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The Tiferes Turning Point Volume 1, Issue 4 Sivan, 5762 (June, 2002)
Fixed Bearings, a word from the Director Catching the Wind, a student profile Navigating the Currents, lessons for change High Tide at Tiferes, observations
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-a word from the Director, Rabbi Avrohom Lipskier
We find ourselves now in Sivan, the month when the Torah was given.
Our sages tell us that the Jewish people had to prepare themselves in order to receive the Torah from G-d. One of the most essential aspects of this preparation was unity. On the first day of the month of Sivan, when the Jews reached the desert of Sinai, the Torah tells us, “vayichan shom Yisroel,” and Israel encamped there. The word “encamped” is written in the singular. The great Torah commentator, Rashi, explains, ”K’ish echod b’lev echod” - like one person with one heart. The entire nation was completely united in their desire to receive the Torah and to fulfill G-d’s commandments. As the Torah tells us later on that the entire nation all proclaimed together “na’aseh v’nishma – we will do (obey) and then we will understand”. This means that while they were united in their commitment to fulfill G-d’s commandments, it was in a way that superceded whether or not they understood them.
We can approach the Torah by studying and understanding it with our intelligence, but this will not bring us to its essence. Chassidus explains that the essence of the Torah is G-d’s desire to have a dwelling place in this world. This means more than just making room for Hashem’s Presence in the world. It means to actually greet Him face to face. We achieve this through reaching the essence of the Torah. Since this means that we are relating to the Torah in a very pure and abstract way, it is obvious that it cannot be achieved through our limited and inadequate powers of intellect and emotion. It is only through accessing our own pure essence that we can reach the essence of Torah.
In this regard receiving the Torah entails putting aside our egoistic drives and selfish desires. These forces limit and restrict us from reaching and accessing our essence. They also separate us from each other, whether it is to one degree or another. By removing this “outer self” it makes it possible to reach our inner, essential self, and become “like one person with one heart.“
Furthermore, ‘Na’aseh V’nishma,’ demonstrated the willingness of the people to submit themselves completely to Hashem and to become His subjects. This is the quality of the desert where the Torah was given. Unlike the oceans and the mountains that have inherently great qualities, the desert signifies humility and simplicity. Such a great revelation as at Mount Sinai can only be experienced through honest humility and the willingness to follow G-d’s commandments wholeheartedly. This is referred to in Chassidus as “bitul” and “kabolos ol.”
Similarly, now that we are standing before the great revelation of the final Redemption we must prepare ourselves. The Rebbe says, “Moshiach has been appointed, he is already here and revealed, what we need to do is greet him and welcome him.” Moshiach is the essence of the Jewish People and the way to receive him is through following in the ways of our ancestors at Mount Sinai. As the Rebbe said, “L’kabel pnei Moshiach Tzedkeinu,” one cannot experience the revelation of Moshiach through the limited faculties of intellect and emotion alone.
None of this, however, precludes the need to still learn as part of our service, especially about Moshiach and the Redemption. This will help us to better fulfill our mission to make “a dwelling place for G-d in this world”. Through our efforts we will certainly merit to see the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach in 770, Beis Moshiach, with our eyes of flesh, greeting him with song and dance and following him out of Exile, now mamesh.
We must share this with our families and with whomever we are able to reach out to and this will also help us to receive the Torah with joy and with inwardness. |
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A student profile, by Bentzion Wasserman
Hatzoloh! Hatzoloh! There is as yet no established place in the “Seder” of Pesach to “pass-out” unconscious. This detail notwithstanding, after his second halachically-mandated cup of wine during the first Pesach Seder of this year, Reb C., one of the students at Yeshiva Tiferes Menachem - Sea Gate, did just that. After coming-to after a few seconds with his head plopped down on the seder-table, Reb C. was whisked to Methodist Hospital in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, about a 45-minute walk from Crown Heights. This was my decision. Having shared a residence with Reb Chaim for the past year in the Yeshiva dormitory, my sense was that he was fine. However, even with the color returned to his cheeks, and certain that he was speaking and thinking clearly without any complaints of pain anywhere in his body, I still felt that it was best for him to be seen by an Emergency Room Doctor. This would confirm that his episode of “syncope of unknown etiology” was circumstantial and nothing to worry about.
Forgetting that Emergency Room Doctors “never” send home “syncope’s”, Michoel, the other yeshiva student along with myself, were surprised to find Reb C. in bed on the 6th floor of the hospital when we went to pick him up the next morning. After speaking with the resident responsible for in-patient care on the 6th floor, it was understood that Reb C. passed-out at “some BIG party” (this is what was actually noted in the on-call resident’s admission history & physical report), that the laboratory work-up was negative for any serious known cause of syncopy. Since Reb C. told the Doctor’s that he was “feeling a little wobbly” (which was the actual wording in the medical chart) it was decided that he would be staying in the hospital at least until the next morning. Resigned to being on the 6th floor of the hospital for the second Pesach Seder, it was decided to bring Pesach to Reb C. at Methodist Hospital.
On our first walk back to Crown Heights, we bumped into a “Dad” who was on his way to visit a “Mom with new baby” at the hospital. “Dad” had all the stuff with him to make a Pesach Seder. We agreed that when we would return to make Reb C’s Seder, we would look for “Dad” to share the Seder or at least to say a Gut Yom Tov and a Mazel Tov. When we got back to Crown Heights Michoel and I were able to get everything anyone would need for a first-rate Pesach Seder. Farbrengen wine, shmurah matzos, Shulchan Aruch, chometz-free plastic cups, karpas, haggados, etc.
We returned to the hospital after sunset on the second Seder night. I took the stairs to the 6th floor to let Reb Chaim know we had brought everything for the Seder. He changed from his hospital gown into his festive clothing. The plan was to conduct the Seder in the closet-like patient conference room across the hall from his hospital bed. I saw that Reb C. needed a few more minutes to get ready, so I went down to help Michoel bring everything up to the 6th floor.
On the way we decided to stop first on the 3rd floor by the “Moms and newborns” to say “Gut Yom Tov” and to see if their accommodations were any less cramped than we expected ours to be. We found “Mom and baby” comfortable and tired, but “Dad” had been sent back home to Crown Heights. Although it was after visiting-hours and the charge-nurse for the unit gave us only 30 minutes to make our “Jewish holiday Passover dinner”, we made a bedside Seder for mom and baby, which finished nearly three hours later. Michoel piloted the most graceful Pesach Seder ever accomplished on an adjustable bedside hospital tray. I assisted and “Mom and baby” starred.
Meanwhile, Reb C. was waiting for us on the sixth floor. There was no time to let him know we were making Seder #1 for “Mom and baby”. We didn’t start Seder #2 until after midnight. Michoel and I then reversed roles. When finally we finished it was a short time before 3 AM. We felt so elated that we danced our way out of the revolving doors of the hospital and made our way back to Crown Heights. The nurses encouraged us that they would not let us do this again anytime soon.
Reb Chaim was discharged from Methodist Hospital that Friday before Shabbos. He was feeling well and decided to join the walk to Boro Park Shabbos day Chol Hamoed Pesach. This is a customary walk instituted by the Rebbe that Lubavitcher Chassidim (and anyone else who’s interested) make to other nearby neighborhoods in order to help spread the joy of the Holiday. A Rabbi on the walk struck up a conversation and asked Reb Chaim if his Sedorim were enjoyable. Reb Chaim shrugged, and answered yes. The Rabbi followed-up his question by mentioning to Reb Chaim that the wife and newborn baby of his friend had made a Seder with two “angels” at Methodist Hospital. Reb Chaim told me that he responded to the Rabbi with “the biggest smile of my life” and that he was also familiar with the same story. |
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- lessons for change, by Rabbi Y.Y. Greenberg
Hatzoloh! Hatzoloh! There is as yet no established place in the “Seder” of Pesach to “pass-out” unconscious. This detail notwithstanding, after his second halachically-mandated cup of wine during the first Pesach Seder of this year, Reb C., one of the students at Yeshiva Tiferes Menachem - Sea Gate, did just that. After coming-to after a few seconds with his head plopped down on the seder-table, Reb C. was whisked to Methodist Hospital in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, about a 45-minute walk from Crown Heights. This was my decision. Having shared a residence with Reb Chaim for the past year in the Yeshiva dormitory, my sense was that he was fine. However, even with the color returned to his cheeks, and certain that he was speaking and thinking clearly without any complaints of pain anywhere in his body, I still felt that it was best for him to be seen by an Emergency Room Doctor. This would confirm that his episode of “syncope of unknown etiology” was circumstantial and nothing to worry about.
Forgetting that Emergency Room Doctors “never” send home “syncope’s”, Michoel, the other yeshiva student along with myself, were surprised to find Reb C. in bed on the 6th floor of the hospital when we went to pick him up the next morning. After speaking with the resident responsible for in-patient care on the 6th floor, it was understood that Reb C. passed-out at “some BIG party” (this is what was actually noted in the on-call resident’s admission history & physical report), that the laboratory work-up was negative for any serious known cause of syncopy. Since Reb C. told the Doctor’s that he was “feeling a little wobbly” (which was the actual wording in the medical chart) it was decided that he would be staying in the hospital at least until the next morning. Resigned to being on the 6th floor of the hospital for the second Pesach Seder, it was decided to bring Pesach to Reb C. at Methodist Hospital.
On our first walk back to Crown Heights, we bumped into a “Dad” who was on his way to visit a “Mom with new baby” at the hospital. “Dad” had all the stuff with him to make a Pesach Seder. We agreed that when we would return to make Reb C’s Seder, we would look for “Dad” to share the Seder or at least to say a Gut Yom Tov and a Mazel Tov. When we got back to Crown Heights Michoel and I were able to get everything anyone would need for a first-rate Pesach Seder. Farbrengen wine, shmurah matzos, Shulchan Aruch, chometz-free plastic cups, karpas, haggados, etc.
We returned to the hospital after sunset on the second Seder night. I took the stairs to the 6th floor to let Reb Chaim know we had brought everything for the Seder. He changed from his hospital gown into his festive clothing. The plan was to conduct the Seder in the closet-like patient conference room across the hall from his hospital bed. I saw that Reb C. needed a few more minutes to get ready, so I went down to help Michoel bring everything up to the 6th floor.
On the way we decided to stop first on the 3rd floor by the “Moms and newborns” to say “Gut Yom Tov” and to see if their accommodations were any less cramped than we expected ours to be. We found “Mom and baby” comfortable and tired, but “Dad” had been sent back home to Crown Heights. Although it was after visiting-hours and the charge-nurse for the unit gave us only 30 minutes to make our “Jewish holiday Passover dinner”, we made a bedside Seder for mom and baby, which finished nearly three hours later. Michoel piloted the most graceful Pesach Seder ever accomplished on an adjustable bedside hospital tray. I assisted and “Mom and baby” starred.
Meanwhile, Reb C. was waiting for us on the sixth floor. There was no time to let him know we were making Seder #1 for “Mom and baby”. We didn’t start Seder #2 until after midnight. Michoel and I then reversed roles. When finally we finished it was a short time before 3 AM. We felt so elated that we danced our way out of the revolving doors of the hospital and made our way back to Crown Heights. The nurses encouraged us that they would not let us do this again anytime soon.
Reb Chaim was discharged from Methodist Hospital that Friday before Shabbos. He was feeling well and decided to join the walk to Boro Park Shabbos day Chol Hamoed Pesach. This is a customary walk instituted by the Rebbe that Lubavitcher Chassidim (and anyone else who’s interested) make to other nearby neighborhoods in order to help spread the joy of the Holiday. A Rabbi on the walk struck up a conversation and asked Reb Chaim if his Sedorim were enjoyable. Reb Chaim shrugged, and answered yes. The Rabbi followed-up his question by mentioning to Reb Chaim that the wife and newborn baby of his friend had made a Seder with two “angels” at Methodist Hospital. Reb Chaim told me that he responded to the Rabbi with “the biggest smile of my life” and that he was also familiar with the same story. |
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by Dr. Shmuel Farber
I can truly say that I’ve appreciated and greatly benefited from my association with the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Yeshiva, Tiferes Menachem and its Director, Rabbi Avrohom Lipskier. About one year and a half ago I was introduced to the Yeshiva in Sea Gate, NY. Over that time I became an ardent supporter and gave generously to help the Yeshiva. In fact, I gave more tzedokah last year than I’ve ever given before. But the miraculous thing was that G-d paid me back 10 times as much just as our sages say, “tithe to become rich!”
Tzedokah, no matter how worthy, is often a difficult mitzvah. For most of us, it’s hard not to be selfish. On the other hand, giving to the needy with a happy countenance is one of the most pleasing mitzvahs in the world. The act of giving in a way that pleases G-d makes Him want to give back to the giver. Not only that, but it makes life easier, more enjoyable and as if G-d molds the world for the person who gives.
A challenging mitzvah like this, with such great reward hanging in the balance, is certainly a great test of faith. But, as I pointed out, one can see the results even in this world. Especially, when through tzedokah, one can become connected to Rabbis and, even more so, Chassidishe Rabbis. One can draw down powerful influences from above that hold great respect for the giver and shines special light into his life and into the world in general. Sometimes, its just a matter of divorcing oneself from silly and petty habits and opening his consciousness to the true meaning of life, namely Torah and mitzvos. For one without the other is like a pen without paper, bread without water, and man without woman.
Best wishes and thanks for the opportunity to give.
Shmuel |
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