Due to the preparations for the 5744 (1984) "Lag B'Omer Children's Parade" and the associated heavy activity in front of 770 Eastern Parkway, the World Headquarters of Chabad, it was decided that couples who wished to receive blessings for children from the Lubav-itcher Rebbe (a 200 year-old tradition that the most propitious time of the year to request a blessing for children from a Lubavitcher Rebbe is on Lag B'Omer) should not stand outside 770 as usual. Instead, they should wait at 10:00am outside the Rebbe's home, a few streets away, where they would have more quiet and privacy. Knowing that an enormous crowd would gather, a committee was established to maintain order, to be en-forced by the students of the Kollel, of which I - Alter Bukiet -- was a member.

As it was not my nature to push or order people around, I had requested to be in charge of the area immediately outside the Rebbe's car door, to open it as soon as the Rebbe arrives, and to close it as soon as the Rebbe is seated to ensure that the Rebbe's driver can depart with-out any delay. I will never forget the scene that day. There were many cou-ples. People from Chabad and those who were not from Chabad were waiting for the Rebbe to leave his house. The Rebbe came out at 10:00 am. It took twenty minutes for the Rebbe to reach his car. People were crying and screaming for the Rebbe's attention. It was so intense.

The Rebbe got into the car and was seat-ed. I began to close the door, when sud-denly someone stuck his head into the car and exclaimed to the Rebbe that he is married already for several years and has no children, then hurriedly stated his name and wife's name to the Rebbe. I happened to notice that this individual was a Satmar Chossid. Meanwhile, the pressure on the door was mounting. I tried with all my might to hold the door open so that he wouldn't get smashed. The Rebbe blessed him, and then, before the man could withdraw, I hear the Reb-be add something very unusual. He looked directly at the Satmarer and said something like, "The child will need to have someone to play with."

Lag B’Omer with the Rebbe

The guy did not get at all what the Rebbe was trying to say. So the Rebbe said to him, “Zucht Awmain (Say Amen)!” It finally registered and he responded with a loud shout: " Awmain!" and moved away from the vehicle. I closed the door and the Rebbe's car pulled away. Years pass. I 'graduated' to be the emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Lexington Massachusetts. Life goes on.

Fifteen years after that Lag B'Omer inci-dent, on the 24th of Menachem Av 5759 [1999: August 6], on what would have been the 80th birthday of my father [Rabbi Chaim-Meir Bukiet] of blessed memory, had he not passed away a year and a half before on the 27th of Tevet, I decided to visit his grave. As it is located in the Montefiore cemetery in Queens NY, where also is located the "Ohel," the resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, it meant that I would have to leave from home soon after midnight in order to arrive around 4:00 - 5:00 AM. That would give me enough time to visit my father's place as well as the Rebbe's, and still be able to get back by 9:00 AM to start my regular work day.

At 5 in the morning I was in the Ohel and reading the Maaneh Loshon (the long texts recited by many at the grave of a tzadik, based on the Zohar). As I was standing there, I noticed a Satmar chasid enter with two boys. I thought it strange that they should be here at such an hour. My bewilderment increased when after they finished reciting the Maaneh Loshon, the father turned to his

sons and said, "takeout the maamar (chasidic discourse)." Each son took out a printed copy of the maamar traditional-ly recited by Chabad boys who reach the age of Bar Mitzvah. The two Satmar boys proceeded to each read the en-tire maamar. After leaving the Ohel, I saw them again in the reception area, near the coffee stand. I couldn't resist the urge to satisfy my curiosity. I ap-proached the father and asked in Yiddish what brings him here and at such hour?

He responded: "These are the Rebbe's children, they were born as a result of the Rebbe's blessing." He continued that he had been married several years with no children and so decided to try getting a blessing for a son from the Rebbe. The Rebbe blessed me as I requested and then said to me, "The child will need to have someone to play with." I was speechless, so the Rebbe added, "Zucht Awmain!". Three times! Finally I real-ized what he intended and I responded with a loud 'Amen.' And, in the merit of his blessing, my wife gave birth to twins, the boys you see in front of you."

I couldn't believe my ears! I must admit I became emotional. "Tell me, when ex-actly did this happen? Was it perhaps on Lag B'Omer in 5744? Outside the Reb-be's house?"

"Yes and yes, on Lag B'Omer in 5744 outside the Rebbe's house on President Street inside the Rebbe's car!" confirmed the Satmarer. continued on page 2

A Blessing for a Friend

B”H Erev Shabbat Emor, 14th of Iyar, 5780; May 8th 2020

Chabad Of Israel

Rabbi Joseph I. Aronov

Published by M.L.S. Kfar Chabad (03) 3731777

Editor: Aharon Schmidt

livingjewishweekly@gmail.com

Please guard the sanctity of this publication

737

Shabbat Times

Candle Lighting Motzei Shabbat

Jerusalem 94:6 54:8

Tel Aviv 74:7 54:7

Haifa 74:: 54:5

Beer Sheva 74:8 54:8

New York 74:7 54:7

G-dly Speech

The name of this week's Torah reading, Emor, contains a lesson for every Jew. "Emor -- Say" the Torah commands every Jew. The power of speech entails a certain responsibility we must always be aware of every time we open our mouths.

The Midrash explains that all of G-d's ut-terances are amarot tehorot, "pure state-ments." Whatever G-d says comes into being, unlike the statements of a fleshly king, who may promise the world but not necessarily fulfill his pledge. G-d is the essence of truth, and His utterances endure forever.

Enduring Good

As every Jew is intimately connected to G-d, his statements share this same quality of endurance. Every Jew must therefore be extremely careful when he speaks, and refrain from saying anything negative about his fellow Jew.

The Torah portion of Emor teaches us to speak only positively about other Jews. As Maimonides puts it, "It is a mitzva to love each and every Jew...therefore, one must speak [only] of his praise."

Maimonides writes that a talmid chacham

(Torah scholar) "extols the virtue of his fellow and does not denigrate him." Every Jew is similarly obligated to say only kind things about others, and not, G-d forbid, speak evil of his fellow man.

Revealing the Innate Good

Even if we see a Jew doing something wrong we must always judge him favora-bly and try to understand what caused him to sin. We must never defame his character or mention his transgression.

Just as G-d's utterances are "pure," abiding forever, so too do our positive statements about other Jews exert a lasting and power-ful influence.

The very act of praising another Jew serves to reveal the innate good that is hidden inside him, and causes him to want to live up to the words of praise.

Speak Only Good

Emor is read during sefirat ha'omer, the counting of the omer.

These days are a period of mourning for the 24,000 disciples of Rabbi Akiva who passed away because they did not treat each other with the proper respect.

Counting the omer reminds us to stop speaking about other Jews in an unfavora-ble light.

Similarly, Emor reminds us to speak favor-ably about our fellow Jews. "Emor!" the Torah enjoins us. Say only good about another person!

Adapted from the teachings of the Lubav-itcher Rebbe, Likutei Sichos, Vol 27. Shabbos Table and From our Sages re-printed from www.LchaimWeekly.org – LYO / NYC

None of them shall defile himself, among his people (b'amav) (Lev. 21:1) The Hebrew word "amav" is related to the word "im'um," dimming or growing dark, as in dying embers or coals that have been left to burn out on their own. Serving G-d "dimly," halfheartedly and without fervor, is the cause of all defile-ment and impurity. The Torah warns us against allowing our G-dly spark to grow dim. Rather, it must be constantly nur-tured and rekindled.

(the Rebbe of Alexander)

You shall not profane My holy name (Lev. 22:32)

When a Jew does a mitzva purely and simply for the sake of G-d, without an ulterior or self-serving motive, he sancti-fies G-d's Name. When one hears only positive things about a person, that too is a sanctification of G-d's Name. Converse-ly, G-d's Name is profaned when negative comments are made about a person - even if he has a legitimate excuse for his be-havior.

(Maimonides, Igeret HaShmad)

But on the seventh day is the Shabbat of rest, a holy convocation (Lev. 23:3)

According to the Midrash, the Torah was worried about being neglected once the Jews entered the Land of Israel. "Master of the Universe!" it cried. "What is going to happen to me? Everyone will be busy sowing and planting..." G-d, however, assuaged its fears. "I am giving you a special partner," He said, "and that is the Shabbat, when the Jews are free from work. On that day they will gather in the synagogues and study halls to engage in study."

And you shall count unto yourselves from the morrow after the day of rest (Lev. 23:15)

In our times the counting of the omer is a Rabbinic decree, as without a physical Holy Temple in Jerusalem we cannot bring the omer offering. Thus, we end our counting with, "May the Merciful One restore the Holy Temple to its place, speedily in our day." When Moshiach comes and the Temple is rebuilt, the omer offering will be reinstated.

(Yalkut Yitzchak)

To the Level of Rebbi Shimon

Reb Yitzchak of Drohvitch lived in the time of the Baal Shem Tov. He was a maggid in the city of Brod and then in Ostroho, and was known as a very holy person. His son became the famous stu-dent of the Baal Shem Tov, Reb Michel of Zlotchuv.

When Reb Michel of Zlotchov came to the Baal Shem Tov, the Baal Shem Tov gave orders to show him respect, saying: “You should know that this man is the son of the holy Reb Yitzchak of Droh-vitch. His father did not have a lofty neshama; in fact, almost no one of the generation possessed such a plain nesha-ma. Only with his tireless efforts did he elevate it to the level akin to that of Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai… “

A Blessing for a Friend

Continued from page 1:

"Wow! Amazing!" I exclaimed. "I am the one who held the door open with all my might that it shouldn't get slammed shut on you. Do you remember me?"

"That's right, of course!" he answered quickly, looking into my eyes to see if he could remember the face from so long ago. "And now you are seeing the happy outcome of the story. These twins were born two years and three months after that Lag B'Omer in the merit of the Reb-be's blessing. They are our only children and today is their Bar Mitzvah. They are the Rebbe's children!"

By Yerachmiel Tilles. Rabbi Tilles of Tsfat is a co-founder of ASCENT. His mailing list (ytilles3@gmail.com) is now in its 23rd year. The first two of his "Full Moon" storybooks (Koren Publ) are available for purchase at Kabbala-Online-shop.com and Jewish bookstores.

On Lag B'Omer, Rashbi was illuminated with the light of Moshiach, thereby attain-ing the highest level of his lifetime, and revealed it partially to his students. Hence, Lag B'Omer is a day of revelation of pnimiyus hatorah, the inner aspects of the Torah.

The Arizal said that it is a mitzvah to re-joice on Lag B'Omer, because Rashbi called his yahrtzeit a celebration. This joy is relevant to every Yid, for Rashbi pro-tects the entire world from judgment. This day is also joyous because the students of Rebbi Akiva stopped dying. As a result of this special day, they began to relate to each other with proper respect.

The gaon Reb Yonasan Eibshitz cautions to make good use of the holy day and not waste it on foolishness. Similarly, in a letter to his chassidim prior to Lag B'Omer, the Alter Rebbe writes: "Rejoice on the day of Rashbi's celebration, be-cause we drink from his wellsprings in chassidus. You should celebrate by sing-ing praises to Hashem from Tehillim, and not, G-d forbid, through silliness."

What to Do on Lag B’Omer

In a letter to Jewish children, the Rebbe writes: On the day of Lag B'Omer, you should assemble to mention Rashbi and his greatness, to discuss his teachings and to firmly commit to fulfill them with joy. In addition, you should organize a parade in your area, to publicize your connection to Torah, like Rashbi, whose primary oc-cupation was Torah. The merit of Rashbi will help you fulfill Torah and mitzvos with joy and bring the geulah soon.

Torah - One’s Only Occupation

At a parade, the Rebbe said that we must learn from the primary trait of Rashbi of learning Torah in a manner of 'Toraso umnaso', Torah was his only occupation.

The Rebbe explained that everyone should, in a similar manner, dedicate themselves entirely to Torah, so that even when doing other things, it is noticeable that one's profession is Torah. This is particularly relevant to children who have no other concerns to worry about. An-other lesson is to increase in Ahavas Yis-roel and the learning of the inner dimen-sion of Torah, revealed by Rashbi.

In Lubavitch

For the Mitteler Rebbe, Lag B’Omer was an exceptional Yom Tov. From the time he settled in Lubavitch, he renewed the custom of celebrating Lag B’Omer in a field outside the city, with a light seuda and LeChaim. He too would say LeCha-im, something he did not usually do for health reasons, and the chassidim would sing and dance.

The Mitteler Rebbe would perform mira-cles, blessing many childless women to have sons who would grow up to be true chassidim. Though he usually sent such requests to his brother, Reb Chaim Avrohom, on Lag B’Omer he would bless them himself. People waited all year long for Lag B’Omer.

Lag B’Omer, Moshiach Now! & To the Level of Rebbi Shimon reprinted from The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash, on-line at TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com

Bow and Arrow and Rainbows

The tzaddik Reb Mendel of Rimanov explains that the game of bow and arrow is played because no rainbow, a sign of Hashem's anger, was seen during the lifetime of Rashbi, for he protected the entire generation.

Reb Mendel's student, the tzaddik Reb Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov (the Bnei Yissaschar), further explains this game, according to what is written in Zohar, that an especially bright rainbow shows on the imminent revelation of the light of Moshiach. Being that this light is revealed in the Zohar to some extent, we play the bow and arrow.

The Rebbe explained the connection to the students of cheider. An arrow can attack the enemy even from a distance. This alludes to those matters of holiness which defeat the Yetzer Harah in advance (i.e. davening and tzedakah), allowing the person to learn To-rah undisturbed.

Lag B’Omer Who is a Great Person

Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, the Rov of Vilna from 5645-5700 (1885-1940), once heard Rabbi Meir Yechiel HaLevi Halstock, the Rebbe of Ostrovtse, say a pilpul. Reb Chaim Ozer exclaimed, “you are such a gavrah rabah (great person); I wasn’t aware of your greatness.” Reb Meir replied, “because I said a nice pil-pul, doesn’t make me a gavrah rabah!” “If that doesn’t make a person a gavrah rabah, what does,” inquired Reb Chaim Ozer? Reb Meir replied, “One who takes away the suffering of a fellow Jew, is a great person.” Surprised, Reb Chaim Ozer asked, where is the source for this innovative thought? “It is stated explicit-ly in the Talmud,” replied Reb Meir. “The Talmud states (Makos 22b), how foolish are some people, who stand up for a Sefer Torah that is written on parch-ment, but do not stand up for scholars who are great. The Talmud then explains who is such a great person. The Torah states, one who deserves to be whipped receives 40 lashes, yet the scholars’ greatness is that they state that the maxi-mum amount of lashes that one can re-ceive is thirty-nine. Yet, we find this concept (one number short of what the Torah stated), in another halacha as well. The Torah teaches that we count fifty days until Shavuos, yet the Sages clari-fied that we count only forty-nine. So my questions is, why did the Sages use lash-es to show the greatness of the scholars, and not the law of counting days?” “What is the reason?” Reb Chaim Ozer asked. “The answer is very simple,” replied Reb Meir. “To make a pilpul and explain that fifty actually means fifty minus one, is a nice pilpul. But, when the Torah states that a person should receive forty lashes, and the Sages say we will make it one less, and the person doesn’t have to endure any additional pain and suffering, that is a great person. Adapted from Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon. Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassi-dim. He is available to farbreng in your community and can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com

New Acapella Album

Singer Benny Friedman‘s new album is not the result of years, or even months, of hard work. In fact, he told COLlive, the time frame from an idea to the final mix was exactly one week.

“Doni Gross, who has years of experi-ence in creating Jewish acapella mu-sic, called me last week and said, ‘we’re both at home now, let’s do this!'” So the two got to work, and brainstormed for song ideas for an acapella album.

The song is a mix of hits, including some with guest stars, such as Aish with Abie Rottenberg and Shlomo Simcha, Vezakeini with Baruch Lev-ine and My Dear Rebbi with Yitzy Waldner. With the album recording

only voices, it took them a very short amount of time to complete. “With acapella, it’s just you, an engineer and arranger, you are not relying on musi-cians or anyone else,” Friedman said.

“With everything going on in the world today, people are looking for entertainment and inspiration,” Fried-man says. “It’s such a crazy time, everything extra in our lives has been stripped away. So in the theme of that, acapella music is very apropos – no distractions, nothing extra, just a man and a microphone. You are left with just the song, which shines through in its simplest, beautiful form.”

Completing the album so quickly led both of them to question their other album productions. “It got us asking, what in the world always takes so long?” Friedman says.

“Whispers of the Heart” was released last week. Reprinted from COLlive

Halacha Corner – Lag B’Omer

Lag B’Omer is a day of great simcha, happiness. Normally, the day of the passing of a Tzadik is not necessarily a day of happiness. However, in this case, it is different, as Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai himself asked that on the day of his passing, we should rejoice and celebrate. The restrictions of Sefirah are virtually non-existent on the day of Lag BaOmer amongst almost all groups of Yidden. Sefardim are particular to wait to lift the restrictions until the day after Lag B’Omer, and the Kabbalah says that haircuts should not be taken on Lag B’Omer according to many opinions. Upshernishen for children certainly are done on Lag B’Omer, even those that are particular with the ways of Kabbalah.

It is ironic that some people shave specifically on Lag B’Omer as a celebra-tion of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, when Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was par-ticular about maintaining the Tzelem Elokim, the dignity of the human being created in Hashem’s Image, and with regard to a Yid, by wearing a full beard.

Rav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights, One Minute Halacha, #13, reprinted from halacha2go.com

Cooking Tip of the Week

Beer and Onions: A great combi-nation to flavor and tenderize meat. This a trick I learned from one of my favorite cook books (Fresh and Easy by Leah Schapira) While I did not use the cut of meat she suggested using; salt, pepper, beer and onions was all it took to make a great piece of beef for Shabbos.

Alizah Hochstead, alizahh@hotmail.com

Question: I have always said, “Lag B’Omer is my day.” I feel so connected to Rebbe Shimon and so uplifted when the day comes. I go to Meron, go to bonfires, farbreng, go to the tahalucha (parade), learn - the day is packed. But since I can’t do most of that this year, I am really becoming discouraged. My mood is even affecting my avodas Hashem as I don’t feel the same enthusiasm to learn and daven. I just feel like I have last something so precious - my day!

Answer: The Rebbe explained to a shliach in a remote location: You write that you feel iso-lated and lonely, and that it greatly weakens all areas of your avodas (service of) Hashem: The latter part of your statement [your weakened avoda] proves that the former [feelings of loneli-ness] is the trap of the Yetzer Hara [evil inclina-tion] who tries to weaken each person from ful-filling his mission, using tactics that match the personality of the individual.

The Yetzer Hara is a master at his trade and it is not easy to recognize whether a feeling is moti-vated by the Yetzer Tov (good inclination) or the Yetzer Hara. A guiding principle is: any feeling or thought that leads to sadness and de-pression is a trick of the Yetzer Hara to weaken one’s service of Hashem. As Rabbi Aaron of Karlin said: "Depression is not a sin in and of itself, but its paths can lead to the worst sins!" The Rebbe writes that one of the Yetzer Hara’s favorite tactics is the make a person sad. He looks for an opportune time for then it is easy to draw him into that heavy frame of mind.

So too, the Rebbe quoted numerous times the teaching from Pirkei Avos: I have only been created to serve my Master. My purpose and happiness in life is to fulfill Hashem’s Will. “Serve G-d with joy” (Tehillim 100:2) can also be read, Serve G-d, (and you will come to) joy. When we prioritize our service based on person-al preference, we experience ups and downs. We feel good when we like what we are doing and bored when this is not the case. Yet, whether one is learning Gemara, Chassidus, dancing at a wedding, sitting at the Shabbos table or cleaning the house for Shabbos, he can be joyful in the knowledge that he is serving Hashem. As the Rebbe Rashab said, if we were commanded to chop wood, we would chop wood.

This year Hashem desires we observe Lag B’O-mer in a different manner. However, rather than see this as a negative, see it as an opportunity: a chance to deepen our relationship with Hashem by doing His Will simply because it is His Will.

Aharon Schmidt - marriage & individual coach-ing - video and telephone available. For an ap-pointment or to share a question contact: coachingandcounseling1@gmail.com