to be slow, but the sellers aren’t concerned. “It takes time to warm up,” one of them told me. “They came here to make a purchase, but they need time to get familiar and feel at ease.”

“Warming up” is essential. When it comes time for us to daven, we don’t just jump in from a cold start. Instead, we begin with a series of introductory “Pesukei D’zimra,” acknowledging Hashem and awakening our attachment to Him before moving on to the core davening.

5.

Don’t be flustered by glitz.

When my young children toured the expo, they were enthralled by the large shiny stones and the unique ones shaped like

When it comes to closing time, the sellers carefully place the gemstones into velvetlined cases. A team of security guards then takes the merchandise to be stored for the night under heavy (and well-insured) protection.

We have a similar routine at the conclusion of our day. “Into Your hand, I entrust my spirit,” Dovid Hamelech said (Tehillim 31:6). As we go to sleep, we entrust our souls to the care of our keeper, and we are confident that He will return them to us in the morning - for another bright new, happy and successful day.

- Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin, Editor of COLlive.comand COLlive Magazine, is the outreach director of Chabad Tucson, and Associate Rabbi of Cong.

Young Israel of Tucson, Arizona. He coordinates the annual Yarchei Kallah gathering of Chabad Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva.

43

Pirkei Avos tells us to “receive all people with a pleasant countenance” (Avos 1:15).

The commentator HaMeiri adds that even if one isn’t actually thrilled to meet a fellow, fake it: “put on a happy face.”

animals. But both sellers and experienced buyers know that glitz doesn’t equal quality.

COLlive Magazine

the sales happen thanks to the sellers’ upbeat attitude and interpersonal skills.

44

Free for the taking?

A fascinating Halachic analysis of the acquisition rights of one’s property.

Shevat 5784

By Rabbi Shraga Homnick Sgan Rosh Kollel of Kolel L‘Horaah Maasis

Consider the following situation: You are an avid reader of this very magazine, and you look forward to receiving each issue and poring over every word. To obtain this publication which you await so eagerly, you rely on the publisher to drop a copy off in front of every home in the neighborhood, including yours, free of charge. But there comes a week when the wait becomes unbearable, and you notice that the houses across the street have already received their copies. Upon this realization, you now find yourself consumed by the urge to slink across the street and swipe a copy from your neighbor’s stoop, thereby expediting your reading enjoyment.

But would this behavior be permissible, or is there a question of theft? To unpack the question in more precise terms: Are those magazines still free for the taking until someone claims them, or are they arguably in the possession of the folks whose property they are presently situated in until such time as they choose to discard them?

This question has attracted a fair measure of attention in contemporary halachic literature of the last few decades,[1] and some of those discussions seek to present the question as having a fairly straightforward answer in halachic terms: The din is that

a chatzer hamishtameres is koneh; and even if it were the case that this isn’t a chatzer hamishtameres, we could argue that da’as acheres makneh renders a chatzer hamishtameres unnecessary, and hence this is an issue of gezeilah and forbidden.[2] But what do these terms actually mean and would they really apply here?

In a world in which the concept of ownership exists, there need to be clearly delineated and accepted means for establishing or transferring ownership. In halacha, these means are known as kinyanim. One such kinyan is chatzer,[3] in reference to the rule that were an item that was available for the taking to be deposited in your ‘yard’ (or similar property), we would deem the yard to have acquired the item on your behalf and you could now claim it as yours with no further action necessary. There is a caveat, however: The chatzer needs to be mishtameres, namely a secure and protected space, or no kinyan occurs, just as you would only appoint a dependable representative to obtain things on your behalf, not a wholly unreliable agent who would acquire things in your name without taking responsibility for ensuring that those items actually made their way back to you.

So, back in our instance, your neighbor’s

[1]

See further for a selection of contemporary sources. Note should be made that these discussions skew more towards the reality in Israeli apartment complexes of multiple mail slots for building residents in a common area.

[2]

See Reiach Habosem vol. 1 pg. 210; Gam Ani Odecha (Rav Dadon) vol. 1 pg. 530; Asher Chanan vol. 3-4 pgs.

560-564; see also Shevet Hakehasi vol. 1 siman 341; B’maaglei Tzedek pgs. 555-560; Avnei Derech vol. 13 pgs.

494-498; Emunat Itecha no. 108 (5775) pgs. 117-123; and sources in fns. 5, 7 & 8.

[3]

See Encyclopedia Talmudit vol.17, Chatzer II, at length.

[4]

See at length in Yotzrot, 4 (5776), ‘Hagadaras Chatzer Hamishtameres’ pgs. 48-57, and in many of the above-ref-

erenced works. (And cf. Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, Hilchos Metziah U’pikadon, se’if 10; Hilchos Pesach, siman 436, Kuntres Acharon 3; Seder Mechiras Beheima Ham’vakeres).

[5]

For a very lengthy discussion of this question in a contemporary context see Gam Ani Odecha (Rav Sabbag) pgs. 440-516, in which he also cites an array of related discussions and sources in earlier halachic literature (see in particular his discussion of Chabad sources on pgs. 469-470), as well as many additional contemporary sources.

[6]

See Encyclopedia, ibid., as well as in many of the other references.

[7]

See Toras Ha’aveida pgs. 117-120; Gam Ani Odecha (Rav Lieberman) pgs. 377-378 (who notes that this reasoning can serve as a justification for those who swipe their neighbors’ free publications).

[8]

See Gam Ani Odecha (Rav Sabbag) pg. 436, citing correspondence with Avnei Derech; but see the response of Rav Sabbag who rejects this argument.

45

There is a halachic view that the ordinary requirement of mishtameres isn’t necessary when another party is actively transferring an object to your domain, i.e. delivering a gift.[6] In our case under discussion, one could argue that those distributing the free publication intend to gift a copy to the inhabitants of every home they deliver it to, and have thereby been legally makneh it to them. This would mean that the magazine is in fact no longer free for the taking as it has already been bequeathed and acquired.

But this line of reasoning also leads to some unsettled, not to mention unsettling, questions. Because many would argue that the publishers likely aren’t acting with the intent of literally gifting the publication to hundreds or thousands of specific individuals, but rather are casting as wide a net as they can in the hopes of bringing the magazine in front of as many eyeballs as possible, without any particular regard for which copy is being eyed by which eyeballs, so long as they belong to a person who is reading the magazine with interest.[7] On the other hand, some might argue that once the expectation has been created that every home will receive a copy, a person whose copy was absconded with might reach out to complain, and someone might get in trouble for having ostensibly done a lousy job at distributing, which would serve to prove that there is intent for each copy to reach its destination![8] So in response to our initial question: Are these magazines free for the taking or would that be outright theft, the cumulative answer is: There are differing views and it also might depend on the particular circumstances.

Maybe just pick up a copy from the stack on the nearest magazine stand?

COLlive Magazine

property might be legally acquiring the items deposited there on their behalf, without any direct involvement necessary. The question is only - which part of their property? Starting with the extremes, a private back yard which is enclosed by a locked gate is presumably mishtameres, while an unenclosed front yard that abuts the sidewalk most likely isn’t. But what about the shades of gray in between, such as an elevated, partially enclosed stoop?

The answer to this question is surprisingly unclear. Acharonim some 200 years ago began exploring the precise definition and bar for mishtameres, with some taking the position that mishtameres requires a literal lock and key, while others argued that any enclosure would suffice. More recently, some have suggested that there isn’t one objective definition of mishtameres, and the question of where you’d feel comfortable leaving a particular item lying around in your property would determine what level of mishtameres that item would require for your property to be koneh it.[4] So, in our case, if some people would be okay with leaving their reading material out on their stoop, or with their paid subscriptions being delivered there, would that mean that this space is sufficiently mishtameres for them to acquire free publications that are deposited there as well? Maybe!

(With the proliferation of (sometimes expensive) deliveries being left for pickup at various junctures outside one’s actual home, as well as the increasing popularity of security cameras to ward off theft (raising the possibility of a virtual form of mishtameres), this topic seems ripe for a fresh and thorough look from a halachic perspective).[5] Now what of da’as acheres as a backup argument in case the previous one fails?

46 Shevat 5784

CHINUCH MATTERS

Presented by COLlive and the Menachem Education Foundation (MEF)

A question of hashkafa Question: How do we explain troubling events to children, such as what happened recently in 770?

Answer by Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum, CEO and Head of School of Yeshiva Schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: After his daughter’s passing, the Alter Rebbe took responsibility for the chinuch of her young child,

this opportunity for a teaching moment about humility versus arrogance.

In explaining why the Alter Rebbe chose to teach this lesson rather than directly answering the question, the Rebbe said it was to transform a child’s inquiry into a valuable learning moment.

In the internet and social media age, acknowledging wrongdoings and discussing their effects can serve as a teaching moment.

“Every good deed and influence you direct towards children forges an eternal bond between you and them.”

- The Rebbe (Igros Kodesh, vol. 23, pp. 359-60) the Tzemach Tzedek. When the Tzemech Tzedek began learning Chumush Vayikra, he asked his grandfather why there was a small alef.

The Alter Rebbe seized

We must remember that our demeanor plays a significant role in the conversation. Expressing pain about the tremendous chilul Hashem is

appropriate, but remaining calm and thoughtful enhances the effectiveness of the conversation.

Ibn Ezra says that Moshe Rabbeinu was educated in the house of Pharaoh and not in the house of Yidden.

Growing up in a royal home enabled him to have the confidence, determination, and empowerment to transform himself and the world around him.

The Rebbe encouraged us to accomplish great things, but we must keep everything in context. The Rebbe encouraged the expansion of 770. But at the end of the day, one must have Kabbalos Ol, listening to the Rabbonim, the Hanhala of the Yeshiva and to authority.

In conclusion, the most important thing is to turn situations like this into a teaching moment and have a conversation with our children about it in a calm and thoughtful manner.

47

Five tips for healthy handling of phones:

2. S ilence your phone for the first 30 minutes or hour when you or your children get home.

3. T urn off your phone during dinner.

4. S tack your phones during social outings.

Meet the Chinuch Shliach RABBI YEHOSHUA RESIN, teacher at Mesivta Lubavitch of Chicago and graduate of MEF’s program, Kadima L’Chinuch.

Why did you decide to go into chinuch?

I decided to go into chinuch because there is nothing more important than teaching Torah to the next generation. When we instill a love for learning and a connection to the Rebbe with a young child

we impact his entire life, and set him on the path to fulfill the mission his neshoma came into the world to accomplish.

How has this course impacted your Shlichus in Chinuch?

This course has given me many tools to help engage my students in the classroom and have effective parent-teacher relationships, and it gave me a sense of confidence entering the field of chinuch.

What keeps you inspired to continue teaching?

5. W ait until after Havdalah to turn on your phone on Motzoei Shabbos.

- Dr. Eli Shapiro, a licensed clinical social worker and director of The Digital Citizenship Project, from a speech at the Pro-TECH-tion event held in Beis Rivkah in corporation with the Crown Heights schools.

The Rebbe wrote in a letter to Reb Nissan Neminov that one who works in one of the Rebbe’s mosdos

Educational News: The Mesivta of Lubavitch Educational Center (LEC) in Miami, Florida hosted a groundbreaking for their new building.

A Mikvah in the Boys building of the Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh will be in memory of Rabbi Fitche Itkin OBM, a beloved teacher and Mashpia.

SafeTech Crown Heights installs filters in Flash Store on Sunday and Wednesday 2:00-6:00 PM. For resources: tinyurl.com/TECHbklt

COLlive Magazine

1. T urn off your phone while in Shul or davening.

48 Shevat 5784

becomes part of the mosad, and thereby part of the Nossi himself. Knowing that I am the Shliach to bring the Rebbe’s message and teachings to the next generation gives me the strength and ability to be successful in my work and inspires me to put everything I have into my

teaching.

connect with each Talmid.

What did you gain from the course that you use in your classroom on a daily basis?

Chinuch is important to me because the eternal existence of the Jewish people is dependent on the study of Torah, and in our generation especially as the ultimate preparation for the coming of Moshiach!

Teaching Tip

One Word to Encourage Growth

I use many of the tools and techniques I learned in the course to engage my Talmidim in different ways, by understanding their styles of learning and varying my lessons to

by Mushkie Lipsker @EverGrowingEducator It may be one of the shortest words in the dictionary (only 3 letters!), yet it’s also one of the most powerful.

I can’t solve this math problem at all... yet.

I don’t know how to read such long words... yet.

I’m not good at writing in script... yet.

YET.

This doesn’t make sense to me... yet.

Do you ever think there’s something that’s “not for you?” Is a child saying they’re not capable of doing a task? Add the word “yet” for a mindset shift.

I can’t translate this Rashi... yet.

Adding “yet” takes you from being in a mindset of being stuck in a box - “I can’t do this” - to a growth mindset of “I just need more time.” And let’s be honest. This isn’t just for kids. We can all add some more yets to our lives, too.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 1:00 PM on Zoom:

Raising Your Fundraising Grade - donor cultivation with

Rabbi Yaakov Cohen

of the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore.

More: mymef.org/events/raising

For comments and suggestions, email: chinuch@COLlive.com

COLlive Magazine

49

50 Shevat 5784

TO 770, WE’RE MARCHING IN! The Hasidic Tour of Brooklyn has become one of Airbnb’s hottest tourist experiences

By Mendel Levy

Airbnb Experiences is where tourists and sightseers go to find new experiences in places that they visit. Incredibly, with everything that New York City has to offer tourists, the Hasidic Brooklyn tour of Crown Heights by Rabbis Yoni Katz and Mayer Friedman has become one of the top three most popular destinations on Airbnb Experiences in New York City. They were even awarded Airbnb’s coveted “Belong Anywhere Award.”

A quick perusal through the 1,039 reviews of the tour brings up these snippets.

(All caps in the original): “Easily the BEST tour I have ever done.” - Mark “This is THE BEST experience I have ever had from Airbnb.” - Vanessa “The best guided tour I’ve experienced personally.” Aditi “Probably the best walking tour we have done to date in any country and we have

done them all over the world.” - Joanna “The BEST part of my trip to New York.” - Lauren Global interest in Chasidic life in Brooklyn exploded after numerous YouTubers captured elements of the tour for their channels and their viewers couldn’t get enough.

The tour’s astonishing popularity with people of culturally and religiously diverse backgrounds is not only a pleasant surprise but also a much-needed educational experience for people exposed to halftruths about Chasidic life.

“Seeing all the negative attention that Chasidic Jews get bothered me a lot,” explained Katz, “so we decided to do something about it and give people a look at our life from the inside.”

Visiting a Chasidic home is an education in itself so the groups begin their tour with Katz’s mother in law,

Mrs. Bracha Friedman, who invites them into her home on Montgomery Street.

They are served traditional Chasidic refreshments and given a crash course in the laws and traditions of a kosher kitchen and home.

Mrs. Friedman’s dining room table is the scene of a no-holds-barred Q&A session on Judaism with Katz and his wife Rivky. She encourages all questions and responds honestly and convincingly about the intricacies of Chasidic family life.

Then it’s off to Hasofer, Zlata Wigs, 770, WLCC, a Mikveh, the Levi Yitzchok Library, Gombos Bakery, Primo Hatters, and more.

On special occasions, a group will experience a conversation with renowned lecturer and teacher Rabbi Manis Friedman or a Chasidic kumzitz with singer Eli Marcus.

“The real secret of the

51 COLlive Magazine

tour’s success is the locals,” says Friedman. “Visitors are constantly amazed by how warm and welcoming the people in Crown Heights are to them. In direct contrast to what they have been told, they discover authentic kindness and respect in our community.”

Wherever they go and whoever they encounter, they find smiles and openness. Nothing is hidden, there is no suspicion, and the kindness is palpable.

“It amazes me that a group of people can be so intensely religious and so incredibly approachable at the same time,” wrote one of the visitors. “This tour has revived my faith in religion.”

Rabbi Shlomo Friedman of Lubavitch Youth Organization oversees the Hasidic Brooklyn tour. “I am very proud of what the tour has achieved,” he said.

“The world needs an experience like this now more than ever. So

much is being said and written about Jews and Jewish life, but so few have actually seen or experienced it for themselves.

The tour transforms them.”

“The tour is popular precisely because it is transparent,” says Katz. “People feel the sincerity and it moves them deeply.

For that, we salute the Crown Heights community and thank them for helping our guests learn the truth about Judaism.”

“We haven’t created anything new,” adds Friedman, “we’ve simply removed the barriers to allowed visitors to see the culture and spiritual beauty that has been here all along. So thank you Crown Heights!”

To learn more, find the Hasidic Brooklyn tour on Airbnb or visit JewishBrooklyn.nyc.

To reach Rabbi Yoni Katz directly about media requests, please email RabbiYoniKatz@gmail.com

52 Shevat 5784

BEATING THE FLU A panel of experts provide a wholesome approach to staying healthy during the winter chills

By Danit Schusterman

As flu season arrives, arming ourselves with effective prevention and treatment strategies is so important. I spoke with three healthcare professionals and Crown Drugs’ pharmacy manager, who all shared their unique perspectives on navigating flu season with practical advice and evidence-based recommendations.

Adam Finck, DNP, RN, FNP-C, Family Nurse Practitioner in Urgent Care and Adjunct Professor of Graduate Nursing Studies, emphasizes hydration, humidification, and fever control. Chanshi Milecki, a student in AHE Academy of Homeopathy education, soon to be a Certified Classical Homeopath (CCH) presents a homeopathic approach, highlighting remedies for symptom relief, cellular nourishment, and immunity boosting. Devorah Leah Movsikov, RN, BSN, a Care Manager at ODA Primary Health Care Network, offers preventive measures,

supportive care, and practical tips for a healthy flu season.

Leah Dashevsky, Manager of Crown Drugs in Crown Heights (www.crowndrugs.com), shares expert advice that she recommends to her customers on supplementing wisely with key nutrients. Together, their collective wisdom provides a holistic guide to empower individuals in facing the flu season with resilience and wellbeing.

PREVENTION STRATEGIES Leah Dashevsky: There are some compelling insights about immune-boosting supplements for flu season that I highly recommend to our customers at Crown Drugs. Vitamin C, according to studies, can cut down the duration of colds by 8% in adults and 14% in children. Vitamin D and Zinc are also really good. Studies have shown that Zinc can bring down the common cold’s duration by an impressive 33%. And here’s something

Chanchi Milecki: Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that relies on the principle of “like cures like,” using highly diluted substances to stimulate the body’s self-healing mechanisms. Cell salts are essential for maintaining mineral balance in the body and supporting natural healing. When these salts are lacking, our vulnerability to common health issues increases. Bioplasma, also known as the 12-cell salt combo, combines key minerals like magnesium, sodium, calcium, silica, and iron to create a comprehensive remedy.

This homeopathic solution aims to restore balance, relieve symptoms, and strengthen the body against colds, headaches, fatigue, and nervous tension. It enhances immunity during illnesses, serving as a preventive measure for quicker recovery. However, it’s crucial to understand that these supplements are not for daily use but are designed for specific needs and preventive measures.

Leah Dashevsky: At Crown Drugs, we recognize the immune-boosting properties of Elderberry, particularly in reducing symptoms of viral respiratory infections. It has gained quite a reputation for being a natural remedy worth considering when gearing up for flu season.

Studies involving over 700 people have shown that those who took Echinacea recovered from colds more quickly than those who received a placebo or no treatment. It’s a valuable supplement, and we recognize its importance in supporting the immune system.

Adam Finck, DNP, RN, FNP-C: Hand Hygiene.

Frequent handwashing is a cornerstone of evidencebased practices to prevent the spread of viruses. Be diligent in washing your

hands regularly, make it a habit when you are feeling healthy and then especially when someone at home is sick.

Devorah Leah Movsikov: Absolutely. Regular handwashing with soap for at least 30 seconds is paramount. Hand sanitizer can be an alternative, ensuring thorough coverage in all hand crevices and to make sure it is completely rubbed into the skin.

In the pursuit of a healthy community, it’s vital to adopt a proactive approach to flu prevention and treatment.

By incorporating these strategies into our daily lives, we contribute to our wellbeing and the well-being of those around us.

SUPPORTIVE CARE AND TREATMENT Devorah Leah Movsikov: Timely administration of antiviral medication like Tamiflu within the first five days of symptoms can help reduce the severity and duration of the flu.

Additionally, some doctors suggest taking Tamiflu preventatively if someone in the household has the flu, and may prescribe it for family members.

Natural remedies such as goldenseal root extract and tea with honey and

53

Devorah Leah Movsikov RN, BSN: Getting an annual flu shot is also a cornerstone of prevention. While the flu vaccine may target different strains each year, it remains an overall effective method to reduce the risk of infection. Also, as Leah said, maintaining a routine of vitamin C and including antioxidants from Elderberry syrup or drops can provide an additional layer of defense for the immune system. Echinacea is a fantastic addition to your routine, especially when coupled with a healthy lifestyle that emphasizes a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits. It contributes significantly to your overall well-being.

COLlive Magazine

interesting about garlic supplements – a study with 146 individuals showed a 30% reduction in the incidence of the common cold. While these are very impressive studies, it is always smart to check with your healthcare professionals and consider your individual health conditions before starting any supplement routine. It’s all about staying informed and making choices that suit you best.

54 Shevat 5784

lemon really contribute to symptom relief. While fever is a natural defense mechanism, it’s okay to use medications to lower fever, especially in children, to ensure their comfort while ill.

Adam Finck: Three key pillars: hydration, humidification, and fever control.

1. Hydration with Water and Electrolytes Maintaining proper hydration is essential for overall health and plays a crucial role in treating viruses. A combination of water and electrolytes ensure that bodily functions continue to operate smoothly. Try avoiding excess sugar, and opt for alternatives like Pedialyte or diluted Powerade/ Gatorade with water.

Chicken soup broth, rich in electrolytes and protein, is also recommended to nourish the body during

illness. Hydration not only helps in flushing out toxins but also supports the immune system.

2. Humidification for Respiratory Health To keep mucus moving and promote respiratory well-being, I highly suggest incorporating humidification. This includes humidifiers, steam therapy, and nebulizers.

These methods work synergistically to alleviate congestion and facilitate easier breathing during illness.

3. Fever Control Strategy Effectively managing fever is a key aspect of treating viruses. You can use a balanced approach by alternating between ibuprofen and acetaminophen to control temperature spikes. Keeping the fever down is essential to ensure the body functions

optimally during the recovery process.

Chanchi Milecki: Suffering during flu season is not inevitable. Homeopathic remedies, when administered correctly, can offer relief and aid in a swifter recovery. The following Homeopathic treatments are very helpful when treating the exact symptoms and I highly suggest using only the under the guidance of a licensed Homeopath:

FOR FLU: Oscillococcinum is highly effective when taken right at the first sign and onset of the flu. It relieves flu-like symptoms such as feeling run down, body aches, chills and fever.

Let me share insights about these remedies: Cell salts: Ferrum Phos 6x is the go-to remedy for

Adam Finck

Chanchi Milecki

Family Nurse Practitioner in Urgent Care and Adjunct Professor of Graduate Nursing Studies

Homeopathy Education. Soon to be a Certified Classical Homeopath (CCH)

DNP, RN, FNP-C

Student in AHE Academy of

Kali Mur 6x proves nutritive for all mucus membranes, offering general healing for the nose, lungs, sinuses, etc.

This remedy is beneficial during and after colds or flus, especially when discharges or tongue discoloration is white.

Calc Phos 6x serves as a tonic, ideal for convalescing after any illness. It’s particularly helpful when feeling mentally and physically tired, experiencing sleep troubles, or dealing with a loss of appetite.

For nervous exhaustion following an illness, Kali Phos 6x is the remedy of choice. It addresses emotional low-spirits and sleep troubles, providing support during the recovery process.

Combining Calc Phos 6X, Kali Phos 6X, and Nat Mur 6X creates a brilliant postviral tonic. This blend is not only effective after an illness but can be used anytime you need a mental and physical boost. It serves as a comprehensive remedy for overall well-being.

There are many other highly effective homeopathic remedies that when working with a homeopath can match up to the totality of your symptoms.

Homeopathy is highly individualized so consulting a homeopath for personalized treatment directly with a specific approach for

optimal results is highly encouraged.

PREVENTING THE SPREAD Devorah Leah: If someone in the household is sick, especially children, it’s crucial to keep them away from others. Waiting at least 24 hours after the fever has subsided is a prudent measure.

We need to teach and practice proper cough etiquette, covering the mouth with an elbow to minimize the spread of respiratory droplets. I also encourage the use of personal hand towels or use paper towels for sick individuals to dry their hands and face on, and maintain a reasonable distance from those exhibiting symptoms.

Adam Finck: Rest and Recover. Ensure that sick individuals, especially

Devorah L. Movsikov

Leah Dahsevsky

is a nurse. She practices as a Care Manager at ODA Primary Health Care Network.

She is a mom of 6 and lives in Crown Heights. She combines her passion for care and compassion while working with her patients. Her message to all is it’s never too late to go after your dream, at any age and stage in your life.

A longtime resident of Crown Heights, Leah understands the needs of our diverse community.

She believes that customer service is the most important aspect of a retail establishment, and our customers must get the care they deserve.

RN, BSN

Store Manager of Crown Drugs Pharmacy in Crown Heights

55

Nat Mur 6x is the solution for dryness, effectively hydrating and replenishing all cells. It’s especially beneficial for the lungs, sinuses, etc., during or after a cold or the flu, particularly when discharges are albuminous (clear/egg white).

COLlive Magazine

inflammation, particularly associated with lingering fevers and coughs that persist for days without specific symptoms.

56 Shevat 5784

children, stay at home until they are fully recovered.

Returning to daily activities too early can lead to the spread of viruses. It’s crucial to wait for at least 24 hours without fever (under 100.4°F) and without the use of feverreducing medications before resuming normal activities. This precaution helps prevent the premature spread of illness.

Leah Dashevsky: Maintaining a resilient immune system involves simple lifestyle choices. Prioritize quality sleep, with adults aiming for 7 hours, teens 8-10 hours, and younger children up to 14 hours. Adopt a plant-based diet rich in

antioxidants and fiber, and include healthy fats like those in olive oil and salmon.

Incorporate fermented foods or probiotic supplements for a robust gut bacteria network. Limit added sugars to reduce inflammation and support weight loss, decreasing the risk of conditions that weaken immunity. Engage in moderate exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, stay hydrated, and manage stress through activities like meditation.

Lastly, supplement wisely, considering individual health conditions and seeking professional advice when needed. By following these steps, you can naturally

support and strengthen your immune system.

As we navigate flu season, let’s not only rely on science but also embrace practical measures and a dose of empathy for one another.

Stay well!

Visit Leah Dashevsky for a full supply of vitamins and supplements at Crown Drugs www.crowndrugs. com To purchase any of the cell salts listed in this article, and for any acute Homeopathic guidance contact Chashi Milecki at chanamilecki@ gmail.com

B”H

We join the world in saluting The

SHLUCHOS OF OUR REBBE Each and Every one of has changed the lanscacpe of world Jewry

Hatzlacha over the top

‫ב״ה‬

K ER EN H AC HOM E SH FOU N DAT ION

‫ע"ש הרבנית הצדקנית מרת חי' מושקא ע"ה ז"ל שניאורסאהן‬ ‫מיסודו של כ"ק אדמו"ר רבי מנחם מענדל‬ ‫זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע שניאורסאהן מליובאוויטש‬

THE REBBE ESTABLISHES KEREN HACHOMESH WIDOWS AND ORPHANS

JEWISH EDUCATION

NEW MOTHERS

STRUGGLING FAMILIES

BRIDES AND GROOMS

MIKVAHS

On the 22nd of Shevat 5748, February 10, 1988, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, returned from the funeral of his wife of 60 years, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, led the afternoon prayers and recited Kaddish in their home on President Street in Brooklyn. The Rebbe's profound sadness was palpable.

That afternoon, the Rebbe immediately channeled his personal loss into a project of good by forming a charitable foundation to serve as a living memorial for his beloved wife.

The Rebbe named the foundation: Keren HACHOMESH, an acronym for "Harabbanit Chaya Mushka Schneerson," serving a variety of causes, primarily educational and social services for women and girls.

On the Rebbetzin's second yahrzeit, the Rebbe asked that charity be given in her memory, preferably in amounts equivalent to the numerical value of the name Chaya Mushka: 470.

As a fund that holds profound personal significance to the Rebbe, the participation in its efforts is indeed a privilege and honor.

DONATE NOW AT

MyKerenHachomesh.org

FOOD GIFTS

SINGLE MOTHERS

To request assitance from Keren Hachomesh please email Assistance@KerenHachomesh.org

58 Shevat 5784

THE POWER OF A BLESSING

By Asharon Baltazar

The man rushed into the shul and stopped in the center of the quiet room.

He attempted to catch his breath, and his loud panting attracted a few stares, but he ignored them. Wiping the beads of sweat off his brow, he approached a group of congregants seated around a table.

“Has davening started yet?” he asked. “I’m a merchant, working in the market not far from here, and today is my father’s yahrtzeit. I’d like to say kaddish for him.”

“No, but we’ll be starting soon,” said one of the congregants.

The merchant, feeling relieved, sat down and began to wait. Within a few minutes, the shul’s atmosphere acquired a spiritual ambiance as the room immersed itself in the morning services. The humming of niggunim.

The rustling of yellowed pages. Congregants, hidden underneath their talleisim, swayed in rhythm to their prayers. It was a

chassidic shul belonging to the holy tzaddik, Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin. Here, time remained outside its humble doors and didn’t bother those inside.

Except for the merchant bouncing his leg underneath the table.

Whenever the door briefly opened, he heard snatches of the street’s hustle and bustle. He found it hard to focus on the siddur open before him, his mind distracted by the unsold wares he abandoned. The davening inched forward.

At long last, it was time for him to recite the first kaddish. A few more, and the merchant nearly cheered upon seeing the chazzan close the big siddur.

He shot up from his seat, ready to dash for the door, but discovered a group of people blocking his path. They looked at him expectantly.

“Where’s the mashke?” someone asked.

“Mashke?” repeated the merchant. “I haven’t any.

Why?”

“For those with a yahrtzeit, it’s a custom here,” said someone else. “We say l’chaim for the departed soul.”

Wearing an impatient scowl, the merchant patted his pockets and plucked out a few coins. He didn’t bother counting and slapped them into someone’s open palm.

“Here. That should be enough.”

The merchant tried pushing his way through the group.

Someone grabbed his arm.

“Surely, you’d wait,” piped up a voice. “It’s your father’s

Now he was ready to go.

A clamor arose from the assembled group. Noticing the sudden noise, the merchant made a more earnest effort to squeeze between the people and towards the door. He felt several hands seize him, pulling him back.

“You haven’t made a bracha!” cried someone.

“Have you no shame!”

But the exit seemed farther than ever. People prevented the merchant from moving, protesting about his missed bracha.

“Let me go!” the merchant snapped.

On the other end of the shul, a door slowly opened.

The noise died out like someone flipped a switch.

All heads turned to the emerging figure. Even the merchant froze in his spot.

“What is all the noise about?” asked Rabbi Yisrael.

He studied the strange scene.

Prodded by the others, one of the men managed to stammer out the incident.

Rabbi Yisrael nodded.

“I see. Please,” he said, gesturing to the merchant, “have a seat, and I’ll tell you a story.

“When your father stood before the Heavenly Court, he didn’t have much to show for. His life was full of misdeeds, and the opposing forces advocated for punishment. But the favorable forces challenged this notion, claiming only a rectification sufficed. After some back-and-forth, the Court decided a holy act could achieve the necessary rectification, and it had to come specifically from you, his son. Thus, the Court sent his soul down into this World once more, planting it a grain of wheat.

“Now, we know not all the sowed wheat grains will sprout. Many of them rot or are trampled by animals or man and never emerge from the ground. The opposing heavenly forces went to great lengths to manipulate your father’s destiny, attempting to ensure his grain of wheat would be among those that never sprout. But the favorable forces won, and your father’s grain soon grew into a golden stalk.

“More wheat is wasted during harvest, abandoned in the fields. But your father’s grain made its way into the bag, winnowed, milled, and finally distilled into a spirit, the favorable forces carefully guiding it against all odds. That spirit found itself in the bottle brought in today. Once the spirit was distributed, your cup contained your father’s soul.

“You were left with the final step. You could’ve elevated your father’s soul with the appropriate blessing. Now think of what you’ve done.”

The merchant, who sat spellbound throughout the story, felt the room momentarily spin before he crashed onto the floor in a faint.

A long journey awaited him. Forging a bond with Rabbi Yisrael, the merchant became a chassid and sought to correct the error of his ways.

(267 ‫)שמועות וסיפורים עמוד‬

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The merchant was in no mood to make a scene, so he sat down again, drumming his fingers on the table. A bit more waiting, and a bottle, together with a few shot glasses, materialized from under someone’s coat.

Glass clinked as a man poured a strong-smelling liquid into the cups and distributed them around.

The merchant received his and looked around, spying his escape from the crowd.

He smiled, said, “L’Chaim,” and upturned the glass into his mouth.

The exasperated merchant ignored them. “I have to leave. My wares are waiting for me. Let me through, please.”

COLlive Magazine

yahrtzeit after all. Someone will bring a bottle soon.”

60 Shevat 5784

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAMWORK How Raisethon’s fresh approach to fundraising made TorahAnytime’s campaign a success.

When TorahAnytime reached out to us in advance of their campaign this past spring, we immediately knew we wanted to do something different. After meticulous thought into the precise vision of TorahAnytime, we came up with an idea.

With TorahAnytime’s published statistics, we were able to see just how powerful of a tool the internet was, allowing the influence of Torah to reach thousands of people spanning hundreds of cities daily. In buying hours of Torah learning, a donor would have the opportunity to actively make a tangible impact in the day-today operations of the organization.

Brothers, Shimon and Rubin Kolyakov, established TorahAnytime in 2006, when they pitched the idea to utilize the power of the internet for a higher purpose: Torah study. At the time, they were unsure

if their initiative would be successful. Just 17 years later, TorahAnytime has been named the largest

distribution of Torah since creation.

In creating a personalized fundraiser for a client, we

In May, Raisethon and TorahAnytime launched a unique campaign with a revolutionary approach to fundraising. The call to action was direct and clear: every hour of Torah sponsored, is another hour of Torah learned. It’s widely known that the zechus of Torah stays with a donor for eternity, securing a lasting effect in the world at large and following him throughout his lifetime. How can anyone say no to such an honor?

Making the hours ours introduced a new targeted goal for TorahAnytime.

Instead of just raising money, the team members would aspire to sell 12,000,000 hours of Torah.

Why? To uplift your Neshama.

To fill the world with Torah. To inspire your community.

In the partnership with donors to sustain Torah learning, we emphasized hours instead of dollars. 25 cents for 1 hour of Torah study quickly multiplied to $250 for 1,000 hours, $2,500 for 1,000 hours, and beyond.

Among the many positive traits of the fundraiser, it highlighted the power of teams and individual goals.

Rabbonim and community

leaders from all over the world created their personal teams and determined goals for the hours of Torah learning in their respective communities. In a clear attempt to “make the hours yours” every community had the opportunity to support the study of Torah in their city.

It was something they had never done before. It was a success beyond their imagination. TorahAnytime’s campaign raised over $3 million in a powerful show of unity worldwide.

Thanks to the 250+ teams who collaborated with TorahAnytime, 12 million hours of Torah study were now accounted for.

From TorahAnytime we learned - think outside of the box! The opportunity for a real life impact is a partnership that no one wants to forgo, and the product should always be emphasized for a more secured success. Most importantly, Teamwork makes the Dream Work! Capitalize on unity and team effort. After all, crowdfunding works best with a crowd :)

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IT WAS A SUCCESS BEYOND THEIR IMAGINATION. TORAHANYTIME’S CAMPAIGN RAISED OVER $3 MILLION IN A POWERFUL SHOW OF UNITY WORLDWIDE.

COLlive Magazine

take into account the history of the organization along with their mission statement and current program base. When introduced to TorahAnytime, what stood out to us was their intention to collect hours of Torah.

THE BUSINESS DIGEST 62

Presented by COLlive & Crown Heights Young Entrepreneurs (CHYE)

Shevat 5784

By Zev Gotkin - ZEV Media

A question

?

to the mentors How do you make an employee or team member feel like a partner in the organization? How can we empower employees to feel they have a stake in the company’s future?

Yisroel Swimmer, CFO of TileBar: Involve your employees in decisions and be transparent with them so they see their work and get exposure to more of the business as a whole.

Then, they will feel part of the team and not as if they are just ‘doing their job.’

Hold monthly meetings to encourage crossdepartment discussion and collaboration.

You can also establish a Bonus Plan that links specific KPIs (key performance indicators) tailored to each employee back to company profitability. The bonuses can be allocated on a sliding scale based on how well they’ve hit their KPIs. This will give them a feeling of having a greater stake in your business and transform employees

into stakeholders. If you plan to sell your business at a future date, crafting a Management Incentive Plan is an alternative to a Bonus Plan. i.e. offering your employees shares (secondary shares), that only vest over time and if they meet their KPIs. This is only useful, of course, if the business plans to sell. Otherwise, the bonus route is the best way to incentivize people.

Shmuly Goldman, Director of Enterprise Accounts at B&H Photo: One thing you can do is actually make them partners by establishing some kind of employee equity program. However, this may not be right for many companies. The alternative is to truly give your employees a seat

at the table. Be humble, transparent, and authentic in your communication and interactions, and open to being wrong. Make it clear to everyone in the organization what matters most to leadership and make sure your employees know that leadership will always consider and, whenever appropriate, act

“A business enjoys exceptional success when it is run in agreement with all the partners.

Furthermore, it is beneficial for others to take part as well, including individuals who are not partners in the business but participate in deciding that a certain venture is profitable.”

- The Rebbe (Toras Menachem 5750 vol. 1, p. 39)

Empower them to be accountable in executing their job duties and involve them in the decisionmaking process. This will give them a real perception of “ownership.” Keep the lines of communication open. Leadership can create an inclusive business/ management culture, foster greater team cohesion, and make employees feel included by being transparent and sharing information.

Communication is crucial

Interested in getting more business advice like this? Level Eight Mentorship provides mentorship for founders in their business journey. Visit level8.org

Mark your calendars

These are some business and networking events in the New York area and the Jewish world you do not want to miss.

•

•

CHYE’s Megahuddle Business Summit, Wednesday, February 21, at Beth Rivkah at 470 Lefferts Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225. Trade Show 6:00 PM, Start-Up Panel Discussion 7:30, Roundtable Discussions 8:00. More: chye.info/megahuddle CHYE Small Business Webinar Series: Unleash Growth Through Financial Forecasting & Modeling presented by Donny Mashiach of Warrior Group, Tuesday, February 13, 2:00 PM online. More: www.chye.info/financialforecasting

•

NY’s Biggest Business, Tech & Entrepreneur Networking Affair, Monday, February 26, 6:30-8:30 PM at Monarch Rooftop & Lounge - 71 W 35th St New York, NY 10001. More: http://tinyurl. com/NYESN-Feb26

•

Speed Networking And Business Matchmaking: Fast Way to Expand Your Network, Monday, February 26, 6:30-8:30 PM at Pando 39, 54 W 39th St 2nd Floor New York, NY 10018. More: tinyurl.com/speed-Feb26

•

Third Israel Anglo Empowerment Conference & Expo of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, Wednesday, February 21 at Nefesh B’nefesh building, 10 Yitshak Rabin St, Jerusalem.

More: ojchamber.com

Price match Have you ever wondered where to launder and press a Shabbos shirt at the lowest price in the neighborhood? We have!

Our research team did a little digging and here’s what we found: $2.00 Ellis Cleaners 508 Empire Blvd $2.50 Happy Dry Cleaners Kingston Ave $2.50 Mr. Clean Organic Dry Cleaners 336 Albany Ave $2.50 The Clean Spot 431 Kingston Ave $2.75 Regency Cleaners 381 Kingson Ave $2.75 Troy Organic Cleaners 407 Troy Ave $3.75 Regency Cleaners 381 Kingston Ave $3.75 Leffers Cleaners 559 Lefferts Ave Only dry-clean option: $7.00 Sky Cleaners 895A Nostrand Ave

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Gabe Guilis, Managing Member at United Pacific Brands:

to helping employees feel a greater sense of ownership in the organization. Bring them in on your decisionmaking process and create a vision for them, clearly demonstrating how their efforts will help achieve the company’s goals and objectives. You can also have them participate in a profit-sharing plan. A profitsharing plan is a great way to give the employee a sense of “ownership .”This profit-sharing plan should include a vesting schedule and another employee retention tool.

COLlive Magazine

on employee ideas.

64 Shevat 5784

MEET THE AUTHOR

I NEVER MET THE REBBE MANY TIMES Mr David Nesenoff shares some inside information behind his new book, “I never met the Rebbe many times” Mr. David Nesenoff

“I never met the Rebbe many times” is a book written by Mr. David Nesenoff of his personal Chabad experiences and stories he has gathered first-hand from Shluchim.

Known for his wit and unique ability to tell a compelling story, he has inspired thousands of people through his speaking engagements at Chabad Houses worldwide.

We sat down with David to hear a little bit about what inspired him to write his book. Enjoy!

1. The title of your book brings a smile when you read it. Why did you decide to give it that name?

Although I never merited to meet the Rebbe personally, I feel that each time I visit one of his Shluchim and

see how they carry forth the Rebbe’s message, I am encountering the Rebbe through them. I have had the unique opportunity to speak at over 700 Chabad Houses and I have seen how the Rebbe’s inspiration is what pervades every aspect of what they do. The stories that I tell in the book are all a testament to that.

2. You weren’t raised Orthodox. How were you drawn to Chabad?

There is a chapter in my book entitled “Revealed in Tufts” and it tells the secret of Chabad. A campus shliach’s very young daughter innocently endeavored to comfort me as we saw Jewish students working on Shabbos. She said, “They don’t know about muktza and Shabbos yet, but don’t worry they’ll

learn, they’ll learn!” She is the closest I’ve come to conversing with the Rebbe.

That little girl never met the Rebbe but she grew up in a Chabad home.

The Rebbe constantly stressed the fact that the

Torah is the inheritance of every Jew, regardless of their knowledge or background. Chabad exudes such a sincere love for every Jews. Who wouldn’t be drawn to such a world? I was.

are nudging, shaking and spinning our world around to make it right side up.

“Ker a velt heint!”

3. Which single teaching of the Rebbe do you connect with most?

I learned that there is no “How To Be A Shliach” guidebook. My book reveals how the Cheins of Santa Cruz invented a “clanking” way of reaching into the souls of the Jewish students on campus. The Lazaroffs of Houston built Aishel House out of the deepest personal pain that one can experience and the Chabad House of Leeds, England only came to be through a sheer miracle. Every Shliach uses their unique set of talents and abilities to connect to their community in the way that they need.

“Ker a velt heint!” “Turn the world upside down today!”

The Rebbe meant it; and he was not being poetic. So why would such a peaceful soul demand that we turn the world upside down?

As we view the injustices and messed up values in our upside down world, the Rebbe instructed us to turn the world upside down in order to make it right side up. Each time we put on tefillin, light Shabbos candles, give tzedakah and follow mitzvos, we

4. What have you personally learned from visiting so many Chabad centers?

Rabbi Kutner’s work was meant to be a three month project. Sadly, his holy work has had to continue and it’s been taken to the next level in the aftermath of the horrific attacks on October 7th.

6. Are you continuing to travel and speak now that the book is out?

Absolutely! I am back on the road speaking about many important topics that I focus on in the book - antiSemitism, Shalom Bayis, introducing people to the Rebbe etc. The Rebbe sent out Shluchim to all ends of the earth to engage Jews with Torah and mitzvos and it’s a privilege to play my little part in that to bring Moshiach closer.

For more information on David and his speaking engagements, visit his website at davidinspires.com

COLlive Magazine

Rabbi Menachem Kutner oversees the Chabad Terror Victims Project in Israel and I will never forget some of the people whom he introduced us to who had undergone such immense personal suffering. We visited a young mother whose newborn was named after her husband who was shot and killed by a terrorist in Bnei Brak. We met a mother and daughter who barely survived a suicide bombing on a bus they were travelling on.

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5. Can you share a memorable moment from one of those visits?

66 Shevat 5784

A Soup for Every Palate FOUR TASTY SOUP RECIPES TO WARM UP YOUR WINTER. There’s nothing like a wholesome, delicious soup to keep you warm and nurtured in the chilly winter months. So, if you are looking for something new and tasty, you’ve come to the right place. These four easy to prepare recipes from popular Jewish food bloggers and personalities will help make your dinner table complete. Do you have a recipe that you’d like to share?

Send your delectable creation via email to SrulyCooks@gmail.com. Next month’s theme: Shabbos sides.

Sruly Meyer @SrulyCooks

This is a must make soup. It’s a great way to have a healthy dinner for the family, and you can whip it up in no time! This is easy to follow, easy to adapt and easy to make. You can always add additional vegetables if you like. This is one of the most shared soup recipes on my social media page.

INGREDIENTS:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 large white onion, diced

1. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and sauté the diced onion until it becomes translucent.

4 large zucchinis, peeled and chopped into quarters 3 cloves of garlic, minced Handful of mushrooms, chopped 6 cups of water Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste Red pepper chili flakes (optional, for a kick)

2. Add the minced garlic and chopped mushrooms to the pot. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms release their moisture and start to brown slightly.

3. Add the chopped zucchini to the pot and sauté for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the vegetables to cook down slightly.

4. Pour in the water and season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.

5. Bring the soup to a simmer over medium heat and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender.

6. Once the zucchini is cooked, remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.

7. Use an immersion blender and blend until smooth. Be careful when blending hot liquids.

8. Continue to cook on low for 30 minutes.

Note: To maintain the vibrant color of the soup, be careful not to over boil it, as this can cause it to turn darker.

9. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot. Sprinkle some red pepper chili flakes on top for an extra kick, if desired.

67 COLlive Magazine

Easy & Healthy Zucchini Soup

Sruly is the writer behind our food and music sections, who runs his own marketing agency in Hollywood, FL. He is also a home cook who runs a food and travel blog discussing fitness, local food scenes and daily life being a Jewish father and business owner.

68 Shevat 5784

Triple Mushroom, Meat and Barley Soup Naomi Ross, @NaomiRossCooks Naomi Ross is a cooking instructor and food writer based in Woodmere, NY. She teaches classes throughout the country and writes articles connecting good cooking and Jewish inspiration. Her first cookbook, The Giving Table, was released in 2023. ᐧ While only white mushrooms can be used exclusively in this soup, I’ve found a combination of mushroom varieties – both fresh and dried- will add significantly more depth of flavor. Cremini and/or any wild mushrooms are wonderful choices in addition to the white mushrooms.

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25 MIN DURATION 1.5 - 2 HOURS COOK TIME 25 - 30 MIN PREP TIME DIFFICULTY: WORTH THE WAIT

SERVINGS 12

INGREDIENTS:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1/3 cup dried porcini or wild mushrooms

1. Soak the dried mushrooms in enough hot water to cover for 15-20 minutes. Strain the mushrooms in a sieve, reserving the water. Coarsely chop the dried mushrooms; set aside. Meanwhile, start soup:

1 ½-2 pounds beef flanken, cut into 6-8 pieces 1 beef bone 3 quarts (12 cups) water 2 medium onions, chopped 2 large celery stalks, sliced 2 large carrots, peeled and diced 3 large garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon) 2 pounds (32-ounces) fresh mushrooms (mixed varieties -white, cremini, oyster, etc.), roughly chopped or thinly sliced 1 cup pearled barley 1 tablespoon kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper, to taste ¼ cup chopped parsley, for garnishing

2. Place 3 quarts water and flanken in a large soup pot (at least 8-quart) over mediumhigh heat. Bring to a simmer and skim off the foam that rises to the surface.

3. After all the impurities have been removed, add all of the remaining ingredients, including the chopped dried mushrooms and the reserved mushroom water. Stir soup and return soup to a boil.

Reduce heat to low and simmer partially covered for 1½-2 hours – or until flanken is very tender and soup slightly thickened.

Season to taste with freshly ground pepper and more salt if needed. If soup is too thick, adjust consistency by adding a little additional water.

4. Ladle soup into bowls, giving each serving a generous portion of the flanken.

Garnish with a sprinkling of chopped parsley.

Cook’s Note – Time Saver: Use your food processor to help with chopping or slicing – using the “pulse” button will give you the best control to get the size you want.

Reprinted with permission from The Giving Table, Menucha Publishers

COLlive Magazine

FREEZER FRIENDLY

70 Shevat 5784

Red Lentil & Orange Veg Soup Vannesa Haberman @PlatesandPetals Vannesa Haberman lives in NYC and is a recipe developer and weekly menu planner who loves sharing her recipes and designs to make every dish look as good as it tastes.

I may love summer the most, but I think soup season is every season. Especially this one, which takes no time to come together and delivers so much flavor and coziness. Pairs beautifully with some simple roast chicken (garlic powder, paprika, salt, into a 350 degree oven) or I love it with some plain or rosemary crackers too! I chopped some kale in and waited for a min before serving, but it’s tasty and filling even without it. Put it on your menu this week!

INGREDIENTS:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 diced onion

1. Sauté the diced onion in a tablespoon of oil until translucent.

1 tbsp oil 4 cloves garlic, sliced 2-3 diced carrots 2 ribs diced celery (optional) Half a butternut, cubed (optional, but highly recommended) 5 cups water or unsalted vegetable broth Salt, pepper, thyme (few shakes dried or leaves of 2-3 fresh sprigs) A drop of nutmeg 1 cup red lentils Chopped kale (optional)

2. Add the sliced garlic and continue to sauté until fragrant.

3. If you have them, add diced carrots and diced celery.

Optionally, add cubed butternut for texture and flavor.

4. When the vegetables start to soften, add 5 cups of water or unsalted vegetable broth.

5. Sprinkle in salt, pepper, thyme, and a drop of nutmeg.

6. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer.

7. Add 1 cup of red lentils and cover the pot. Simmer for about 20 minutes until the lentils soften but don’t fully break down.

8. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning as needed.

You can choose to purée the soup for a smoother texture or leave it chunky.

Optionally, add chopped kale. Enjoy your delicious vegetarian lentil soup!

Malkie Gordon Hirsch @KissTheKosherCook Malkie Gordon Hirsch is a native of the Five Towns community and a mom of 5. She is a regular columnist for the 5 Towns Jewish Times and an active food blogger with a large social media following.

INGREDIENTS:

INSTRUCTIONS:

2 tbsp olive oil

In a large, heavy bottomed pot, warm the olive oil over medium heat, add onions, carrot, celery and cabbage and season with salt and pepper.

Cook until fragrant.

1 large onion, diced 2 medium carrots, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 2 cups shredded cabbage 4 cloves garlic, sliced 2 tbsp tomato paste 2 quarts vegetable stock 6 small Yukon gold potatoes, diced 2 small bunches of kale, shredded 2 cans white beans Sourdough bread of choice Garlic clove, sliced Parmesan cheese to taste

Add tomato paste and stir well to dissolve. Pour in 1 quart vegetable stock. Bring soup to a boil and add potatoes and kale. Reduce heat to simmer until veg is cooked through, 30 minutes.

Add more vegetable stock as needed (additional quart) and add white beans until warmed through.

A few minutes before serving, toast or grill sourdough bread. Drizzle with olive oil and rub with a cut clove of garlic while warm. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and top with Parmesan cheese and serve toasted bread alongside soup.

71 COLlive Magazine

Ribollita Soup

72 Shevat 5784

Crown Heights Kosher Food Guide ABE’S CORNER Gastropub offering unique, delicious food in a spacious and immersive setting.

Kosher Certification: Rabbi Eliyahu Matusof 674 Rogers Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 684-7828

BUNCH O BAGELS Cafe offering bagels plus a roster of entrees, omelets, salads, sandwiches & pasta dishes.

361 Troy Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 604-0634 CROWN PIZZA Dark wood & exposed brick adorn the interior of this upmarket pizzeria with specialty slices.

Kosher Certification: OK 419 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 484-4817 BROOKLYN ARTISAN BAKEHOUSE Rustic decor, down to earth ambiance and flavorful menu.

Kosher Certification: OK 665 Empire Blvd. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 872-5155 CHOCOLATTE Bright & Modern cafe in Crown Heights, free WiFi Open 24 hours.

Kosher Certification: CHK 792 Eastern Pkwy. Brooklyn, NY

ALBANY BAKERY 339 Albany Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 778-1733

BAKERIE Modern bakery for kosher breads, sweets & daytime noshes with housemade spreads & coffee.

Kosher Certification: OK 252 Albany Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 693-8248

IZZY’S BBQ SMOKEHOUSE Kosher BYOB barbecue restaurant serving platters, sandwiches, sides & desserts in hip digs.

Kosher Certification: OK 397 Troy Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (347) 425-0524 JOSEPH’S DREAM BURGER Serving a “luxury-priced burger but at affordable fast food pricing.”

Menu includes burgers, wraps, baguettes, salads, fried chicken buckets and a whole ton of sides.

Kosher Certification: CHK 333 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 998-3200 KINGSTON BAKE SHOP Kosher Certification: CHK 380 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 467-2047

MAMA KITCHEN NY ESS AND BENTCH Offering hot dogs, shnitzel, sandwiches and french fries Kosher Certification: CHK 313 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 705-7770 GOMBO’S HEIMISHE BAKERY

BUTCHER GRILL HOUSE Lubavitch Shchita - CHK 411 Troy Ave. Brooklyn, NY 347-770-4042

Counter-serve bakery specializing in jelly doughnuts, plus other sweets, sandwiches & coffee.

328 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 771-7701

BOEUF & BUN

GRUIT BY ABE’S

Innovative, handcrafted burgers pair with a variety of craft beers at this upbeat locale.

Kosher Certification: CHK 271 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 221-8900

Bustling shop offering house-baked bagels, breakfast, sandwiches, pizza & salads.

Kosher Certification: CHK 333 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (347) 955-5300

KOSHERTOWN CAFE Kosher Certification: CHK 469 Albany Ave. Brooklyn, NY

ALMAH CAFE Kosher Coffeehouse and bakeshop Kosher Certification: CHK 87 Utica Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (347) 533-6494

HOLESOME BAGELS

A neighborhood restaurant & garden with a modern American kitchen and strong focus on seasonality & cocktails.

Kosher Certification: OK 252 Empire Blvd. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (347) 846-0622

Restaurant featuring a funky modern interior & menu of contemporary & classic Israeli cuisine.

7 Rochester Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 771-3038 MEAT MEAT is where food and design meet. Extremely elegant restaurant featuring modern Mediterranean cuisine.

Kosher Certification: OU 123 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (516) 888-1730 MENDY’S Mendy’s Deli is the place to go for burger, a delicious steak,or a heAvenly sandwich.

Kosher Certification: CHK 792 Eastern Pkwy. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 907-8877

MOZZARELLA Fine Dining Dairy establishment conveniently located in Crown Heights.

Kosher Certification: CHK 265 Troy Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (917) 633-6770

SWEET EXPRESSIONS Ice cream shop, candies, chocolates and sweets Hot and cold shakes and smoothies.

310 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 613-0188

BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT WITH US

THE BOOZERY Our liquor-infused ice cream flavors are all inspired by classic and contemporary cocktails and are made with local and seasonal ingredients in New York, NY. Kosher Certification: OK 420 Troy Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 415-9717 265 TROY AVE, BROOKLYN NY, 11213

call or whatsapp 917-633-6770

NORIBAR High quality Sushi meals using fresh ingredients and skilled preparation techniques.

Kosher Certification: CHK 326 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (347) 913-8888

CATERING

EVENT

PITA PINA Israeli style falafel, shwarma and sandwiches.

Kosher Certification: CHK 250 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 484-7814 PRIME AVENUE Prime Avenue offers a delicious global menu that includes schnitzel sandwiches & Chinese dishes.

Kosher Certification: CHK 377 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 576-6665 PATIS Kosher Certification: OU 266 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: 929-234-6365 www.patis.com SAUCE N CHEESE Stop-in kosher pizzeria offering slices, calzones & salads in a simple counter-serve setting.

Kosher Certification: CHK 509 Albany Ave. Brooklyn, NY Phone: (347) 425-1450

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TAKEOUT DOVID MALKA 1552 Carroll Street 718-773-2335 KOSHERTOWN 469 Albany Ave Phone: 718-778-6171 THE MARKETPLACE 589 E New York Ave Phone: (718) 363-1300

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COLlive Magazine

MERMELSTEIN’S

Shevat 5784

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78 Shevat 5784

THE INSIDE TRACK: Avraham Fried recently released a new children’s book and album entitled “Ani Shar”, and it has already been a huge hit. He shared some fascinating tidbits about it in a conversation with COLlive Magazine.

“I had no real plan to ever release a children’s book or album. It was actually my producer Yuval Stupel who approached me about a year and a half ago with the idea. Yuval wanted to reach kids today who have never heard some of the classic songs, and this felt like the perfect way to introduce them.

“The book features 14 songs that are each about one minute in length. We had the songs rearranged to fit that one minute mark by taking out intros and interludes, and we remade all the music and vocals for it. We intentionally chose faster, more upbeat songs to keep the pace moving and for kids to dance along.

“It’s been out for about 2 months - it was released around Chanukah time - and the response has been overwhelming, leading us to already start mapping out the second book. In addition, we plan to put out an “Ani Shar” concert series for kids!

“The production has two versions, one in English and another in Hebrew. The English one has the title “I Sing” on the cover, and the translated lyrics have really helped the kids connect to the songs. The Hebrew one has the original words “Ani Shar” on the cover.

“We have also been getting a lot of requests for additional languages, and we are currently looking into translating it into French and Russian, the top two most requested languages right now.”

“Although I didn’t think I’d ever do this, I can’t imagine not doing it after seeing my own grandchildren dancing and singing along to these songs. It especially brings me joy to see them singing the old classic, Tanya.

“I see this project as a means to bridge generations together. We have been blessed with some incredible Jewish music that today’s kids haven’t really been exposed to. This new production enables them to experience it in a fun, light way.”

There has been a lot of buzz around the new album so it’s exciting to hear that there is more in store!

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INSPIRING SONGS

When tragedy strikes, music is an avenue that tends to our emotions in a way that words can’t. It helps us process the pain, and inspires us to move past it to a better day. Since the horrific attacks in Israel on October 7th, there are a number of unique, soul stirring songs that have found their way into our hearts and playlists.

Eyal Golan - Am Yisroel Chai Eyal Golan has produced some of the Jewish world’s most well known songs. (The hugely popular song Mi Shema’amin is his creation). Golan released Am Yisroel Chai two weeks after October 7th and it quickly went viral, racking up over 12 million views on YouTube. It has become one of the most used songs on social media when referencing Israel at War.

Eli Keshet Feat. Shwekey - Am Echad: Released just one month after the attacks, producer Eli Keshet brought together many Jewish artists from different backgrounds to display the incredible achdus shown by Am Yisroel all over the world. The song Am Echad features artists Offir Cohen, Yoav Itzhak, Amri Sasson, and Yaakov Shwekey and the music video has already reached close to 1 million views on Youtube.

Shuli Rand - Gam Ki Eilech Like many Israeli artists, Shuli Rand has been singing at army bases and other venues all over Israel since the start of the war, mourning with families who lost loved ones and comforting families of hostages. His experiences inspired him to release a new song called Gam Ki Eilech, together with producer Stav Bagar and composing artist Ori Koltuv.

COLlive Magazine

Released Following the October 7th Attacks.

80 Shevat 5784

Benny Friedman - Lo Lefached If you saw a video on social media recently with the soundtrack Am Yisrael Chai, chances are it was the new rendition released by Benny Friedman. This past month, Benny also released Lo Lefached, meant to inspire and uplift Am Yisroel in this difficult time. Accompanied by a dynamic music video, this song is quickly finding its place on playlists and music scenes all over the world.

The song was composed by Yitzchok Rosenthal with lyrics by Miriam Israeli.

Zalman Pollack - Am Hanetzach His name might sound new, but Zalman Pollack has been releasing singles for several years already. This song, released in mid November, has been getting a lot of playtime on the Jewish radio charts. “This is a great song that has really resonated with listeners. We have been getting many requests for this song on the show,” said Yossi Zweig of The Z Report, airing on the Nachum Segal Network weekly.

“The song focuses on our strength, unity, and everlasting glory,” said Pollack. “Instead of remaining victims, we have become soldiers. The world can see that we are a nation that is mighty; A nation that is eternal; A nation that is not afraid. Let’s proudly stand together and proclaim “Am Hanetzach Lo Mefached!”

The song was composed by Pollack and produced by Aryeh Kunstler.

Aryeh Kunstler - In The Light Speaking of Aryeh Kunstler, he also released a song called “In The Light ‘’, which was a joint project with Thank You Hashem Nation. Find it on YouTube by entering: TYH Nation Presents - In The Light. Aryeh Kunstler/ Farbrengable Studios. Produced and arranged

by Mendy Portnoy.

THE GLOBETROTTERS

COLlive magazine asked five music personalities who have been all over the word to share their favorite destination (after Israel, of course).

Benny Friedman - South Africa.

I have very fond memories of several trips that I took there. Nothing beats Israel, though.

Yoni Z - Japan To see such a vibrant community celebrating their heritage and Yiddishkeit in a distant country like Japan reminds me that Am Yisrael Chai, Od Avinu Chai.

Bentzy Marcus (8th Day) - Russia: Performing in the former Soviet Union was especially memorable for me with all the family and Chasidic history that we have there.

Mendy Hershkowitz - Brazil: The community in Brazil is very warm and welcoming. The people are so excited to hear Jewish music and celebrate their Jewishness together.

Shmueli Ungar - Mexico: I really enjoy going to Mexico. The weather is amazing, and it’s a much shorter trip than traveling to Europe or other places overseas.

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5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SHEYA MENDLOWITZ A”H. This past October, Jewish music lost one of its pioneers - Reb Sheya Mendlowitz.

1. Mendlowitz produced one of the first Jewish children’s albums, called Tovy The Taxi in 1982.

Aside from Uncle Moishy, there wasn’t much else available at the time and the album became a household name.

2. Mendlowitz composed one of the most well known and famous Siman Tovs in Jewish Music. This celebratory niggun was first sung at the grandstand wedding of the Belzer Rebbe’s only son Rav Aharon Mordechai in 1993. It was later released on the album produced in honor of that occasion, called Mazel Tov Beis Belz 2.

3. Mendlowitz’s second grade rebbe was Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum, founder of the original Pirchei choir.

4. After hearing Avraham Fried perform as a soloist, Rabbi Teitelbaum had Fried send Mendlowitz a demo tape.

Impressed, Mendlowitz offered him a full album, which became No Jew Left Behind.

5. Mendlowitz was the original founder of the famous MostlyMusic store in Boro Park, run today by Aderet Music Distribution Label, under Mendy Werdyger.

COLlive Magazine

NOTES OF NOTE!

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- KOL BAYAAR -

A VOICE IN THE FOREST

Shevat 5784

Rabbi Yossi Lipskier – Sherman Oaks, CA This Niggun was chosen for the Shevat magazine, since it is rumored that Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, whose Yahrtzeit is on Chof Beis Shevat, was fond of it.

HISTORY “Kol Bayaar” is among the oldest Niggunim that we know of. It was composed by the great Tzaddik, the Shpoler Zeideh. According to tradition1, he would sing this haunting melody before reciting Krias Shema she’al Hamitah, or before saying Tikkun Chatzos.

The niggun has four stanzas, recording a short conversation between Hashem and the Yidden about Teshuva. Or as R’ Shmuel Zalmanov describes it in his Sefer Haniggunim2, the song is “an outpouring of the soul over the Shechinah’s exile and the Golus of Am Yisrael”3.

Each stanza is repeated in three languages: Lashon Kodesh, Yiddish, and Ukrainian, followed by a wordless tune (called a “tzushpiel”).

These are the Hebrew words: ‫ אב לבנים קורא‬,‫קול ביער אנכי שומע‬ ‫ אשר עלי כך שכחתם‬,‫בני בני היכן הלכתם‬ ‫ כי ל אוכל לשבת יחידי בביתי‬,‫בני בני לכו לביתי‬ ‫ כי השומר עומד בשער המלך‬,‫אבינו אבינו איך נלך‬

I hear a voice in the forest, a father calling to his children.

My children, my children! Where have you gone, that you have forgotten about me so?

My children, my children! Go to my home, for I cannot sit alone in my home.

Our father, our father, how can we go? The guard stands at the king’s gate!

The words of this poem are an original composition, but it may have been inspired by the Midrash4, which records a similar dialogue between Hashem and Bnei Yisrael, where Hashem says that Teshuva is dependent on us, and we respond that it’s dependent on Him. KOL BAYAAR WITH THE REBBE Although this Niggun was clearly considered a Chabad Niggun for a very long time, we find no written record of it in earlier generations of Rebbeim and Chassidim.

However, in our generation, the Rebbe asked for this Niggun to be sung many times at his Farbrengens5. Typically, something unique would happen in connection with the request.

In 5711 (1951), at the first Purim Farbrengen after officially accepting the Nesius, the Rebbe asked that Kol Bayaar be sung. He added that 24 years earlier, the Frierdiker

1 Sefer Haniggunim Chabad, Niggun 23.

2 Ibid 3 O n Acharon Shel Pesach 5730 (1970), the Rebbe referred to this Niggun as a “Niggun Gaaguim”, a melody of yearning (Toras Menachem Vol. 60 p. 136).

4 Eicha Rabbah 5:21 5 1 2 times, as far as I was able to research: Purim 5711 (TM Vol. 2 p. 325); Yud Beis Tammuz 5711 (TM Miluim p.

30); Yud Shevat 5713 (TM Vol. 7 p. 336); Purim 5713 (TM Vol. 8 p. 49); Shabbos Parshas Tzav 5714 (TM vol. 11 p.

150); Yud Shevat 5715 (TM Vol. 14 p. 244); Purim 5716 (TM Vol. 16 p. 169); Chof Kislev 5717 (TM Vol. 18 p. 296); Acharon Shel Pesach 5717 (TM Vol. 19 p. 308); Purim 5722 (TM Vol. 33 p. 209); Vov Tishrei 5728 (TM Vol. 51 p. 90); Purim 5728 (TM Vol. 52 p. 160).

A RARE REVELATION In the last two years, JEM restored the audio from many Farbrengens in the Yuds and the Chofs, bringing lots of new special moments to light.

One such moment is from Yud Shevat 5722 (1962), when the Rebbe conducted a “Magbis” (collection) for “Keren Torah” (the Torah fund), which supported those who completely devoted their lives to learning Torah.

While the cards were handed out in 770 for people to write their pledges, a careful listener can hear the Rebbe humming Kol Bayaar to himself7.

YOU KNOW, SO SING! A lighter moment occurred at the Vov Tishrei Farbrengen in 5728 (1967). The Rebbe asked that Kol Bayaar be sung, but after a smooth beginning, the Chassidim began struggling with the Ukrainian words.

One Chossid tried to sing correctly, but then became quiet. The Rebbe said “ ”‫”פון ביטול וועט קיין ניגון ניט ארויס‬, a Niggun won’t emerge out of bittul (humility)!

After a few seconds without a response, the Rebbe said “?‫נו? איר קענט ניט ווייטער‬ ‫ זאגט איר‬,‫ – ”איר קענט דאך‬Nu? You don’t know further? You know, so sing!

Of course, the Chossid began to sing with enthusiasm.

For the sake of accuracy, it’s worth noting that in our version of the Niggun, the first line doesn’t seem to rhyme (‫ עמוש‬has an extra “ah” sound, which is not repeated in “‫)”קורא‬.

However, in the presence of the Rebbe, the Chassidim indeed added “‫ ”הא‬at the end of the first line. So the line reads: “‫אב לבנים‬ “‫ אה‬,‫ – קורא‬a father calls out “ah” to his children8. This extra word also appears in some older music books where the Niggun is printed.

A BAAL TESHUVA During Rabbi Shlomo Cunin’s early years on Shlichus in California, he had an opportunity to address a gathering of Jewish students at the Brandeis Bardin Institute (known today as the AJU). While many of them were warm, one student, Steven Leibowitz, was vehemently opposed to everything he was saying.

During dinner that day, Rabbi Cunin decided to teach the students the Niggun Kol Bayaar.

While singing, he noticed that Steven became very emotional and left the room.

Later, Steven explained that his parents had gone off the derech, but his grandfather had been a Chabad Shochet in Iowa. Just before he passed away, his Zeideh taught him this Niggun, and he said “The day will come when this tune will come to good use for you”.

Steven was so moved by the whole experience that right then and there, he decided to return to Yiddishkeit.

And so, the words of the Niggun itself, Hashem’s request for his children to return, were fulfilled.

6 R ’ Yaakov Zechariah Maskalik, known as R’ Yankel Zhuravitzer (1897-1938), was a major activist for Yiddishkeit in Russia, especially regarding Mikvaos. For more about him, see A Chassidisher Derher vol. 3 issues 3-5 (NoachVayeira 5773).

7 L isten here: ashreinu.page.link/n5Ve 8 Listen here: ashreinu.page.link/YoJ5 (Purim 5716); ashreinu.page.link/D3wJ (Purim 5722); ashreinu.page.link/KYBM (Vov Tishrei 5728); ashreinu.page.link/Sg5w (Purim 5728). This is also how it is sung on Nichoach (vol. 3).

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THE MISSING WORD

COLlive Magazine

Rebbe held the famous farbrengen of Purim 5687 (1927), which in many ways led to his arrest later that year. After he finished the Farbrengen and returned to his room, several Chassidim remained at the table.

Among them was R’ Yankel Zhuravitzer6, who sat down on the floor and sang this Niggun. (Two years later, on Yud Shevat 5713 (1953), the Rebbe again asked for this Niggun to be sung, and also mentioned this incident).

84 Shevat 5784

THE

ANTISEMITE

HANDBOOK A humorous collection of ridiculous and contradictory talking points that antisemites subscribe to.

By Mordechai Schmutter DISCLAIMER: Baruch Hashem, we are living in phenomenal times, when all of the antisemites around us are finally outing themselves, so we don’t have to wonder who they are. That said, it’s come to my attention that my columns have not been very inclusive. Mostly, I talk to a large audience of Yidden about things that Yidden can relate to – sometimes, I even talk about things that secular people can relate to – but I never really talk to the antisemites.

Where’s their column?

Here it is.

If you’re not an antisemite, feel free to skip this one.

So you just came out as an antisemite.

Congratulations! It is

definitely the fashionable thing to do these days -- to hate a people who’ve been laughing in the face of antisemitism for thousands of years.

But perhaps you’re wondering: How do I go about it? Do I have to hold any core beliefs? How do I defend my values against those who would seek to defeat me with logic? This column might help you.

• Just as Jews have a long, rich, and storied history, so do antisemites.

Just as long, in fact. As long as there have been Jews, there have been antisemites. Our forefather Yaakov’s own twin brother Eisav was an antisemite.

So, it turns out that antisemitism may be a minute or two older.

• Everyone likes having someone to blame for their problems, and the Jews have always and will always be around. If you want a scapegoat for your problems, you do your research -- you want to blame a people who won’t suddenly disappear, and then you’ll be like, “We still have that problem that we used to blame on them. I guess it wasn’t their fault.”

Well, now what? You can’t now blame the same problem on a new group.

People need someone to blame who won’t suddenly disappear on them. Hence, the Jews.

• You don’t actually need a reason to hate Jews. No one’s going to call you out on it.

• What all antisemites are familiar with is the International Rules of War. They’ve all read it, internalized it… I think this is one of those things they teach in public schools that they don’t teach in yeshivas. They definitely know it better than an entire country’s military.

-Every Jew, no matter where he or she lives, is an official ambassador of Israel. So, any time Israel does anything, feel free to run over to the nearest Jew for an explanation. To see if Israel shared it with all of us in our nightly Zoom meeting.

• The biggest part of being an antisemite is pulling people over to your cause while at the same time also denying that you’re an antisemite. “Listen, when I said, “Kill all the Jews,” I didn’t mean in an antisemitic way. I meant in a humanitarian way. Like I believe Israel has a right to defend themselves. I’m just saying that if all of them died, they won’t have to.”

• You can also say things like, “Listen, I don’t hate the Jews; I just hate Israel. And all the Children of Israel.”

• If you have a choice between attending two

• At Jewish rallies, nothing gets vandalized or looted.

So how are they sending a message, exactly? You

down. It’s just propaganda for whichever side wants people to live.

•What you’re doing is not antisemitism if you say it’s not antisemitism.

Even if the Jews say it’s antisemitism, what do they know? They’re just Jews. Their opinion doesn’t matter. Also if you step on someone’s toe, you get to decide whether it hurts.

• You are probably more

Any time Israel does anything, feel free to run over to the nearest Jew for an explanation. want to attend a rally that destroys property, loots stores, and gets into fistfights with the cops (before thanking them at the end for doing their job, of course), in order to prove that the people on whose behalf you’re protesting are a peaceloving people.

• Chants are fun, as long as they rhyme. You don’t actually have to know what river or what sea. It could be the Nile River to the Red Sea. All you have to know is that “sea” rhymes with “free” and “Intifada” rhymes with “Intifada.”

• If you see a poster, rip it

sick of hearing the Jews complaining about antisemitism than the Jews are of experiencing antisemitism.

• For all that the Jews talk about G-d being on their side and miracles happening to them every day, miracles are happening on both sides.

How many videos have we seen of deceased Palestinians that suddenly get up and walk away?

Miracles! We have video proof.

• Jews think they’re so smart, but which side do you think is smarter?

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opposing rallies, you want to go to the one that defaces monuments that have nothing to do with the Jews. Nothing says, “I am definitely right about who should live on specific pieces of land halfway around the world” like the destruction of public property.

COLlive Magazine

• You don’t either have to know anything about the region or its history. Most don’t.

86 Shevat 5784

Israel takes weeks to figure out their casualty numbers, whereas the Gaza Health Ministry can tell you within minutes of a rocket hitting a parking lot exactly how many hundreds of people happened to randomly be standing in that parking lot. Sometimes they can tell you before even.

• The Gazans are way more environmentally friendly. They recycle photos of carnage from previous events in other countries, reuse their crisis actors for multiple scenes, and all of their missiles are made out of repurposed water pipes.

Whereas a Jewish family goes through more foil in one year than a typical

non-Jewish family does in a lifetime.

• Israel says they don’t release many pictures of victims because of respect and privacy, but at the end of the day, you’ve seen way more moving pictures of deceased Palestinians. Way more pictures of moving deceased Palestinians?

As the Jews say, “Reshaim afilu b’chayeihem kruim meisim.”

• The Jews say, “Don’t believe everything Hamas says. Hamas lies.” Then Hamas gets up and says, “We want to wipe all the Jews off the face of the planet.” And you say, “I don’t believe them.” And then the Jews say, “No,

that you’re supposed to believe.” What do these Jews want?

• If you side with Hamas, they will add your name to a list of people they will kill last.

• You want an actual tip?

Here’s one: Whichever side G-d wants to win will win.

So maybe get on his good side. If you don’t know how, we can give you some pointers.

Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia, COLlive Magazine and other publications. He also has six books out and does stand-up comedy. He can be contacted at mschmutter@gmail.com

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The Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s House

Then & N

Shevat 5784

By Zev Gotkin 770 Eastern Parkway was referred to by some as the Rebbe’s house.

It was indeed the place where the Rebbe welcomed people from all walks of life during all hours of the day and night and made them feel at home. In stark contrast to that, the Rebbe’s house at 1304 President Street was given tremendous privacy and treated as a sacred fortress.

1304 President street, Brooklyn, NY 11213

The elegant three-story home is located between Brooklyn and New York Avenues on a two-block stretch once known as “Doctor’s Row.” Its early 20th-century mansions, built in an era of economic prosperity before The Great Depression, resembles a wealthy suburb with its hilltop mansions and tall trees.

The house is a lowrise, red-brick building sitting on a 5,651-square-foot lot. A decorative stone flourish adorns the front middle window, and a row of green trim graces the top of the structure just beneath the roof, like a crown, giving the home personality and character.

The first listed occupant of the home was Mary Kearns. A successful businessman named Peter Burden also lived there briefly. Later, Samuel Greenblatt, a known Jewish philanthropist, lived there with his wife and four children.

1940 346 New York Avenue. The home exudes a quiet, old-world class, making it a fitting residence for a leader.

Shortly after moving in, the Rebbetzin told one of their aides, R’ Yaakov Holtzman, “My father [the Frierdiker Rebbe] always said to look for a modest house. Find a house that looks modest on the outside, even if you decorate it inside.”

According to the longtime caretaker of the house, R’ Sholom Ber Gansberg OBM, “The Rebbetzin did not change anything in the structure of the house, but with her talents, turned it into a house that radiated royalty.”

Real estate broker and philanthropist Morris D’lugasch and his wife, Sylvia, moved into the home in 1927. D’lugasch was also known for his charity and support of Jewish causes. After Morris passed away in 1943, the family lived in the house until 1957.

Locals recall that the home always seemed to be shrouded in an “aura of mystery and holiness.”

Chassidim treated the home with special awe and reverence, taking care to avoid standing around or loitering around the house. Neighbors often walked past the home briskly and usually did not stare longer than a passing glance.

Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch then purchased the home for the Rebbe and Rebbetzin, who lived until then in an apartment building nearby at

The Rebbe, especially the Rebbetzin, guarded their privacy and ensured a sharp boundary between their home and public lives. That

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than 770.

At the back of the house was the dinette with another table where the Rebbe and Rebbetzin ate on weekdays, usually in the evenings, when the Rebbe returned home from 770, sometimes only briefly before returning to continue his work and private meetings (Yechidus).

In the corner of the dinette was a telephone stand with a pushka (charity box). When the Rebbe came home to eat supper, he first took out the pushka, placed it on the table, and put in a nickel. Also on this stand was a Chumash the Rebbe used on Friday night to review the Parsha and a Siddur used for bentching. The Rebbe would light the menorah in the opposite corner, in the doorway between the dining room and the dinette.

2024 changed upon the passing of the Rebbetzin on Chof Beis Shvat 5748 (1988). In preparation for the burial, Yeshiva bochurim went in to say Tehillim near the Rebbetzin. “People are entering the Rebbe’s private abode,” one of them commented. “Until today, nobody had access to the house. Except for the few who worked there, everybody knew the Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s house was off-limits.”

The entrance to the house opened into a narrow foyer, which led into a large living room and a set of stairs to upper floors. In the center of the room, there were two semi-circular couches where the Rebbetzin received guests.

Visitors to the house described it as minimalist and simply furnished yet in good taste. The dining room had a large table and eight chairs.

An adjecant small room had cabinets for the chametz and Pesach dishes.

During Shiva, minyanim were held at the Rebbe’s house, and esteemed visitors conversed and offered condolences. Later on, the house was a secondary site for the Rebbe to extend blessings and dollars to charity, other

Off the dinette was a vintage kitchen with unchanged marble countertops, cabinets, and old appliances like a plain refrigerator, oven, and table for dairy meals. The Rebbe used the sink for Shabbos meals, and there was an old icebox serving as a storage closet on the kitchen porch.

The kitchen exited to the porch and backyard.

The porch also served as a sukkah for the Rebbe and Rebbetzin starting in 5738 and onward (in earlier years, they would put up a sukkah on the third floor).

The house is nowadays open to the public for tour groups and on special occasions. Walking tours are frequently requested from people around the world, according to Rabbi Mendy Krinsky, who is responsible for maintaining the property. The house also hosts occasional minyanim, women’s Rosh Chodesh gatherings, and Tehillim groups. Many note how fitting it is that a leader of the Jewish people lived on a street named President and in the neighborhood of Crown Heights.

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