***************************************************************** L'CHAIM ISSUE No. 15 ***************************************************************** 9 Tamuz, 5748 Parshat Chukat June 24, 1988 ***************************************************************** THE WEEKLY PUBLICATION FOR EVERY JEWISH PERSON Dedicated to the memory of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson N.E. ***************************************************************** GARDENING TIPS Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the great English poet of the Romantic period, was once talking with a man who told him that he did not believe in giving children any religious instruction whatsoever. His theory was that the child's mind should not be prejudiced in any direction, but when the child came to years of discretion, he should be permitted to choose his religious opinions for himself. Coleridge said nothing, but after a while he asked his visitor if he would like to see his garden. The man said he would, and Coleridge took him out into the garden, where only weeds were growing. The man looked at Coleridge in surprise, and said, "Why this is not a garden! There are nothing but weeds here!" "Well, you see," answered Coleridge, "I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way. I was just giving the garden a chance to express itself and to choose its own production." *** Many people today have the same attitude as Coleridge's visitor about our children's Jewish education. The result is that literally hundreds of thousands of Jewish children around the world are being brought up with a minimal or no Jewish education. Now, more than ever, we have the opportunity to give our children the solid foundation in their Jewish heritage that they so rightly deserve. Jewish Day Schools and Yeshivas abound, operated according to the guidelines of the Torah. Excellent Jewish schools can be found in every major U.S. city, and in many minor ones, too. Almost all of them boast secular studies departments that can match or top any private school. Graduates of Day Schools and yeshivas can be found at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, NYU, Oxford, and the Sorbonne. Jewish schools produce roses, not weeds. We, the parents of present and future generations, need to become gardeners. By firmly planting our most precious, young flowers in the nourishing soil of a Jewish education, we ensure that they will grow to be prize-winning specimens in the future. ***************************************************************** LIVING WITH THE TIMES ***************************************************************** THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION ***************************************************************** "This is the statute of the Torah that G-d commanded..." With these words, our Torah portion *Chukat*--also known as "The Red Heifer" (*parshat para adumah*)--begins. This portion describes the special red heifer sacrifice, whose ashes purified those who had become impure through coming in contact with a dead person. The word "statute" (*chuk* in Hebrew), in describing the above-mentioned mitzva, is of great importance. In general, the 613 mitzvot of the Torah are divided into three categories: 1) mitzvot that, according to logic, a person would keep, such as not stealing or murdering, etc.; 2) mitzvot that we ourselves would not necessarily have come up with but make sense -- such as eating matza on Passover as a remembrance of our exodus from Egypt; and 3) statutes, mitzvot that don't have any possible, logical explanation -- such as the that of "red heifer." It is quite natural for a person to perform the "logical," understandable mitzvot with greater joy and devotion; however, the performance of statutes has an advantage over that of the other mitzvot. When a Jew performs a mitzva that is above his intellect, only because G-d commanded it, he immeasurably strengthens his connection with G-d, by subjecting his intellect to G-d. This concept, of nullifying one's intellect before G-d's will, is not essential to the other types of mitzvot. For example, in most cases, when a person honors his father and mother, not once does he bring G-d into consideration. Because honoring his parents is a logical and even socially oriented mitzva, he may lose any feeling that it is a G-d-given commandment. However, with regard to a statute, it is impossible to forget that he is only performing it at G-d's command. Chasidic philosophy explains that the word "chok" is similar to the word *chakika*, engraved. There are two ways in which we may write: by putting ink on paper or by engraving. The difference between them is that when we write with ink we are joining two distinct substances -- ink and paper. But, when we engrave on stone, for instance, the letters are not something separate from what they are written on. Rather, they are part of the stone itself. The same is true when performing statutes. Other mitzvot combine two separate entities, such as logic and faith. Yet the connection with G-d which results from the statutes in not based on anything other than the will to serve G-d. Therefore, the statute is the purist union with G-d which can exist. Adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. ***************************************************************** SLICE OF LIFE ***************************************************************** THE PILOT CHASID Every morning at about 4 a.m., a rather beaten-up car pulls up at the Afula airport, where the crop-dusting planes stand waiting. Out of the car steps a most-unlikely looking figure. Gideon Sharon, traditional fringes swaying as he walks quickly to the cockpit of the plane, still evokes disbelieving stares from farmers whose crops he flies over each morning, dusting and spraying. Gideon is not bothered by any of this. The former combat pilot knows that not only is this an honorable way of making a living but he can finish his work early and then have most of the day to spend learning Torah. Sharon was born in Tivon, Israel, and grew up in a non-observant home. "When I would see a religious person I would think: Look at that poor fellow who was raised to believe nonsense. Today I see that, for the first 25 years of my life, I simply did not understand that there is no logical reason to be a Jew without Torah and mitzvot, obeying the will of G-d." Gideon joined the Air Force, finished a pilots' course, and became a Skyhawk Fighter Pilot in 1970. He was so good that he was appointed an instructor. With the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, he was sent to bomb Syrian positions in the Golan Heights. During his mission he was hit by a ground-to-air-missile and his plane began to lose altitude. Gideon managed to direct the plane back over Israeli territory, where he bailed out. Less than two weeks later he was again in the air, in a new Skyhawk. Again he was hit, but this time bailed out over Egyptian territory. He was captured and for months no word was heard of him. Only when the Egyptians published a list of prisoners did his distraught family learn that he was still alive. "When I was in captivity, I had time to think about many things," said Sharon. "I wondered why I was alive; what it is all about. When you are wrapped up in day to day living you simply do not have time to think. In prison, you ask yourself questions. "Nevertheless, when I was freed I did not make any drastic change in my life. I finished my army service and in 1974, I was offered a job by the Israel Aviation Industries in South America. I was always an adventurer, and decided that I would take the job for awhile and then spend my time traveling around the continent." This is exactly what Gideon did. In Peru, he met Lilly, his future wife. When Gideon got back to Israel, without his knowing, a friend had registered him in a course for training crop-dusting pilots. "For no reason, I decided that I would take the course. "Today, I can see the hand of G-d in this. I am able to make a good living for my family and have many hours to sit and learn." Not long after, Lilly returned from Peru and the two decided to marry. Lilly, who came from a traditional family, asked him to promise two things; to keep a kosher home and not to travel on the Sabbath. "The first was no problem," says Gideon, "but the second was difficult. I was 'coerced' into it. "They were married. In the first few months after they were married, Gideon decided to drop in at the Chabad House in Afula. He looked upon it as yet another adventure of sorts but was taken tremendously by their sympathetic manner. "I found out that a religious person can give many answers as to why a Jew should do mitzvot, while the irreligious person cannot give one good reason as to why not to do them." Parallel to Gideon's contacts with Chabad, Lilly began to meet with Chabad women. She soon became observant. On his 27th birthday, she bought him a pair of tefilin. A few months later, on Rosh Hashana, he decided to "do it all" and become fully observant. Today, when Gideon is not flying, or learning, or teaching his children, he is busy with Chabad activities. He drives one of the "Mitzva Tanks" and is in great demand as a speaker. "Today, I am a different person," he says, with deep satisfaction. The ex-fighter pilot is still flying high--in the heavens of Torah. ***************************************************************** WHAT'S NEW? ***************************************************************** DAY TO DAY The Lubavitch publishing House, Kehot, has just released three new books. One of these books, entitled From Day to Day is a translation of Chabad aphorisms, stories and lessons compiled by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, shlita, from the works of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. There is one thought for every day of the year, each with a unique message. Although this book has been published many times in other languages, this is the first time it is being released in English. CHABAD HOUSE IN ROCHESTER, MN A new Chabad House is just opening in the city of Rochester, Minnesota. It will be run by Rabbi David and Chanie Greene and will serve people in that city, including visitors and patients at the famous Mayo Clinic. Rabbi Greene is originally from Minneapolis. Minnesota is proud to welcome back one of its native sons. A CAMP FOR EVERY CHILD "This year, there will not be a city, settlement or village that doesn't have, G-d willing, a day camp infused with the proper Jewish spirit." So read an announcement in the Israeli magazine, "Kfar Chabad." Under the auspices of the central Lubavitch Youth Organization in Israel, and at the behest of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Lubavitcher Youth is trying to ensure that the children spend their summer vacation productively and in an appropriate environment. ***************************************************************** INSIGHTS ***************************************************************** BEYOND REASON The sacrifice of the red heifer is usually singled out as the prime example of a *chok*, a commandment which cannot be explained through logical reasoning. In the times of the Holy Temple, this animal was prepared in order to purify those who had become *tameh*, or spiritually impure, through contact with a dead body. Even this most severe level of impurity could be nullified through the red heifer sacrifice. Curiously enough, despite the purifying powers, all those who were involved in the preparation of this animal themselves became impure. The impure became pure, and the pure impure! This is more than just beyond reason -- it is contrary to reason! SOMETIMES IT'S LOGICAL TO BE ILLOGICAL Although we are incapable of truly understanding mitzvot of this sort, we nevertheless have the obligation to contemplate their significance and derive lessons in how to be better Jews. One manner in which we can learn from this particular mitzva is by first analyzing a section from the Megilla which is read on Purim. The Jewish leader Mordechai discovered Haman's plan to destroy the Jewish people when Queen Esther passed this information to him through Hasach; who, the Megillah relates, told Mordechai, "everything that had happened to him." The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, when discussing this passage, would say, "that had happened TO HIM!"--i.e., that Mordechai personally experienced the news as if it had been directed against he himself. He promptly donned clothes of mourning, and took upon himself to fast and pray. Mordechai had a high governmental position, and had less to fear than the rest of the Jewish people. Nevertheless, when he heard that the Jews were in distress, it became his own personal problem, and his emotions were affected as if the bad news had been directed against him. Mordechai's reaction presents a lesson to us all. When we see someone else in a predicament, spiritual or physical, we must not remain aloof. It must affect us personally, and activate us to the extent that we take positive action to rectify the situation. YOUR PROBLEM IS MY PROBLEM A similar lesson is conveyed by this law of the red heifer, in which the one involved in the purification process himself became impure. Many Jews today can be compared to one who has come in contact with a dead body--they have been isolated from the Torah and their Jewish heritage, referred to as the "tree of life." Those that have had the benefit of a Jewish education have no right to remain distant, snug, and self-satisfied. The other person's lack must be felt as if it has occurred "TO HIM," driving him to personal involvement. This degree of empathy, innate in Jews, is expressed by the law of the red heifer, in that the one who does the purifying himself becomes impure. True, his impurity is not as severe as the one he has purified, but he is nevertheless affected and transformed by the other's problem. We can only help others after we gain a true appreciation of their situation. Therefore, the only way in which purification can come about is if one becomes slightly "impure," i.e., permeated with a feeling of the other person's plight. This idea is especially important for today's generation, when thousands upon thousands of Jewish children grow up without the benefit of even the slightest trace of an authentic Jewish education. We must all feel their plight as if it is our own, and do all within our power to rectify the situation. ***************************************************************** WHAT'S IN A NAME? ***************************************************************** YOSEF (Joseph) means, "G-d will add." Yosef was one of the twelve sons of Yakov from his wife, Rachel (Genesis 30:24). There were many great sages with the name Yosef. A variant form is Yosi, the name of many Jerusalem and Babylonian scholars. Yosel is the Yiddish diminutive form. YEDIDA means "beloved of G-d." Yedida was the mother of King Yoshiayahu--Josia (Kings II 22:1). ***************************************************************** A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR ***************************************************************** This Monday, June 27, is the 12th of Tamuz. On this day in 1927, the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, o.b.m., was informed he would be released from prison. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok had been imprisoned by the anti-religious Communist regime for his efforts to strengthen Torah and Judaism in Russia. Originally he was sentenced to death; later, through American intervention it was commuted to three years in exile and finally all charges were dropped. It is told that KGB agents once burst into his home, "warning" him to stop his work. "My activities are legal according to Soviet law. I see no reason to stop them," he calmly replied. One of the agents waved a gun at him. "This little toy has made many a man change his mind!" "This little toy," retorted the Rebbe, "can intimidate only a man with two gods and one world. I, however, have one G-d and two worlds." Such was the indomitable spirit of the previous Rebbe, leader of Russian Jewry and staunch champion of the conviction that America could also become a center for Torah and Jewish life. The life of this great leader can be inspiring for us, today. Let us emulate the unflinching, resolute determination of the previous Rebbe, in all matters pertaining to our "one G-d and two worlds." And let us each do all we can to continue the work of the Rebbe, in strengthening Torah and Judaism all over the world. Then, the celebration of the 12th of Tamuz will be not just someone else's day of liberation, but indeed our very own. Rabbi Shmuel Butman ***************************************************************** IT HAPPENED ONCE ***************************************************************** It was market day in the small town of Lubavitch in White Russia. The streets were filled with farmers and wagons. Eleven-year-old Yosef Yitzchok was walking home. Along the way he met Reb Dovid, the Butcher, hurrying to the market with a calf swung over his shoulder, a young lamb in his arms, and a basket of chickens hanging in front of him. Reb Dovid's face lit up when he saw Yosef Yitzchok, the only son of his Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dov-Ber of Lubavitch. "I hope with G-d's help to earn well at the market today," Reb Dovid said to Yosef Yitzchok. Hardly had the words left his mouth when a policeman came running over and struck Reb Dovid in the face. Yosef was enraged at the unprovoked attack. "Filthy drunk!" he yelled at the policeman, pushing him away from Reb Dovid with all of his strength. But, Yosef was hardly a match for a grown man. The policeman ordered one of his assistants to arrest the young boy. He was roughly pushed and pulled through the busy market crowds until they reached the police station. There, his "crime" was reported; he had supposedly torn the policeman's medal off of his uniform and prevented him from fulfilling his duty. The station officer looked at the boy with contempt. He slapped the boy in the face, then led him by the ear to a dark cell. Yosef Yitzchok was beside himself with fright. Then, suddenly, he thought, "I am sitting in jail just like my famous and holy grandfathers who were imprisoned for defending Jews and Judais! I should occupy myself with Torah-study as they did." In the gloom of the cell he started repeating chapters of Torah by heart. Suddenly he heard a long, drawn-out groan coming from the corner. He forced himself to concentrate on the words of Torah and moved away from the corner. Again there came the frightening groaning, accompanied by the noise of desperate struggling. Terror seized Yosef Yitzchok, until he remembered that he had a box of matches with him! He struck a match, and saw lying in the corner of the cell a calf, with its legs tied and a muzzle over its mouth. Yosef Yitzchok's fears were quieted. In a little while Yosef Yitzchok heard footsteps. His cell door opened. The officer who had thrown him into the cell pleaded, "Forgive me, I didn't know who you were. Have pity on me. Don't tell the chief that I hit you and mistreated you." In the police chief's office, Yosef Yitzchok saw Reb Dovid, the butcher and a policeman. Two witnesses from the Jewish community were there on Reb Dovid's behalf. The policeman was claiming that the calf Reb Dovid had taken to market was stolen from another butcher. The witnesses testified that Reb Dovid had bought the calf himself. As the case proceeded, Mr. Silverbrod, a representative of Yosef Yitzchok's family, arrived with a note for the police chief. The chief read the note and said that the boy should be released. Yosef Yitzchok told Mr. Silverbrod about the calf he had seen in the jail cell. Mr. Silverbrod immediately realized that this was the calf which had been stolen. The police chief was informed and, upon investigation, found out that the calf had indeed been stolen and hidden by the policeman who had attacked Reb Dovid and accused him of stealing it. Yosef Yitzchok's father was very proud of him. "You did well to defend an upright and honest Jew," he said, "even if you suffered for several hours. And now you have found out how good it is to know parts of Torah by heart. Indeed, without it, how would you have been any different than the calf which was in the jail with you?" The young boy, later to become the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, wrote in his diary: "Father's words became engraved in my mind and in my heart: To love and hold dear every Jew, to defend the honor of a Jew even when dangerous to do so; and to store away a "provision" of Torah. ***************************************************************** THOUGHTS THAT COUNT ***************************************************************** "You shall take to yourself a Red Heifer" (Numbers 19:2). We find a puzzling aspect to the laws of the red heifer which is unique among the laws of the Torah. The same ashes which purified the spiritually impure rendered unclean the pure. A similar uniqueness can be found in the trait haughtiness. There are some who justify their lack of adherence to the laws of Torah by saying that they and their acts are of little significance to GÄd. For them a little pride would be in order. On the other hand, if one who does observe the Torah allows his piety to go to his head he will undoubtedly drag himself down. (Baal Shem Tov) *** "This is the Law: a man..." (19:14). The Torah law is arranged like a human body. There are 248 limbs and 365 sinews in the human body just as there are 248 positive commandments and 365 negative commandments in the Torah. In fact, each part of the body draws its spiritual energy from the corresponding commandment. (Likutei Torah) *** "They wept for Aaron thirty days, all the House of Israel" (20:29). The men and the women all mourned Aaron for he used to pursue peace, and bring love among men of strife and between a husband and wife. (Rashi) If two people were involved in an argument, Aaron would approach one and say, "My child, I was just with your friend. He was berating himself for the way he had treated you." Aaron would not move from the spot until the person agreed to make peace with the other one. Then Aaron went to the second person and said similar things until he, too, agreed to make peace. When the two met, they would hug each other like old friends. (Yalkut) *****************************************************************