WAVE LENGTH

The heavenly decree was sealed: "The Beis HaMikdash should be destroyed, and the Jews should be

driven out of their land!" Then G-d said, "But the Kosel HaMaaravi should not be destroyed, so that there should always be a reminder that G-d's Glory is there!"

Titus, the cruel Roman general, went on with his work of destruction. When he took Yerushalayim and surrounded the Beis HaMikdash, he divided the four walls between his four generals, and he ordered each one to destroy his wall.

Three of them destroyed their walls, but the fourth, whose job it was to destroy the Kosel HaMaaravi, did not destroy it.

Titus ordered his guards to bring that

general before him. "Why did you not carry out my orders?" he thundered.

"I swear by the Roman Emperor's life," the general

replied, "that I did it for the honor of Rome. Had I destroyed the last wall, people would not know how great a sanctuary you had destroyed. Now, all who will see the remaining wall of the majestic Temple will exclaim: "What a hero Titus is! Look what a great temple he has destroyed!"

"You are right, and you acted wisely," Titus answered him, "but because you did not obey my command, climb up onto the top of the wall and jump off. If you will remain alive, I will forgive you."

The general obeyed...and fell to his death on the ground below.

The Jews could not and would not forget their Beis HaMikdash. Every year on Tisha b' Av, the Jews assembled at the Kosel Hamaaravi to pour out their hearts

about the destruction and ask Hashem to rebuild the Beis HaMikdash and to

bring back all Jews from the four corners of the earth to Eretz

Yisroel.

The Romans could not bear to see how much the Yidden kept to their religion and how holy they viewed the Kosel HaMaaravi.

The Roman rulers, therefore, issued an order to burn and destroy the Wall. It didn’t help; the fire did not burn the huge

Tayere yunge shluchim!Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback to the first two newsletters and for the essays you submitted.

The winner of last month’s raffle for $25 to Judaica World is D.Z., age 11.

You can read his essay on page 3.You could be the winner this coming month! Just read the story and the questions on which to base your essay, then write an essay and send it in before the 27th of Tishrei to Levi@yaldei.com.

As we approach a new year, our topic this month discusses viewing others who are a bit different. Let us make a hachlota to judge others favorably, the way we would want them to judge us and our siblings. This applies with our families at home, as well.

Let us hope that in the merit of us, the children, increasing our observance of this mitzvah in the coming year, we will see the third Bais HaMikdash rebuilt speedily in our days!

- Levi Raichik

P.S. Don’t know me yet? Read more about me and see our previous issues athttps://www.yaldei.com/sibnewsletter.html.

SIBL

ING

SIBL

ING

the

Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbeSPECIAL NEEDS ORGANIZATION

Volume 1 Issue 3

TISHREI 5774

HIDDEN MESSAGES Finding Your Story Between the Lines

ב“ה

\\

6 Tishrei The Passing of the Shpoler Zeide, 5572

Reb Yehuda Leib of Shpoleh, known as the Shpoler Zeide, was born on 25 Kislev, 5485 to his father Reb Boruch and later became one of the great talmidim of the Mezritcher Maggid. The Rebbe said that until proven otherwise, we can assume the Shpoler Zaide and Reb Leib Sara's were the same person. Reb Yehuda Leib was known for the miracles he performed, mainly in his dealings with kings and ministers. He was very much loved by the Alter Rebbe. He composed the niggun “Hop Kozak,” which the Rebbe often asked the Chassidim to sing. He passed away on 6 Tishrei, 5572.

Adapted from Lma'an Yishme'u, a publication of Merkaz Anash

13 Tishrei The Passing of Reb Akiva Eiger, 5598

Reb Akiva Eiger was born on 14 Cheshvan, 5522. After relocating a few times, he was appointed as the rov and rosh yeshiva of Poznan, Poland. He was one of the outstanding achronim, and he greatly affected the areas in learning of Gemara and halacha. He was known to be very modest and exceptionally humble. He passed away on the 13 Tishrei, 5598.

When Reb Akiva Eiger came to the city of Poznan where he was to become rov, he was brought in a chariot, harnessed to strong horses. With him sat his son-in-law, the Chasam Sofer, who had married his daughter two years before. The entire city came out to greet them and stood cheering at the sides of the road. The Chasam Sofer, who understood that this entire honor was meant for his father-in-law on his appointment as rov, climbed down the chariot and joined the crowds at the roadside. But after a bit of time, he looked up at the other side of the wagon and saw, to his astonishment, his father in-law Reb Akiva Eiger also walking at the side of the now empty wagon, apparently convinced that all this honor was being given to his great and learned son-in-law.

In 5591, a deadly plague of cholera hit east and central Europe, and Poznan was among the cities that were very strongly affected by the plague. Many areas in the city were closed off and deemed dangerous to enter. But Reb Akiva paid no heed to the warnings and went into the infected areas to help the sick people and comfort them. The king of Prussia, Frederick the Third, who heard of the rov’s heroic actions, honored him with a special badge of excellence.

Adapted from Lma'an Yishme'u, a publication of Merkaz Anash

30 Tishrei The Passing of Reb Yaakov Mordechai Bezpalov, 5676

Reb Yaakov Mordechai Bezpalov was one of the great chassidim of the Rebbe Maharash and the Rebbe Rashab and was one of only three people who received smicha from the Rebbe Maharash. For more than 35 years, he served as the rov of Poltava in Russia. Before the Rebbe Rashab accepted the nesius, he was his chavrusa and very close friend. He passed away on 30 of Tishrei, 5676.

The Frierdiker Rebbe describes a farbrengen at the sheva brochos of Reb Yaakov Mordechai:

In the middle of it all, [Reb Yaakov Mordechai] began to cry bitterly, to the degree that all those present were astounded. They asked him to stop crying, but it didn't help. Everyone began dancing, all besides Reb Yaakov Mordechai, who leaned his head on his hands and cried. When they poured cups to say l’chaim, he stopped crying and began to say in a tearful voice, “The Rebbe [Maharash] told me, “When there is a Rebbe, there are Chassidim, but Chassidim who do and work.” When a Chossid is not a Chossid, he makes his Rebbe no more a Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe was a Rebbe, and he made Chassidim. And the Chassidim, being that they were Chassidim who worked on themselves, they strengthened their Rebbe.”

Adapted from Lma'an Yishme'u, a publication of Merkaz Anash

DID YOU KNOW?Interesting Dates in Jewish History

Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbeMerkos Suite 302353 Kingston Avenue, Suite 302Brooklyn, NY 11213www.yaldei.com

Rabbi Levi RaichikSiblings Coordinator646-558-5800 Ext. 3levi@yaldei.com

stones, and the Kosel remained intact.

The Romans thought and thought until they hit upon a plan.

They issued an order that all goyim who live in Yerushalayim must dump their garbage daily near the Kosel HaMaaravi. They hoped that, in time, the Wall would be entirely covered with garbage and disappear from view.

Day in, day out, the heap of garbage grew near the Kosel HaMaaravi. Bit by bit, the whole Wall was covered. The gentiles rejoiced and the Jews mourned....

Many years went by. A holy Jew from exile came to Yerushalayim to pour out his heart to G-d over the destruction. He walked through the streets of Yerushalayim, seeking the Kosel HaMaaravi, but he could not find it. He asked the inhabitants, "Where is the Kosel?" They shrugged their shoulders, saying that they had never in their lives seen the Kosel HaMaaravi. The tzadik, however, did not give up hope. Day and night he went through the streets looking for the Wall. Once he came upon a huge hill of rubbish and garbage, and he wondered how there came to be such a huge accumulation of garbage at this place. Meanwhile, he noticed a very old gentile woman carrying a heavy sack on her back. Every few steps she stopped for a rest, and then proceeded further. The Jew went over to help her .

"Where do you come from, old woman, and what are you carrying?" the Yid asked her.

"I come from a village nearby, and I am carrying a sack of garbage to throw on the hill," she wearily replied.

The Jew inquired wonderingly: "Do you have no room in your village for garbage, that you are forced to bring it here?"

"You are a stranger here, it seems," the old lady answered. "It is an old custom for us to bring the garbage here. Once upon a time there stood here a huge stone wall that the Jews regarded as being holy, so we were ordered to cover it up with trash. We used to receive payment for doing this, but nowadays we don't receive a penny for it," the old woman croaked. She emptied her bundle and returned to her village.

The holy tzadik remained standing as if frozen. Tears poured from his eyes. "I will not leave Yerushalayim until I find a plan how to remove the dirt from here and reveal the Kosel HaMaaravi once more."

He remained standing a while, and suddenly his eyes lit up.

The Yid started back to town, and whomever he met he whispered into his ear: "They say that a big treasure lies buried beneath the hill of garbage over there...."

He took a shovel and a bucket and started digging in the garbage, filling a bucket and emptying it in a ravine on the side.

A short while later, many more people arrived with shovels, and buckets. The whole city of Yerushalayim was aroused at the announcement of a huge treasure lying beneath the hill. The whole population quickly settled down to work, digging and cleaning away the refuse.

They dug for a whole day till the upper stones of the Holy Temple came into view. The sun set, and the people went home to rest from their day's hard labor. Only one person remained on the hill—the Yid from exile. He embraced the stones of the wall and kissed them with tears in his eyes. He then took out some golden coins, buried them in the hill, and left.

The sun had hardly shown its face on the horizon, and the hill where the Kosel HaMaaravi stood was crowded with people.

What did people think the mound of garbage was before the tzadik came to Yerushalayim?

How do we sometimes judge someone by the way they look before we know them?

Do people sometimes stare at your sibling with special needs when you are with them, or are uncomfortable around them in other ways?

How do you react to what they do?

How do you feel about what they do?

THOUGH TS to PONDER

1

23

45Please write a 50-300 word essay on these

points and email it to levi@yaldei.com with your name and age.

Whatever we publish will be without your name unless you specifically write otherwise in your email.

Please send in your essays by 27 Tishrei to be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift

certificate to Hamafitz Judaica.

"They say that a big treasure lies buried beneath the hill of garbage over there...."

Continued on page 3

“If someone is autistic, it doesn't mean that that person dosen't relate to anyone. He might not relate well to people, but he relates to G-D as well as everyone else, and even more. Place a charity box in his room. This will benefit him, and he'll remind his visitors that they must give charity."

The Rebbe talking to Chazzan Yosef Malovany, who has a son with autism12 Kislev, 5750/December 10, 1989

WORDSof WISDOM

YOUR THOUGHTS

Why did the rich man help the other Yid?

Do you think it was easy for him to decide on the spot to give away so much money to someone he didn't even know?

Is it always easy for you to help your sibling with special needs, or is it sometimes hard?

How do you feel about it when it isn’t so easy for you?

Here are some of the responses we received:

LAS T MON TH’S QUES TIONS

1234

The rich man helped the other Yid because he cared about him since they were both Yidden, so Yidden care about each other. Just like my family on shlichus, we help a lot of Yidden since we care about them just because they are Yidden.

It probably wasn’t so easy for him to give away so much money, but he decided to do it since he saw what was happening to the other Yid and he cared about him. Just like us, it isn’t always easy to help other Yidden, yet we do it anyways because we care about them and that is what Hashem and the Rebbe want from us.

I think that this applies to me, as well. It isn’t always easy for me to help my brother. In fact, it can sometimes be really hard for me. He can sometimes drive me really crazy. But I know that I need to help him, even when it is really hard for me, since he is my brother. My parents explained to me how family always takes care of each other, even when it is really hard. Just because we care about each other, because he is my brother.

D.Z., age 11

I get very annoyed at my sister. When she makes a mess or gets her clothes dirty, I always need to help her. Then when I am trying to do something myself, she will wreck it or damage it. It is extremely hard for me. I complain to my parents about why do I always have to help her and why can’t they explain to her not to touch my stuff? They have told me that they know it isn’t always easy, but I have to understand that my sister doesn't know and understand all the things that I do. So we need to help her understand more and compliment her on what she does do better than she did before, instead of always screaming at her like I do sometimes. That will show her that we see all her effort and give her more incentive to try and get even better. I hear what they say, and I do get it, but it is very hard for me to do. I am working on myself to try and help her and not to scream at her. I try to keep my things away where she won’t touch them. It isn’t always easy, but I understand that it is very important for me to be good to her and try to always help her.

C.S., age 10

I have a little brother with special needs. He needs a lot of attention and help from my parents and from all of us. No, it isn’t always easy to help him with everything, but since, over time, we see how much he grows from our help and keeps accomplishing things that are amazing to actually see him doing, it gives me the strength to continue helping him so he can continue to grow more and more.

G.L., age 12

Suddenly there was an uproar. Someone had found a golden coin, and another found a second, and then a third. The people started to dig as though their lives depended on it.

Every day, the people assembled and dug deeper and deeper. They carried the dirt that they dug far away and went on digging. Every day, a few golden coins were found, but they all said that the real treasure lies at the bottom, at the very base of the Wall.

As for the Yid, he dug and dragged the dirt the same as everyone else, and he spent his entire fortune on his holy mission to uncover the Kosel HaMaaravi.

For 40 days, the inhabitants of Yerushalayim dug around the Wall and sought the treasure. Finally, the whole Kosel was cleared of garbage. They did not find the treasure, but in front of their eyes, a big stone wall had gradually appeared.

Suddenly, a great storm broke out, and a torrent of rain came down. It rained for three days and three nights, washing the Kosel HaMaaravi clean from any traces of dirt. When the people came out to see what they had unearthed, they saw before them a handsome wall with huge stones, some of them as much as ten feet high.

From then on, the Jews used to assemble by the Kosel HaMaaravi on Tisha b'Av to pour out their hearts to their Father in Heaven, praying for the complete redemption that He promised His people through our holy nevi'im.

On the spot where Avrohom brought Yitzchok to the Akeda, where stood the first Beis HaMikdash built by Shlomo HaMelech, and the second Beis HaMikdash built by Ezra and Nechemia, on this very spot the third and final Beis HaMikdash will be built, when the Moshiach will come speedily, we pray. The new Beis HaMikdash will far surpass in beauty and majesty even the first two, and once more the Kohanim will perform the holy avoda, the Leviim will sing their songs, and all nations will recognize Hashem as the One G-d. Then there will be a beautiful radiant world. No longer will the Kosel HaMaaravi be called the "Wailing Wall," for the sound of joy will ring throughout the streets of Yerushalayim.

Continued from page 2

stones, and the Kosel remained intact.

The Romans thought and thought until they hit upon a plan.

They issued an order that all goyim who live in Yerushalayim must dump their garbage daily near the Kosel HaMaaravi. They hoped that, in time, the Wall would be entirely covered with garbage and disappear from view.

Day in, day out, the heap of garbage grew near the Kosel HaMaaravi. Bit by bit, the whole Wall was covered. The gentiles rejoiced and the Jews mourned....

Many years went by. A holy Jew from exile came to Yerushalayim to pour out his heart to G-d over the destruction. He walked through the streets of Yerushalayim, seeking the Kosel HaMaaravi, but he could not find it. He asked the inhabitants, "Where is the Kosel?" They shrugged their shoulders, saying that they had never in their lives seen the Kosel HaMaaravi. The tzadik, however, did not give up hope. Day and night he went through the streets looking for the Wall. Once he came upon a huge hill of rubbish and garbage, and he wondered how there came to be such a huge accumulation of garbage at this place. Meanwhile, he noticed a very old gentile woman carrying a heavy sack on her back. Every few steps she stopped for a rest, and then proceeded further. The Jew went over to help her .

"Where do you come from, old woman, and what are you carrying?" the Yid asked her.

"I come from a village nearby, and I am carrying a sack of garbage to throw on the hill," she wearily replied.

The Jew inquired wonderingly: "Do you have no room in your village for garbage, that you are forced to bring it here?"

"You are a stranger here, it seems," the old lady answered. "It is an old custom for us to bring the garbage here. Once upon a time there stood here a huge stone wall that the Jews regarded as being holy, so we were ordered to cover it up with trash. We used to receive payment for doing this, but nowadays we don't receive a penny for it," the old woman croaked. She emptied her bundle and returned to her village.

The holy tzadik remained standing as if frozen. Tears poured from his eyes. "I will not leave Yerushalayim until I find a plan how to remove the dirt from here and reveal the Kosel HaMaaravi once more."

He remained standing a while, and suddenly his eyes lit up.

The Yid started back to town, and whomever he met he whispered into his ear: "They say that a big treasure lies buried beneath the hill of garbage over there...."

He took a shovel and a bucket and started digging in the garbage, filling a bucket and emptying it in a ravine on the side.

A short while later, many more people arrived with shovels, and buckets. The whole city of Yerushalayim was aroused at the announcement of a huge treasure lying beneath the hill. The whole population quickly settled down to work, digging and cleaning away the refuse.

They dug for a whole day till the upper stones of the Holy Temple came into view. The sun set, and the people went home to rest from their day's hard labor. Only one person remained on the hill—the Yid from exile. He embraced the stones of the wall and kissed them with tears in his eyes. He then took out some golden coins, buried them in the hill, and left.

The sun had hardly shown its face on the horizon, and the hill where the Kosel HaMaaravi stood was crowded with people.

What did people think the mound of garbage was before the tzadik came to Yerushalayim?

How do we sometimes judge someone by the way they look before we know them?

Do people sometimes stare at your sibling with special needs when you are with them, or are uncomfortable around them in other ways?

How do you react to what they do?

How do you feel about what they do?

THOUGH TS to PONDER

1

23

45Please write a 50-300 word essay on these

points and email it to levi@yaldei.com with your name and age.

Whatever we publish will be without your name unless you specifically write otherwise in your email.

Please send in your essays by 27 Tishrei to be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift

certificate to Hamafitz Judaica.

"They say that a big treasure lies buried beneath the hill of garbage over there...."

Continued on page 3

“If someone is autistic, it doesn't mean that that person dosen't relate to anyone. He might not relate well to people, but he relates to G-D as well as everyone else, and even more. Place a charity box in his room. This will benefit him, and he'll remind his visitors that they must give charity."

The Rebbe talking to Chazzan Yosef Malovany, who has a son with autism12 Kislev, 5750/December 10, 1989

WORDSof WISDOM

YOUR THOUGHTS

Why did the rich man help the other Yid?

Do you think it was easy for him to decide on the spot to give away so much money to someone he didn't even know?

Is it always easy for you to help your sibling with special needs, or is it sometimes hard?

How do you feel about it when it isn’t so easy for you?

Here are some of the responses we received:

LAS T MON TH’S QUES TIONS

1234

The rich man helped the other Yid because he cared about him since they were both Yidden, so Yidden care about each other. Just like my family on shlichus, we help a lot of Yidden since we care about them just because they are Yidden.

It probably wasn’t so easy for him to give away so much money, but he decided to do it since he saw what was happening to the other Yid and he cared about him. Just like us, it isn’t always easy to help other Yidden, yet we do it anyways because we care about them and that is what Hashem and the Rebbe want from us.

I think that this applies to me, as well. It isn’t always easy for me to help my brother. In fact, it can sometimes be really hard for me. He can sometimes drive me really crazy. But I know that I need to help him, even when it is really hard for me, since he is my brother. My parents explained to me how family always takes care of each other, even when it is really hard. Just because we care about each other, because he is my brother.

D.Z., age 11

I get very annoyed at my sister. When she makes a mess or gets her clothes dirty, I always need to help her. Then when I am trying to do something myself, she will wreck it or damage it. It is extremely hard for me. I complain to my parents about why do I always have to help her and why can’t they explain to her not to touch my stuff? They have told me that they know it isn’t always easy, but I have to understand that my sister doesn't know and understand all the things that I do. So we need to help her understand more and compliment her on what she does do better than she did before, instead of always screaming at her like I do sometimes. That will show her that we see all her effort and give her more incentive to try and get even better. I hear what they say, and I do get it, but it is very hard for me to do. I am working on myself to try and help her and not to scream at her. I try to keep my things away where she won’t touch them. It isn’t always easy, but I understand that it is very important for me to be good to her and try to always help her.

C.S., age 10

I have a little brother with special needs. He needs a lot of attention and help from my parents and from all of us. No, it isn’t always easy to help him with everything, but since, over time, we see how much he grows from our help and keeps accomplishing things that are amazing to actually see him doing, it gives me the strength to continue helping him so he can continue to grow more and more.

G.L., age 12

Suddenly there was an uproar. Someone had found a golden coin, and another found a second, and then a third. The people started to dig as though their lives depended on it.

Every day, the people assembled and dug deeper and deeper. They carried the dirt that they dug far away and went on digging. Every day, a few golden coins were found, but they all said that the real treasure lies at the bottom, at the very base of the Wall.

As for the Yid, he dug and dragged the dirt the same as everyone else, and he spent his entire fortune on his holy mission to uncover the Kosel HaMaaravi.

For 40 days, the inhabitants of Yerushalayim dug around the Wall and sought the treasure. Finally, the whole Kosel was cleared of garbage. They did not find the treasure, but in front of their eyes, a big stone wall had gradually appeared.

Suddenly, a great storm broke out, and a torrent of rain came down. It rained for three days and three nights, washing the Kosel HaMaaravi clean from any traces of dirt. When the people came out to see what they had unearthed, they saw before them a handsome wall with huge stones, some of them as much as ten feet high.

From then on, the Jews used to assemble by the Kosel HaMaaravi on Tisha b'Av to pour out their hearts to their Father in Heaven, praying for the complete redemption that He promised His people through our holy nevi'im.

On the spot where Avrohom brought Yitzchok to the Akeda, where stood the first Beis HaMikdash built by Shlomo HaMelech, and the second Beis HaMikdash built by Ezra and Nechemia, on this very spot the third and final Beis HaMikdash will be built, when the Moshiach will come speedily, we pray. The new Beis HaMikdash will far surpass in beauty and majesty even the first two, and once more the Kohanim will perform the holy avoda, the Leviim will sing their songs, and all nations will recognize Hashem as the One G-d. Then there will be a beautiful radiant world. No longer will the Kosel HaMaaravi be called the "Wailing Wall," for the sound of joy will ring throughout the streets of Yerushalayim.

Continued from page 2

WAVE LENGTH

The heavenly decree was sealed: "The Beis HaMikdash should be destroyed, and the Jews should be

driven out of their land!" Then G-d said, "But the Kosel HaMaaravi should not be destroyed, so that there should always be a reminder that G-d's Glory is there!"

Titus, the cruel Roman general, went on with his work of destruction. When he took Yerushalayim and surrounded the Beis HaMikdash, he divided the four walls between his four generals, and he ordered each one to destroy his wall.

Three of them destroyed their walls, but the fourth, whose job it was to destroy the Kosel HaMaaravi, did not destroy it.

Titus ordered his guards to bring that

general before him. "Why did you not carry out my orders?" he thundered.

"I swear by the Roman Emperor's life," the general

replied, "that I did it for the honor of Rome. Had I destroyed the last wall, people would not know how great a sanctuary you had destroyed. Now, all who will see the remaining wall of the majestic Temple will exclaim: "What a hero Titus is! Look what a great temple he has destroyed!"

"You are right, and you acted wisely," Titus answered him, "but because you did not obey my command, climb up onto the top of the wall and jump off. If you will remain alive, I will forgive you."

The general obeyed...and fell to his death on the ground below.

The Jews could not and would not forget their Beis HaMikdash. Every year on Tisha b' Av, the Jews assembled at the Kosel Hamaaravi to pour out their hearts

about the destruction and ask Hashem to rebuild the Beis HaMikdash and to

bring back all Jews from the four corners of the earth to Eretz

Yisroel.

The Romans could not bear to see how much the Yidden kept to their religion and how holy they viewed the Kosel HaMaaravi.

The Roman rulers, therefore, issued an order to burn and destroy the Wall. It didn’t help; the fire did not burn the huge

Tayere yunge shluchim!Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback to the first two newsletters and for the essays you submitted.

The winner of last month’s raffle for $25 to Judaica World is D.Z., age 11.

You can read his essay on page 3.You could be the winner this coming month! Just read the story and the questions on which to base your essay, then write an essay and send it in before the 27th of Tishrei to Levi@yaldei.com.

As we approach a new year, our topic this month discusses viewing others who are a bit different. Let us make a hachlota to judge others favorably, the way we would want them to judge us and our siblings. This applies with our families at home, as well.

Let us hope that in the merit of us, the children, increasing our observance of this mitzvah in the coming year, we will see the third Bais HaMikdash rebuilt speedily in our days!

- Levi Raichik

P.S. Don’t know me yet? Read more about me and see our previous issues athttps://www.yaldei.com/sibnewsletter.html.

SIBL

ING

SIBL

ING

the

Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbeSPECIAL NEEDS ORGANIZATION

Volume 1 Issue 3

TISHREI 5774

HIDDEN MESSAGES Finding Your Story Between the Lines

ב“ה

\\

6 Tishrei The Passing of the Shpoler Zeide, 5572

Reb Yehuda Leib of Shpoleh, known as the Shpoler Zeide, was born on 25 Kislev, 5485 to his father Reb Boruch and later became one of the great talmidim of the Mezritcher Maggid. The Rebbe said that until proven otherwise, we can assume the Shpoler Zaide and Reb Leib Sara's were the same person. Reb Yehuda Leib was known for the miracles he performed, mainly in his dealings with kings and ministers. He was very much loved by the Alter Rebbe. He composed the niggun “Hop Kozak,” which the Rebbe often asked the Chassidim to sing. He passed away on 6 Tishrei, 5572.

Adapted from Lma'an Yishme'u, a publication of Merkaz Anash

13 Tishrei The Passing of Reb Akiva Eiger, 5598

Reb Akiva Eiger was born on 14 Cheshvan, 5522. After relocating a few times, he was appointed as the rov and rosh yeshiva of Poznan, Poland. He was one of the outstanding achronim, and he greatly affected the areas in learning of Gemara and halacha. He was known to be very modest and exceptionally humble. He passed away on the 13 Tishrei, 5598.

When Reb Akiva Eiger came to the city of Poznan where he was to become rov, he was brought in a chariot, harnessed to strong horses. With him sat his son-in-law, the Chasam Sofer, who had married his daughter two years before. The entire city came out to greet them and stood cheering at the sides of the road. The Chasam Sofer, who understood that this entire honor was meant for his father-in-law on his appointment as rov, climbed down the chariot and joined the crowds at the roadside. But after a bit of time, he looked up at the other side of the wagon and saw, to his astonishment, his father in-law Reb Akiva Eiger also walking at the side of the now empty wagon, apparently convinced that all this honor was being given to his great and learned son-in-law.

In 5591, a deadly plague of cholera hit east and central Europe, and Poznan was among the cities that were very strongly affected by the plague. Many areas in the city were closed off and deemed dangerous to enter. But Reb Akiva paid no heed to the warnings and went into the infected areas to help the sick people and comfort them. The king of Prussia, Frederick the Third, who heard of the rov’s heroic actions, honored him with a special badge of excellence.

Adapted from Lma'an Yishme'u, a publication of Merkaz Anash

30 Tishrei The Passing of Reb Yaakov Mordechai Bezpalov, 5676

Reb Yaakov Mordechai Bezpalov was one of the great chassidim of the Rebbe Maharash and the Rebbe Rashab and was one of only three people who received smicha from the Rebbe Maharash. For more than 35 years, he served as the rov of Poltava in Russia. Before the Rebbe Rashab accepted the nesius, he was his chavrusa and very close friend. He passed away on 30 of Tishrei, 5676.

The Frierdiker Rebbe describes a farbrengen at the sheva brochos of Reb Yaakov Mordechai:

In the middle of it all, [Reb Yaakov Mordechai] began to cry bitterly, to the degree that all those present were astounded. They asked him to stop crying, but it didn't help. Everyone began dancing, all besides Reb Yaakov Mordechai, who leaned his head on his hands and cried. When they poured cups to say l’chaim, he stopped crying and began to say in a tearful voice, “The Rebbe [Maharash] told me, “When there is a Rebbe, there are Chassidim, but Chassidim who do and work.” When a Chossid is not a Chossid, he makes his Rebbe no more a Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe was a Rebbe, and he made Chassidim. And the Chassidim, being that they were Chassidim who worked on themselves, they strengthened their Rebbe.”

Adapted from Lma'an Yishme'u, a publication of Merkaz Anash

DID YOU KNOW?Interesting Dates in Jewish History

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