how to purimchabadwi.org/media/pdf/384/lcgt3843835.pdf · s purim just a fun holiday on the jewish...

13-14 Adar, 5770 / February 25, 27, 28, 2010

How to Purimthe soulful meaning, customs, event schedules, and how to celebrate

The Purim saga that continues

until this day“There is ONE people

scattered and dispersed among the nations…”

Check out our weekly online magazine at www.chabadwi.org2

My Dear Friends, Wisconsin Jewry,

Is Purim just a fun holiday on the Jewish calendar? The conventional view is that Purim is our “let loose”

day, a time to be silly and just have fun. In truth, Purim cuts to the core of

who we are and what we are. When Haman approached King

Achashverosh suggesting the annihila-tion of all Jews, he said, “There is one nation scattered and dispersed among the people in all of the provinces of your king-dom. Their laws are unlike those of any other nation and they do not obey the laws of the king. It is not in the king’s interest to tolerate them.”

In these words, he expressed the uniqueness of the Jewish people and the cause for the deep hatred towards them.

“One nation, scattered and dis-persed.” Despite being scattered through-out the world, wherever they are they are “one.” Together they make one insepara-ble people, and each one of them stands out as one. Although they often number just one man or woman in a country, they do not integrate or mix.

(Have you ever seen the facial ex-pressions when one Jew meets another Jew on an island or in any other unfa-miliar surrounding? )

“Their laws are unlike those of any other nation.” Somehow, even when they are alone, they do not accept the reli-gions of their surroundings –“the laws of the king they do not obey.” They refuse to submit.

And therefore, Haman argues, “it is not in the king’s interest to tolerate them.”

Haman ignores the Jewish contribu-tions to society. Never mind their dispro-

portionate contributions in every field – science, medicine, commerce, technol-ogy, etc. (see page 16) – as long as they are “one nation,” argues Haman, their enormous contribution to society doesn’t justify their existence!

What triggered Haman’s wrath? The Megillah tells us it was Morde-

chai. Everyone in the king’s courtyard would kneel and bow before Haman, but Mordechai “will neither kneel nor bow.” Mordechai lived his conscience, exercised his freedom, and did not fol-low the crowd.

But, why all the Jews? Why seek to annihilate the assimilated Jew, who lives on the other end of the globe, and who may be greatly beneficial to soci-ety?

Haman sensed that every Jew, regard-less of station or personal background, is uniquely “one,” possessing in the deep-est recesses of his being the uniqueness and strength of “one nation on earth.” Although scattered and dispersed to all corners of the world, each one of them is of “the people of Mordechai,” who does not submit, kneel, or bow.

As soon as Haman received autho-rization to execute his plot, the Jewish people joined as one, steadfast in their belief and conduct. They became free, expressing their conscience even as their lives were threatened. Eventually, as we read in the Megillah, not only did they survive, but “for the Jews, there was light and happiness, joy and glory.”

Throughout history there have been those who sought to annihilate the Jew-ish people. In the previous century, we witnessed one of the most extreme “Ha-mans” of all time, a beast who sought, in the words of the Megillah, “to annihilate,

Celebration! Purim 5770 / 2010

2 Purim ThoughTs

3 The rebbe’s messAge

4 The hisTory oF PurimWhy Haman Hated the Jews

5 megillAh reAding PlAces & schedules

6-9 how do we celebrATe? Body & Soul

10 Purim reciPesHamentashen and Kreplach

11 Purim – An illogicAl holidAy; The holidAy when we becAme Jewish

13 Purim FeAsTs PlAces & schedules

14 Find A Jew in mAdAgAscAr A Fascinating Story

16 one nATion: Jews TodAy

18 The child who Knew TorAh

20 whAT’s hAPPening ATlubAviTch oF wisconsinPhoto gallery of recent events and programs

35 shmurAh mATzAh order Form

Celebration! Volume 41 #3 February, 2010Published 6 times a year by: Lubavitch of Wisconsin3109 N. Lake DriveMilwaukee, WI 53211

Phone: (414) 961-6100

FAX: (414) 962-1740

E-mail: [email protected]

www.chabadwi.org

Dedicated to the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, OBM,

whose boundless love and teachings are an

endless source of inspirationand guidance.

Some PurimThoughts

3Special Purim presentation at www.chabadwi.org/Purim

The Rebbe’s Message

“there is one nation, scattered and dispersed…”From a letter by the Rebbe, emphasizing the value of the “one individual.”

...It was with pleasure that I received regards from you and your husband, through Rabbi Joseph Weinberg, upon the latter’s return from his visit in your community. It was a double pleasure to hear from him about your and your husband’s warm and willing response to the task of unifying the Jewish families in your area and bringing them closer to the practice of Judaism; especially that your husband has taken it upon himself to teach the children, which is of increased importance in our times, for today it is the children who influence their parents.

Certainly you and your husband are aware of the principle of “specific divine providence”-a principle that is a mainstay of our faith in general, and of the teachings of Chassidism in particular. “Specific divine providence” means that every event, great or small, that occurs in the world, whether involving an inanimate object, a growing thing, an animal or a human being, in its every detail and sub-detail, does not

occur by chance, G-d forbid, but is specifically ordained by G-d as part of His intentions and purpose in His management of the world.

Therefore, it goes without saying that when a Jew finds himself in a distant corner of the world, far from his homeland, far from any established Jewish community, this is certainly not by chance. This Jew should see himself as an emissary of the Omnipresent through whom G-d’s word may reach also this corner of the world, bringing about an increase of justice and righteousness among all its inhabitants, and spreading the teachings and observances of Judaism among its Jews.

In such a case, one should not look upon the number of individuals that one has the opportunity to influence. Our sages have said, “Whoever upholds a single Jewish soul, it is as if he has upheld an entire world.” If this is true at all times, how much more so does it apply to our generation, after the destruction, Heaven forfend, of such a significant portion of our people. Today, every surviving Jew is a “brand salvaged from the fire” who must not only fulfill his own role, but also take the place of those who perished in sanctification of G-d’s name..

Freely-translated excerpt from a letter the Rebbe, O.B.M., written in the fall of 1961 to a Jewish woman living in Madagascar. (See story on page 14)

murder and destroy all the Jews”—any Jew, anywhere.Of course, he did not succeed. As we proclaim on the Seder

night, “In each and every generation they rise up against us to destroy us. And the Holy One blessed is He saves us from their hands.”

• • •

January 25, 2010, the 10th of Shevat on the Hebrew cal-endar, marked sixty years of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson’s, obm, leadership, which began barely five years after the fall of the Nazi regime. Undeterred by the shock of the Holocaust, defying the grim prognosis for Jewish survival in the modern age, the Rebbe steered the conscience of world Jewry in all corners of the globe.

The Rebbe saw and sought the “one” in every Jew, that each is one as an individual, wherever they may be, and that

each is an integral and essential part of the “one people,” without whom the entire nation is incomplete.

In the words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, chief Rabbi of England, “[for the Rebbe there were] no closed doors, no fences, no boundaries… bringing back Jews from every cor-ner of the Jewish world. The Lubavitcher Rebbe undertook the most daring spiritual initiative ever undertaken in the history of humanity… to search out every Jew in love, as Jews had once been searched out and hunted down in hate.”

• • •

This is what Purim is about. Celebrating our “oneness.” Be-ing “one nation on earth” and being united with the One G-d.

Best wishes for a very Happy Purim!Rabbi Yisroel Shmotkin


The History of

PurimOnce upon a time…

It was the year 365 B.C.E., in the city of Shushan, Persia. The reigning King Achashverosh hosted a series of lavish royal feasts in his palace. Intoxicated with the excitement of

the festivities and days of endless drinking, King Achashverosh commanded his queen, Vashti, to appear before his guests wearing only her crown. Vashti refused. Enraged at her insolence, the king consulted with his ministers and had Vashti executed.

The king now needed a new queen. Achashverosh had all the beautiful daughters of the country brought to the palace so that he might choose a wife. The king chose Esther (Hadassah), the cousin of Mordechai, who was one of the leaders of the Jewish people. Heeding Mordechai’s advice, Esther did not reveal her identity as a Jew, and observed Jewish law secretly in the palace.

Mordechai would spend time at the palace gates every day, waiting for word from Esther. One day, Mordechai overheard two attendants planning to poison the kind. He told Esther of the plot and she informed the king. The plot was foiled, and Mordechai was credited with saving the king.

Meanwhile, Haman, a descendant of Amalek, the implacable enemy of the Jewish people, became Prime Minister of the king’s court. The king had issued an order commanding everyone in the palace to bow down in deference to Haman, and Mordechai refused, because Haman wore an idol around his neck. This so enraged Haman that he devised a scheme to annihilate all the Jews in the kingdom on the 13th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. He also had a gallows constructed specifically for Mordechai.

Hearing of the evil plan, Mordechai donned sackcloth and ashes and told Esther that she must go to the king and intercede on behalf of her people. To appear before the king

Haman and acHasHverosH’s dealWhen approaching King achashvairosh to annihilate the Jewish people, Haman offered 10,000 shekels in exchange for the Jews. achashvairosh responded, “The money is yours, and the people to do with them as you please.” commenting on the above, the Talmud states that achashvairosh hated the Jews just as Haman did, and offers the following analogy:

There was a man with a pit in his field who wondered where he could find a mound of dirt to fill the pit. another man had a mound of dirt and wondered where he could find a pit to dump it. one day the two met and the man with the pit said: “I’ll pay you well to fill my pit with dirt.” To which the other replied: “You can take the mound for free—just get rid of it for me!”

The rebbe once related this Talmudic passage and offered a deeper meaning into the allegory: The two men represent two modes of hatred for Jews. The man with the “pit,” feels inferior to the Jew, which makes him uncomfortable. The man with the “hill” feels that a Jew has something more, a “hill,” and that the Jew stands in his way.

Yet despite our enemies – whatever form they take – we have survived and thrived through the ages. Without a country, an army, an economic system, a government or a land, despite all odds, we have survived. What is the secret of our survival? our special connection to G‑d – cleaving to His Torah and adhering to His mitzvot.

5

Purim Holiday Check List —Have you scheduled to go to Synagogue to listen to the Megillah reading?—Have you prepared Shalach Manos, or did you order Shalach Manos to be sent on your behalf to your friends?—Is there a poor person you know to give him/her a gift on Purim. (You may forward funds to Lubavitch of Wisconsin, and we will distribute it, on your behalf, on Purim.)—Have you arranged for a Purim feast? Are you looking to celebrate with friends? Join us. (See ad on page 13.)

without being summoned meant risking her life. Esther requested that all the Jews undertake a three-day fast of prayer and repentance. At the end of these three days, Esther stood uninvited before Achashverosh, and asked the king of Haman to a private banquet. At that banquet, she invited them both to a second banquet the next night.

That night, King Achashverosh was unable to sleep, and he asked his servants to read to him from his Book of Chronicles. When they reached the episode where Mordechai saved his life, he realized that Mordechai had never been rewarded. The king asked Haman to suggest the best way of honoring someone. “The King wishes to honor me”, Haman thought. He was angered and mortified to discover that the honors he envisioned would be accorded to Mordechai.

At the subsequent banquet, Esther asked the king to spare her life and the lives of her people. Surprised, Achashverosh asked Esther who had threatened her. She replied that it was none other than the wicked Haman. Haman was immediately hanged on the gallows he had intended for Mordechai.

Although Haman was dead, his cruel decree remained unchanged. A new decree was issued, granting the Jews permission to defend themselves against their enemies and to attack and slay all those who would assault them. The Jews experienced a stunning victory in battle.

At that time, the 14th day of Adar was consecrated as the festival of Purim, to celebrate and commemorate the great miracle of our people’s salvation and the downfall of the wicked Haman.

J o i n U S F o r S e r V i C e S a n D

Megillah ReadingMilwaukee

tHe SHUl eaSt3030 east Kenwood • (414) 961-6100

saturday, February 27th – Megillah reading at 7:30pmsunday, February 28th – Services at 8:00am, Megillah reading at 8:30am

sunday, February 28th – Megillah reading at 4:45pm, followed by Purim Feast

BaysidetHe SHUl

383 West brown Deer • (414) 228-8000saturday, February 27th – Megillah reading at 6:40pm

sunday, February 28th – Services at 8:00am, Megillah reading at 8:30am sunday, February 28th – Megillah reading at 4:30pm, followed by Purim Feast

MequonPeltZ Center For JeWiSH liFe

2233 West Mequon rd • (262) 242-2235 ext 204saturday, February 27th – Megillah reading at 7pm followed by Purim Feast sunday, February 28th – Services at 8:00am, Megillah reading at 8:30am

sunday, February 28th – Megillah reading at 4:45pm, followed by Purim Feast

MadisonCHabaD oF MaDiSon

1722 regent St • (608) 231-3450saturday, February 27th - Megillah reading at 9:30am

sunday, February 28th - Services at 9:00am, Megillah reading at 9:30amsunday, February 28th – Megillah reading at 5:00pm followed by a Purim Feast

UW-MadisonCHabaD on CaMPUS

1722 regent St • (608) 231-3450saturday, February 27th - Megillah reading at 7:00pm then again at 9:30pm

and every hour on the half hour until midnightsunday, February 28th - Megillah readings at noon and 2:00pm

and 5:00pm followed by a Purim Feast

KenoshaCHabaD oF KenoSHa

206 55th St. Unit b • 262-359-0770saturday, February 27th - Megillah reading at 7:30pm at 6522 87th ave

sunday, February 28th -Megillah reading at 3:45pm at the Kenosha Public Museum

aDDitional SerViCeS anD reaDingS:sunday, February 28th:

Meadowmere assisted living Center at 1030amSarah Chudnow Center at 10:30am

For additional readings throughout Purim please call the respective phone numbers.


Of course we celebrate. But how?...With body & Soulone of the laws governing the reading of the Megillah is that, “one who reads the Megillah backwards has not fulfilled his obligation” (talmud, Megillah 17a). the simple meaning of this law is that the book of esther must be read in order, not, say, reading chapter 10 before reading chapter 8.

rabbi israel baal Shem tov (Founder of Chassidism) explained the deeper significance of this law: one who reads the book of esther “backwards” - as the account of an event that happened thousands of years ago - has missed the point of the mitzvah of reading the Megillah. the story told by the Megillah - of the hand of g-d concealed within the “circumstantial” occurrences; of a people awakening their intrinsic commitment to g-d and deriving from that the strength to persevere against all odds, as well as the other innumerable lessons derived from the Megillah - is the story of our everyday lives, in all times and under all circumstances.

the observance of the different mitzvoth and customs of Purim, each representing a perspective of the festival, as well as the spirit of the holiday, are to help us to capture and experience what Purim stands for

each of these wonderful customs has its body - its practice, as well as its meaning - its soul. the following is a guide to lead you through the Purim holiday.

Purim is observed by men, women, and children alike. Well... almost alike. (it’s okay to drink on Purim, but not for kids. as for dressing up, perfect for children).

Mishloach ManotGifts of foodSunday, February 28

bodyOn Purim we treat our friends to... treats. Makes no difference whether you call it by its proper name Mishloach Manot or by the abridged Shalach Manos.

HoW Do I Do It?This mitzvah is performed on Purim day. The important thing is to pack up at least two types of edibles or drinks that are ready to eat or drink (e.g. pastry, fruit, beverage) and have them delivered, ideally by messenger, to at least one friend - men to men, women to women, kids to kids. The ideal messenger? A child, of course. They love it.

SoulShalach Manos is more than nice, it’s a mitzvah that we’re obligated to perform. It”s a mitzvah that gives expression to our desire for Jewish unity and friendship. It enables us to bypass our “body” - our differences, and give expression to our soul. In fact, it’s a great opportunity to reconnect with someone with whom we may have had some friction in the past. Allowing our Neshama (soul) to overflow with joy and generosity can be contagious. Sharing food that can be enjoyed immediately does wonders to shore up friendships, heal old wounds, and make us each a part of one another.

Matanot LíEvyonimGifts to the NeedySunday, February 28

bodyWe don’t need a special occasion to give charity. After all, tzedakah (charity) is synonymous with being Jewish. Nevertheless, Purim is a special time when we must give material help to at least two people in need.

HoW Do I Do It?Don’t know any poor Jews? How will my gift get to the poor on Purim day? Not to worry. There are plenty of wonderful charitable organizations that will gladly distribute your tzedakah dollars on Purim. You can even put your Matanot LíEvyonim money in a pushka (charity box.) This goes for a-l-l of us, even little children ... Especially little children. (Although this mitzvah is performed on Purim day, if you contribute at night, too, it will not be considered a sin .)

Special Purim presentation at www.chabadwi.org/Purim 7

SoulTzedakah on Purim is special, because it goes beyond mere generosity toward a needy individual. On Purim, Tzedakah becomes Jewish unity in action. It motivates us to transcend our complacency by bonding with a fellow Jew who is totally outside our social and economic orbit. We give to (at least) two needy people in order to reinforce our kinship with different types of people, even people for whom we lack an instinctive empathy. On Purim we share what we have, because we’ve achieved that pure sense of oneness that is so elusive on other days.

Megillat EstherListeNiNG to the MeGiLLahSaturday Night & Sunday, February 27 & 28

bodyAncient history? Not for us. The Purim saga is something we must experience for ourselves. How? By listening to the reading of the Megillah (The Scroll of Esther).

WHERE anD WHEn?We read the Megillah not just once, but twice - on the eve of Purim and again in the morning. We pay rapt attention to every word, and blot out every mention of Hamanís accursed name by twirling our graggers and stamping our feet. Children are in the habit of making noise. But on Purim, it’s a mitzvah!Where can you hear the Megillah? In the synagogue. Can’t make it? We offer many opportunities, (see ad on page 5.)

SoulThe Megillah is unique among the books of the Bible. G-d’s name does not appear, even once. All the same, G-d is constantly present, his name hidden amidst the words. Yes, it is easy to delude ourselves into believing that the Purim saga and the ultimate deliverance of the Jews was a natural occurrence. It is only by looking deeper, that we see the hand of G-d, like

a master puppeteer, weaving disparate elements, disconnected plots, and subplots together toward an inexorable finale.

The Megillah is a sensational story. It’s such a powerful reminder that G-d is always looking out for His People; sustaining us, giving us the courage and the energy to forge ahead against all odds. This has been true from the very birth of the Jewish people and throughout our long journey until the coming of Moshiach.

Seudat Purimthe festive PuriM feastSunday, February 28

bodyOf course, we eat on Purim. Can you imagine a day of Jewish rejoicing that doesn’t include a festive meal? The Seudat Purim is an occasion for every member of the family - immediate, extended, and friends - to celebrate with food and wine.

WHEn?Anytime during the day is fit for the Purim feast. It is customary, however, to sit down for a meal and celebration towards the end of the day before sunset, and continue celebrating into the night. It’s traditional to include soup with ‘kreplach’ (stuffed dumplings) as part of the menu. (see page 10)

SoulDo we curse Haman and bless Mordechai, or is it the other way around? Foolish question. Yet our Sages urge us to feast on Purim until we reach a state in which we can’t tell the difference. “Blessed is Mordechai” shows our appreciation for goodness, holiness and G-dliness. “Cursed is Haman” expresses our disgust for hatred, evil and wrongdoing. The two combine to represent two aspects of our Divine service - the positive and the negative.

On Purim we rid ourselves of certain inhibitions. We liberate our soul, allowing it unfettered expression of its essential love of G-d. Yes, Purim enables us to get past our normal personal, particular intellectual and emotional appreciation of the good, Torah and Mitzvot, and the abhorrence for evil. On Purim we transition into a realm of absolute passion and desire just to make the A-mighty happy. Whatever it takes.

On Purim, our neshama’s (soul’s) very essence is given free reign. Like a child devoted to its parents, we yearn only to please G-d - both through positive actions and by abstaining from anything that might cause Him displeasure. (More on page [article: Illogical Holiday])

More Purim related observances on folloing page

Check out our weekly online magazine at www.Chabadwi.org8

Other Purim Observancesta’anit Esther the fast of estherThursday, February 25

bodyPurim is a day of unbridled joy. Yet the day that precedes it is one of fasting. Why? Because the Jews of Persia – aware that there can be no victory without Divine help – fasted and prayed on this very day.

WHEn?This year, as the day preceding Purim is Shabbat – when we can’t fast – Ta’anit Esther is observed on the preceding Thursday. The fast begins at dawn and ends at nightfall.

SoulFasting is very effective in moving us from our material routine into a more refined, introspective state. Abstaining from food and drink enables us to reach an inner dimension and achieve a higher consciousness in anticipation of the next day’s festivities.

Machatzit HashekelhaLf CoiNsThursday, February 25 (or Saturday night, February 27)

bodyWhen the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, every Jew was obligated to contribute a half shekel at this time of the year.

WHEn anD WHERE?We commemorate this by giving three half-dollar coins to charity - usually in the synagogue - either on the day of the Fast of Esther or just prior to the Megillah reading.

SoulThe Torah describes the mandatory half-shekel offering as “koffer nafsho” - redemption of the soul. By contributing exactly a half shekel we declare that as individuals we are incomplete, merely one half of an entity. The other half is G-d, with whom we bond. As we are all merely halves - incomplete beings - we achieve wholeness only by bonding with other Jews, and together we bond with the A-mighty. The Machatzit Hashekel reminds us that we are not alone and, indeed, cannot be alone.

Special Prayer and torah ReadingSaturday Night, February 27 and Sunday, February 28

bodyal Hanissim is recited during the amidah (Silent Devotion) of the evening, morning, and afternoon prayers, as well as during the Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals.) During the Shacharit (morning) service, there is also a special reading from the Torah.

SoulBoth in the Amidah and during Birkat Hamazon we face the A-mighty and thank Him for the special care He accords us during good times as well as challenging ones.

Masquerades, Kreplach & HamantashenAmazing how much can be said about Purim – yet we haven’t even scratched the surface, let alone gotten to masquerades and costumes.

Of course it’s fun to dress up on Purim, after all “we must rejoice until we can’t distinguish between Haman and Mordechai.” Dressing in costume, however, has symbolic importance as well. It reminds us of times in our history when we concealed our true identity as Jews. Outwardly, we strayed from Torah, even as we remained faithful to G‑d in our hearts.

Another reason for the Purim masquerade is the Purim saga itself, which comes to us in the guise of a series of utterly natural coincidences. It takes a more discerning eye to probe beneath the surface and recognize the hand of G‑d.

Likewise, the ubiquitous Purim treat, the Hamantash, and the Kreplach we feast on at the Purim meal are both made of dough with concealed fillings – reminding us of G‑d’s hidden role in the Purim story. After all, what would a Hamantash be without that delicious filling? And kreplach are hardly kreplach without the savory stuffing that is invisible to the undiscerning eye.

9Special Purim presentation at www.chabadwi.org/Purim

torah Reading of “Zachor”Saturday, February 27

bodyThe Torah commands us to remember the deeds of the nation of Amalek - Hamanís ancestors - which sought to destroy the people of Israel at their very birth upon the exodus from Egypt.

WHEn anD WHERE?On the Shabbat before Purim the Torah portion, “Zachor” (Remember) is read in the synagogue, and we are all enjoined to be present at that moment.

SoulAmalek is not just a nation, it is a mindset of implacable hatred for the Jewish People. Even as we first tasted the sweetness of freedom immediately following our Exodus from Egypt, the Amalekites declared war. They made another attempt as we entered the Land of Israel forty years later, and yet again on numerous occasions throughout our history.

So long that amalek – the Jews’ arch enemy – exists, no Jew is safe.

We do not know for certain today who the nation of Amalek is (although we are aware of some absolute enemies, such as we experienced during the Holocaust), but we can and are enjoined to also practice the remembrance of Amalek today.

How? There is a spiritual aspect to Amalek as well; an insidious toxin within us that invades our Jewish soul, a moral virus that attempts to derail us by pouring “cold water” to dampen our enthusiasm as we try to emancipate ourselves from our inner constraints and move onwards in our Jewishness.

We counter this Amalek by reaching into our neshama for that eternal bond with G-d, to that deepest space where doubt does not exist, where faith is so strong that our only hunger is to bond with the A-mighty. It is here that we re-energize ourselves for our continued odyssey in the service of G-d.

Wipe out Amalek, Today?Today’s Amalek is an internal enemy. We each have an

Amalekite lurking within our very self. The inner Amalek

is unholy cynicism. That little voice inside each of us that

derides, belittles and attacks truth and goodness; our

irrational tendency to mock people who act morally, to

be cynical when we see altruism, to doubt our own or

other’s sincerity – these are the modern day Amalekites.

They wage a lethal war with our soul. If we let it, cynicism

can kill our every attempt to improve ourselves and

smother any move towards refining our character and

expressing our soul.

There is only one effective response to Amalek’s attacks:

Annihilation. Don’t argue back, it won’t work. The power

of cynicism is that it is irrational. The most inspiring,

uplifting and profound moment of spiritual awakening

can be dismissed in an instant by Amalek’s sarcastic

taunts. The most logical and sound arguments can be

deflected with his quick one‑liners – “Get real!”, “Who ya

kidding?” or “Hey, you think you’re so holy‑moly?” There

is no answer to such cheap pot‑shots. You can’t fight

cynicism with reason. Just wipe it out. No dialogue. No

compromise. Erase it from the face of your soul.

Beat him at his own game: Do good things for no good

reason. Be kind without an explanation. Love your fellow

irrationally. Become the hero of your own inner battle,

and free your captured soul.

Excerpts from Chabad.org by Aron Moss

Scott R. WinklerAttorney At Law

Winkler Law Firm S.C.Phone: 414/271-0000Fax: 414/277-1303Cell: 414/708-9465

633 West Wisconsin AvenueSuite 1500

Milwaukee, WI [email protected]

Litigation • Work Injuries • AccidentsEmployment • Zoning

10 Check out our weekly online magazine at www.Chabadwi.org

Basic KreplachKreplach are small squares of rolled pasta dough filled with ground beef or chicken and folded into triangles. They can be boiled and served in soup or fried and served as a side dish.

It is traditional to eat kreplach on the eve of Yom Kippur, on Hashana Rabbah and on Purim. These specific holidays are associated with “hiddenness” (like the kreplach that have an unseen filling). All three holidays are very holy days that are “enclothed” in weekday‑like activity. “Work” that cannot be performed on Shabbat and other holidays may be done on these days although the essence and meaning of the day is very holy.

InsTrucTIons

Dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and oil, In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks, water, and baking powder (or soda). Add to flour mixture. Knead and roll dough out thin on floured board. Use a glass to cut into 3 inch circles.

Filling: Sauté onion in oil. Add ground beef and brown for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Add salt, pepper, egg, and matzah meal. Mix well.

Place a tsp. of filling in the middle of the dough circle. Lift 3 sides of the dough circle to meet in the center and form a triangle. Press together tightly and pinch corners closed. Moisten edges with top of finger dipped in cold water to keep seams closed.

Place kreplach in boiling, salted water. Cook about 20 minutes until kreplach floats to the top. When ready, remove from pot. Serve kreplach in soup or fry it until golden brown and serve as a side dish

This recipe comes from spice and spirit, The complete Kosher Jewish cookbook (Lubavitch Women’s Cookbook Publications, 1990).

IngredIenTs

Dough

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

3 Tbsp. oil

2 egg yolks

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder or soda

Filling

1 onion, diced

2 Tbsp. oil

1 cup ground beef

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 egg

1 Tbsp. matzah meal

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup oil

1/2 cup margarine

3 eggs

4 cups flour

1/2 cup orange juice

3 tsps. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 egg, beaten

2 lbs. mohn filling

HamentaschenHamentaschen, a traditional Purim delight, is a three-cornered pastry filled with mohn (poppy seed) or other sweet filling.

Cream sugar, oil and margarine. Add eggs and juice and mix well. Blend with dry ingredients and roll into a ball. Divide into four parts. Roll out each piece very thin (approximately 1/8 inch) on a floured board. With the rim of a cup or glass (depending on desired size) cut into the dough to make circles. Place 1/2 to 2/3 teaspoon of filling in the middle of each circle.

To shape into triangle, lift up right and left sides, leaving the bottom side down, and bring both sides to meet at center, above the filling. Lift bottom side up to center to meet other two sides.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush dough with beaten egg before baking. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes.

Yields 4 dozen Hamentaschen

11Special Purim presentation at www.Chabadwi.org/Purim

ThE Illogical h o l i d Ay

Jewish law stipulates that all holidays be joyful, but Purim goes beyond the norm. on Purim a Jew is religiously required to “drink until one cannot distinguish between the words ‘cursed is Haman’ and ‘blessed is Mordechai.’”

one must indeed wonder why we drink on Purim? Why Jews celebrate this holiday with such jollity? Why would we want to achieve the state of not distinguishing between the “cursed is Haman” and “blessed is Mordechai”?

as with all Jewish matters, the answer is found on different levels.

CoMMeMorating tHe WineJewish holidays commemorate our history’s miracles. on Passover we eat matzah to commemorate our ancestors’ hasty exodus from egypt, which left them little time to bake bread. on Chanukah we light candles to commemorate the miracle of the small jar of oil that burned for eight days. Similarly on Purim we drink wine to commemorate the salvation of our people, which unfolded over a series of the royal feasts and parties in which, as the book of esther relates, wine was a major ingredient and mover of events.

the fall of Queen Vashti which precipitated the rise of Queen esther occurred at the royal feast at Shushan, with the king in a state of intoxication. esther was welcomed into the royal family with a series of drinking celebrations. Finally, esther engineered Haman’s downfall in a duo of intimate dinner parties where, once again, wine flowed freely.

Beyond reasonon a deeper level, the reason for the unrestrained spirit of Purim beyond logic is because the Purim saga itself defies all reason.

it was the worst of times. the best of times were but a distant memory. the elders of the generation would sit with their grandchildren and tell tales of a land flowing with milk and honey, a land filled with prophets galore, where the supernatural was commonplace. they would describe how thrice yearly the roads of israel would be flooded with pilgrims, all of them headed in one direction — the Holy temple, where all present could plainly see the ten miracles which were on permanent display (see ethics 5:5). “those were the golden times. g-d was our g-d, we were His chosen people, and everyone knew it...” is how they’d inevitably conclude their stories.

but things couldn’t be more different now. the Jews were expelled

ThE h o l i d Ay W h E N W E B E c A M E Jewishw

hat is the significance of the name “Jew”? Where does the word come from and what does it mean?

the word Jew (Yehudi in the Hebrew) is a derivative of the name of Jacob’s fourth son, our forefather’s, Judah

(Yehudah). However, the very first individual to be dubbed “Jew” was Mordechai, a central figure in the biblical book of esther, which chronicles the story of Purim. “there was a Jewish man in Shushan the capital, whose name was Mordechai the son of Yair... “a benjaminite” [a descendant of benjamin, twelfth son of Jacob] - (esther 2:5).

an objective study of the Purim story reveals that the whole frightening episode was plainly avoidable. the entire incident was a result of Mordechai the Jew’s obstinate adherence to a code of behavior which was clearly outdated and “inappropriate” for the times. Mordechai was an elderly rabbi who yet recalled days – more than half a century beforehand – when the Holy temple stood in Jerusalem and torah law was supreme. His snubbing of Haman might have been condign during that generation. but things had changed dramatically. the people of israel were in exile. How did Mordechai dare put his entire nation in danger of extinction by slighting the king’s favorite minister? apparently someone neglected to inform this sage that the ability to conform is the key to survival...

Mordechai, however, thought otherwise; and he had a famous precedent supporting his “outlandish” actions, as we read in the torah, in the book of genesis. Many years earlier, a powerful egyptian ruler wished to take his ancestor, benjamin, as a slave. benjamin’s brother Judah wouldn’t hear of such a possibility. in what would be his proudest and most defining moment, Judah completely ignored all royal protocol, angrily approached the powerful ruler – who, unbeknownst to him, was actually their brother Joseph – and threateningly demanded benjamin’s release.

Judah is the embodiment of the exiled israelite who must walk a thin line: While he must live at peace with his neighbors, follow the laws and customs of the land, and “pray for the peace of the regime,” he has the courage of his convictions to stand up against all the powers that be in order to defend his ideals. in the words of rabbi Sholom Dovber, the Fifth rebbe of lubavitch, “only our bodies were sent into exile; not our souls!”

Mordechai “the Jew” was a proud student of his great-uncle Judah. He knew that torah law forbids a Jew from bowing to Haman (and the statuette which dangled from a chain around his neck), and for him that


from their land. nebuchadnezzar was given free rein to destroy the Holy temple — the symbol of g-d’s relationship with the Jews — and massacre, exile, and sell into slavery millions of the “Chosen” nation. Had g-d perhaps become disgusted with their penchant for idolatry, and finally decided that the choosing of a nation in perpetuity is no more?

Seventy years have passed since the Jews were first exiled from their land into babylonia. the Jewish people had largely assimilated into the Persian society. they were invited to Persian parties, admitted into Persian circles, and perceived themselves as full citizens of official and social Persia.

When the royal edict was issued requiring all Persians to bow before the powerful minister Haman, most Jews were prepared to obey. Mordechai, however, refused. enraged, Haman complained to the King who, in turn, issued an edict against the Jewish nation.

this was another “subtle” clue which would have made it clear that the Jews were clearly not in g-d’s graces any more: this decree sanctioned the extermination of every Jewish man, woman, and child. logically this decree would have been the final straw which should have resulted in mass conversions, and en masse abandonment of Judaism and torah.

Standing with Mordechai endangered not only their hard-earned position in the empire, but also their very lives. Yet, not a single Jew betrayed Mordechai and the principles that this Jewish leader represented. When the time came to choose between their eternal commitment to g-d and their new-found and tenuous friendships, every Jew chose g-d.

this made no sense, but the connection between the Jew and his Creator is not predicated on logic. the connection is a Jew’s very essence.

the Jew didn’t choose g-d out of love or reverence. this was an irreverent Jew. the Jew didn’t choose g-d out of scholarship and piety. this was an assimilated Jew. Why did the Jew choose g-d? because the Jewish connection to g-d is infinite and eternal. it transcends reason and understanding. it has weathered powerful storms and trying challenges, and is inexplicably still alive. our bond with g-d is compelling because the Jew and g-d are linked at the essence. When faced with a challenge, the Jew embraces g-d, regardless of prevailing spiritual conditions.

this transcendent bond is the mystical dimension of drinking wine on Purim. the essence of this holiday is not emotive or intellectual. it is best captured by the soul, not the brain or heart.

Mordechai represents holiness, torah, mitzvot, and our undying connection to g-d. Haman represents all the forces in the world that wish to disturb this connection. if after listening to the Megillah and drinking a l’chaim or two, you only “know” that Haman is cursed and Mordechai is blessed, then the Purim message hasn’t penetrated. go listen to the story again. listen closely to its hidden message. then say another l’chaim. because the message of Purim is: Mordechai is blessed and Haman is cursed — not because we “know” it and it is logical, but because this is the essence of the fabric of our being.

was the final word. indeed, Judah’s and Mordechai’s actions were vindicated as events unfolded—no harm came to either of them as a result of their brave conduct.

leading by example, Mordechai succeeded in implanting this sense of pride in the hearts of the masses. When Haman issued his decree of annihilation, not one israelite even considered abandoning his or her religion in order to be spared death. at that moment, we all became “Jews.” accordingly, the book of esther is the first place where our nation as a whole is referred to as Jews.

the name stuck. because the next 2,500 years would repeatedly test our “Jewishness.” Under countless regimes – both friendly and, as was very often the case, hostile – we struggled against friends and enemies who wished to impose their will upon us at the expense of our relationship with g-d. again and again we proved ourselves true to g-d, earning the name Jew through oceans of blood and tears.

the grand story of history concludes in similar fashion as the Purim story: we are here to tell the tale and our enemies aren’t... the joy of Purim is greater than any other holiday because it tells the story of the nation who never allowed its soul to be shackled—the story of the Jew.

Excerpts from Chabad.org by Naftali Silberberg

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The Shul eaSTsunday, February 28th - 5:00pm3030 E. Kenwood Blvd – MilwaukeeFor more information:414-232-0747 • www.chabadwi.org The Shul“Purim in the Jungle”sunday, February 28th – 5:00pm383 W. Brown Deer Rd – BaysideFor more information:414-228-8000 • www.shulcenter.org/jungle [email protected] PelTz CenTer for JewiSh life”grand Purim Family Celebration”sunday, February 28th – 5:00pm2233 W. Mequon Rd - MequonFor more information:262-242-2235 ext 204 • www.chabadmequon.org Chabad of MadiSonsunday, February 28th – 5:00pm1722 Regent St. – MadisonFor more information:608-231-3450 • [email protected] Chabad aT uw MadiSon“Party of the year”saturday, February 27th - 9:30p – Midnightsunday, February 28th – 5:00pm233 W. Gilman St. – MadisonFor more information:608-257-1757 • www.chabaduw.com [email protected]

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Before embarking on one of my journeys to South Africa, the Rebbe told me to find out if there were any Jews in Madagascar. During my trip, I looked into the matter and concluded that in

fact there were no Jews there. I returned to “770” (Lubavitch Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway, in Brooklyn) without visiting Madagascar.

Before my next trip to South Africa, the Rebbe once again mentioned Madagascar, but this time he instructed me explicitly: “It would be worthwhile to inquire about Jews in Madagascar and to travel there for a day or two.”

I tried to explain why I hadn’t gone there during the previous trip but the Rebbe did not accept my conclusions. He smiled and said: “There most likely are Jews there.”

In Johannesburg, the Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Rabbi Rabinowitz, informed me that an Israeli consulate was established in Tananarive, the capital of Madagascar. Naturally, I contacted the consul. Additionally, the Beth Din

of Johannesburg also contacted the consul.Several weeks passed and there was no response from

the consul. (Later it turned out that they had been busy accompanying the president of Madagascar, who was visiting Israel at the time.)

Despite having no leads, I decided to travel to Madagascar myself. I obtained the required visas and wanted to book a flight, but was told that there were no direct flights from Johannesburg to Madagascar. I would have to travel through Nairobi, Kenya. Further complicating matters was the fact that the connection to Madagascar only ran twice a week—and one of those days was Shabbos! In the end, I asked to be put on the “waiting list.”

A few days later, I received a call from the secretary of the rabbinate in Johannesburg, Rabbi Elowy. He informed me that the well-known Dr. Chaim Shaskes had arrived in Johannesburg after a visit to Madagascar. I contacted Dr. Shaskes immediately and told him that I planned to travel to Madagascar upon the Rebbe’s request. Dr. Shashkes told me that there were no Jews there and going there was futile. He told me that I could write this to the Rebbe in his name.

I said: “Although you may have not found Jews there, I’m sure they are there. I would appreciate only if you would give me the address of that doctor, so that I at least have one Jewish address in that distant land.”

In gratItude tO the rebbe’s, rabbI MenacheM M. schneersOn, ObM, gIft Of lOve — we present the fOllOwIng stOry.

Find a Jew in MADAGASCAR


Meanwhile, I had to travel to Cape Town. When I returned to Johannesburg on Thursday, I immediately contacted Rabbi Elowy, who was helping me obtain a ticket to Madagascar. He told me that he did not succeed in getting me a reservation on the flight from Nairobi to Madagascar, but that he was now certain that there was good reason to travel there.

Two days earlier, a letter arrived at his office from a man in Madagascar requesting a shipment of kosher canned meat. “My wife, my son and I have been here for six months already,” the man wrote, “and we cannot obtain kosher meat.” Rabbi Elowy informed the man that in the coming week someone would come from Johannesburg to Madagascar and would bring him kosher meat.

At last, I received the ticket to travel. But a few moments before takeoff, I was warned that the airline could not guarantee a seat for me on the return flight. Although it was close to Rosh Hashanah and I of course wanted to be back in New York for the holiday, I was certain that there was nothing to fear. After all, the Rebbe had said that I was traveling for “a day or two.”

I boarded the flight and eventually arrived in Madagascar. At the airport, which is quite a distance from the city, a man suddenly approached and introduced himself to me. He said, “I am Mr. L., who wrote to the rabbinate in Johannesburg. I assumed you would be arriving on this flight and I identified you by your dress….”

We got into his car and I gave him the kosher meat. He told me that he worked in Madagascar as an agricultural expert for a French company. He mentioned that he had heard about the Israeli consulate but had not succeeded in making contact with them. “I know of no other Jew in the city besides myself,” he stated.

I explained to Mr. L. that he was actually on a mission to this place to elevate it through the observance of Mitzvos. He listened with excitement and joy and agreed to help me locate other Jews.

Our first stop was the Israeli consulate. The consul had just returned, and the deputy consul, a Spanish Jew from Israel, greeted us happily. When we entered the building we noticed that the doors were without Mezuzos. The deputy consul said that regretfully the Mezuzos had not yet arrived. I took out a Mezuza from my briefcase, made a blessing and affixed the mezuzah to the doorpost. This might have been the very first

ritual Mitzvah ever observed on this island.

We sat down to talk and the deputy consul informed us that he had discovered another three Jewish families. We immediately arranged an event for all the Jews we had located, at the home of one of the families.

As I affixed a Mezuza on the host’s doorpost, they all stood around me, excited like children. Two of the three

families were from Iraq. They told me that they had been living on the island for eleven years and throughout the entire period never had any Matzos for Pesach.

We spoke about the Jewish education of their children. Mr. L. told me that he knew how to read Hebrew and that he once learned Chumash (The Five Books of Moses) and Mishna. I suggested that he serve as a teacher of the children, and all agreed enthusiastically. “We feared that our children would never know that they were Jewish,” they said emotionally. I again explained to Mr. L. that he had a mission on this island and that educating the children was of the highest priority.

So, on an island where there were “no Jews,” suddenly there appeared a tiny Jewish community with a little Jewish school.

Rosh Hashanah was coming soon so I suggested that they all meet together for the holiday and blow the Shofar that I had left with them.

I returned to the hotel where I noticed a man staring at me. At first he remained at a distance, but after I smiled at him he came over to chat. He spoke German and asked who I was.

It turned out that he was Jewish. I asked him about the three families I had met and whether he knew them. It turned out he did know them but did not know they were Jewish, just as they did not know that he was Jewish. I told him about the arrangements made for Rosh Hashanah and ge was very excited and promised to attend.

On Rosh Hashanah, the Israeli consul, the three families, Mr. L. and the other man I had met, all got together in the hotel, prayed fervently, and blew the Shofar.

Those were the beginnings of the Jewish community in Madagascar. Over the years, the Rebbe maintained a steady contact with them. As isolated as they were, they also knew that a rabbi in Brooklyn was looking out for them….

By Rabbi Yoseph Wineberg, a world traveler on behalf of Lubavitch institutions.

“It wOuld be wOrthwhIle tO

InquIre abOut Jews In Madagascar and tO

travel there fOr a day Or twO.”

“there MOst lIkely are Jews there.”


How The Jews Are DifferentThe Jews are a peculiar people: things permitted to other nations are forbidden to the Jews.

Other nations drive out thousands, even millions of people and there is no refugee problem. Russia did it, Poland and Czechoslovakia did it, Turkey threw out a million Greeks, and Algeria a million Frenchman. Indonesia threw out heaven knows how many Chinese-and no one says a word about refugees.

But in the case of Israel the displaced Arabs have become eternal refugees. Everyone insists that Israel must take back every single Arab. Arnold Toynbee calls the displacement of the Arabs an atrocity greater than any committed by the Nazis.

Other nations when victorious on the battlefield dictate peace terms. But when Israel is victorious it must sue for peace.

Other nations when they are defeated survive and recover but should Israel be defeated it would be destroyed. Had Nasser

triumphed last June [1967] he would have wiped Israel off the map, and no one would have lifted a finger to save the Jews.

No commitment to the Jews by any government, including our own, is worth the paper it is written on.

There is a cry of outrage all over the world when people die in Vietnam or when two Blacks are executed in Rhodesia. But when Hitler slaughtered Jews no one remonstrated with him. The Swedes, who are ready to break off diplomatic relations with America because of what we do in Vietnam, did not let out a peep when Hitler was slaughtering Jews. They sent Hitler choice iron ore, and

ball bearings, and serviced his troop trains to Norway.

The Jews are alone in the world. If Israel survives, it will be solely because of Jewish efforts. And Jewish resources. Yet at this moment Israel is our only reliable and unconditional ally. We can rely more on Israel than Israel can rely on us…

Comment made in 1968 by Eric Hoffer – author of The True Believer and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is as spot on today as it was then.

“There is one nation scattered and dispersed… It is not in the King’s interest to tolerate them…”– today.

eriC hoffer

abouT JewiSh ConTribuTionS To The worldExcerpts from an article by the New York Times (1/12/2010)Jews make up 0.2 percent of the world population (i.e. multiply their accomplishments by 500), but 27 percent of the Nobel physics laureates and 31 percent of the medicine laureates and 54 percent of the world chess champions are Jewish.Jews make up 2 percent of the U.S. population, but 21 percent of the Ivy League student bodies, 26 percent of the Kennedy Center honorees, 37 percent of the Academy Award-winning directors, 38 percent of those on a recent Business Week list of leading philanthropists, 51 percent of the Pulitzer Prize winners for nonfiction.

The following are a mere sampling of some Jewish contributions:

creation of the first Polio vaccine (Dr. Jonas Salk)First successful operation for appendicitis (Dr. Simon Baruch)First to cure syphilis (Dr. Paul Ehrlich)First oral polio vaccine (Dr. Albert Sabin)Development of voice mail technology (Israeli scientists)Development of technology for AOL instant messenger (Israeli scientists)creation of a “biological pacemaker” to correct faulty heart rhythms (Israeli scientists)Development of a nose drop that provides a 5 year flu vaccine (Israeli scientists)Development of revolutionary new drug that prevents re-clogging of arteries (Israeli scientists)creation of DNA nano-computer that detects cancer and treats cancerous cells (Israeli scientists)creation of revolutionary drugs for Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s (Israeli scientists)

Development of first fully computerized, radiation-free, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer (Israeli scientists)Development of computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medication (Israeli scientists)Development of new device that directly helps the heart pump blood (Israeli scientists)Development of stem-cell technology to regenerate heart tissue (Israeli scientists)Development of the first ingestible video camera that fits inside a pill, used to survey intestinal disorders. (Israeli scientists)created new capsule endoscope, Pillcam ESO 2 (Israeli scientists)chief architect and engineer for the American Transcontinental Railroad (Theodor Judah)Wrote the famous poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired…” (Emma Lazarus)


Israel’s Disproportionate Response In the midst of the tragedy and chaos in the Haitian capital, Israeli doctors, part of IsraAID - F.I.R.S.T. (the Israel Forum for International Aid), delivered a healthy baby boy in an IDF field hospital. When the baby’s grateful mother, Gubilande Jean Michel saw her newborn son, alive and well, she named him Israel in gratitude to the people and nation who brought her this blessing.

Little Israel is one of the hundreds who have been saved by Israeli doctors or rescue teams. A search and rescue team from the ZAKA (Zihuy Korbanot Ason) Israel’s International Rescue Unit pulled eight Haitian college students from a collapsed eight-story university building. Despite its small size, Israel sent a large contingent of highly-trained aid workers to quake-stricken Haiti. Two jumbo jets carrying more than 220 doctors, nurses, civil engineers, and other Israeli army personnel, including a rescue team and field hospital, were among the first rescue teams to arrive in Haiti. In fact, they were the first foreign backup team to set up medical treatment at the partially collapsed main hospital in Port-au-Prince…

The international agencies that condemn Israel for its “disproportionate response” when it is attacked are not mentioning Israel’s disproportionate response to human suffering. The U.S. has pledged 100 million and sent supplies and personnel. The U.K. pledged $10 million and sent 64 firemen and 8 volunteers. China, a country with a population of 1,325,639,982 compared to Israel’s 7.5 million sent 50 rescuers and seven journalists. The 25 Arab League nations sent nothing.

Israel’s “disproportionate” response stems from Jewish memory and tradition. Mati Goldstein, head of the ZAKA International Rescue Unit delegation managed described the scene, “Everywhere, the acrid smell of bodies hangs in the air… Thousands of bodies everywhere. You have to understand that the situation is true madness, and the more time passes, there are more and more bodies, in numbers that cannot be grasped. It is beyond comprehension.”

At the start of Sunday’s regular Cabinet meeting, Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli team had already treated hundreds of patients. “I think that this is in the best tradition of the Jewish People; this is the true covenant of the State of Israel and the Jewish People,” he said. “This follows operations we have carried out in Kenya and Turkey; despite being a small country, we have responded with a big heart. The fact is, I know, that this was an expression of our Jewish heritage and the Jewish ethic of helping one’s fellow. “

In the rubble and suffering of Haiti, Israelis are relentlessly searching for and saving lives. It is this “disproportionate response” that rankles their enemies the most, for it shines a light on their failings.

By Peggy Shapiro

“There is one nation scattered and dispersed… It is not in the King’s interest to tolerate them…”– today.

Chabad iN haiti

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theTorahof the

BraveWhen I was five years old, while in Russia, my

maternal grandfather sat me down upon his lap and said, “Morty [my Russian name is Maksim and Hebrew name, Mordechai], I

am going to tell you a secret. Do not tell it to your mama and papa, or to your brother. It is a secret just for you, and only you.” Being a five-year-old, I was extremely excited. Amazingly, I kept the secret until I came to the USA. I was too afraid to tell anyone, as I was pushed around in school for being a Jew.

He continued, “Morty, I will teach you the holy Torah, the sacred scroll of our people passed from generation to generation. Those who know it lead happy lives filled with mitzvot that only the bravest knights undertake. Those who don’t are lost in the enchanted forest in search of the knights.” He then paused and continued, “Do you want to know the secret?”

“Yes, Grandpa, I do,” I replied with unrestrained excitement.He then declared, “Will you keep this a secret until you feel

ready to express it?” I assured him that I would.He kissed my cheeks and said, “Morty, every morning when

you wake up, I want you to look at the mirror and strike your heart three times. While you are striking your heart, recite, ‘I was born a Jew [strike heart]; I was raised a Jew [strike heart]; and I will die a Jew [strike heart]. When you finish, I want you to raise your hands towards the sky and proclaim, ‘And the rest will come later.’ When you go to bed, I want you to cover your eyes and repeat the same routine.”

After making sure that I understood, he said, “This is the Torah of our people.”

We shook hands, kissed and hugged each other, and the deal was sealed. Every day (and I still do it to this day), I would practice my grandfather’s routine without thinking twice.

When I came to the USA, I went to the Jewish day school in my city. My parents worked three jobs each to afford the tuition, but they never complained. However, though I went to the Jewish day school, I was often absent from my Jewish classes in order to study ESL. So I went through three years of Jewish day school and learned close to nothing about Judaism.

One day, my ESL teacher got sick, so I joined the Torah class. I was totally lost and not paying much attention. The rabbi realized my mind was elsewhere, so he called on me and said, “Mordechai, do you already know the Torah? Is that why


you aren’t listening? You hardly come to my class… at least now, take advantage of the opportunity, and learn Torah with us.”

I looked at him and said, “Rabbi, I know the Torah like I know the back of my hand. I’ve been reciting the Torah for the last seven years, twice a day.”

The rabbi responded, “Really, tzaddik (righteous man)? Why don’t you do it right now?”

I stood up, adjusted my shirt, and began to reveal the “secret” my grandpa taught me. Needless to say, the students began to laugh, but the rabbi was stunned. He asked me to repeat it, and I did. By this time, the students were laughing their hearts out. I started to cry. I felt that they were making fun of the holy Torah. The rabbi asked the class for silence, and instructed me to repeat the routine again.

Through my tears, I saw the rabbi approach me. He hugged me and said, “Mordechai, when do you say this? And why do you say it like this?”

“This is how Jews recite the Torah,” I said.He replied, “No, Mordechai only the brave Jew recites the

Torah like this.”I went home later that day, and I asked my grandpa to

explain the Torah he taught me all those years ago. After explaining what has transpired in school, my grandpa placed me before a large mirror and said, “Morty, look at the mirror and tell me what you see.”

“Myself,” was the reply.He said, “Look. What is on your head?”I looked up, saw my kippa, the skullcap I’d forgotten to

remove after the Torah class.“Morty, how many times were you beaten up for being a

Jew?”“Three.”“How many times were you

hospitalized because of your injuries?”“Twice,” I said, recalling the

stitches I received when a a piece of iron was thrown at my head and a rock at my knee cap.

He kissed me and replied, “Morty, every day you strike your chest indicating that they - the anti-Semites - may break your bones, but your heart will always beat for Gd.”

He continued, “How many times have you heard that Communism, Socialism, Liberalism, Capitalism, Christianity or Islam is better than Judaism? By covering your eyes at night, you are indicating that the nations may blind you with their philosophies, but at the end of the day your sight will always be aimed towards Gd. And as for your hands raised to the sky, if you don’t understand this now, you will know when the right time comes. For the rest will come later.”

Armed with new knowledge, I went back to the rabbi and told him everything. He said, “Mordechai, you know more Torah at 12 than I know at 28, and I studied in Jewish schools all of my life.”

After graduating the day school, I went to public school. Since I knew almost nothing about Judaism, I simply put it on hiatus. It was only two years ago that I slowly started to return to Judaism. Now, thank Gd, I pray three times a day, wear my kippa always, and keep the Shabbat. I may not yet study Mishnah or Gemara, but I know Jewish and Israeli history, philosophy, and Jewish Eastern European literature (I even teach it).

And as for the rest – “the rest will come later.”

“thIs Is hOw Jews recIte the tOrah,” I saId.

he replIed, “nO, MOrdechaI Only the

brave Jew recItes the tOrah lIke thIs.”


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Bradley, Marilyn,Sari, & Daniel Shovers

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Mequon Kenosha


B E A U T I F Y Y O U R S E D E R T A B L E

With Hand Made

Shmurah Matzohnow is the Time to order!

Please place your orders by March 19 The earlier the better!

Please send me __ box(es) of Shmurah Matzoh for my Seder Tablecost: $18.00 per box of six (delivery included)

❑ My Check Is Enclosed

❑ Please charge my credit card❑ MC ❑ Visa ❑ Discover

Card No.

Exp. Date

Signature

Name

Address

City

State Zip

Tel.

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Matzos will be delivered between March 21 – 26.

Lubavitch of Wisconsin3109 North Lake Drive

Milwaukee, WI 53211Tel: (414) 961‑6100Fax: (414) 962‑1740

E‑mail: [email protected]

Christina’sCarpet Care

Pesach specialsCall Early

(414) 281‑4491

chabad of Madison

LubavitCh of WisCoNsiN

3109 North Lake DriveMilwaukee, WI 53211(414) 961-6100

address Service Requested

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Non Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDChabad

Lubavitch

The Art of Illumination • Schonbek

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Visit Wisconsin’s largest lighting showroom! Open Every Day!Mon.–Sat. 9a.m. to 5pm • Sundays 11a.m. to 4pm

Member ALAAmerican Lighting

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Free Storage • Free Delivery • Free Light BulbsFree Consultation • New Home Lighting

BBC LIGHTING2015 W. St. Paul Ave.Milwaukee, WI 53233

414-933-0808www.bbclighting.com

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