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B"H
LIVING WITH MOSHIACH
Weekly Digest About Moshiach
PARSHAT SHEMOT, 5762
Tevet 20, 5762 * Jan. 4, 2002
>> A Jewish Response To Terrorism <<
http://www.moshiach.net/blind/lwm-5762/269.htm
***************************************************
* Visit TruePeace.org *
* "http://www.truepeace.org" *
* Dedicated to educating the public regarding the *
* current situation in Israel, based on Torah *
* sources, with special emphasis on the opinion *
* and teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe *
***************************************************
Published Weekly By
Lubavitch Shluchim Conferences On The Moshiach Campaign,
Committee For The Blind
* * *
5762
"Year of Hakhel"
http://www.moshiach.net/blind/lwm-5761/262.htm#Year of Hakhel
****************************************************
* VISIT US ON THE WEB, AT: *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind *
****************************************************
* TO RECEIVE THIS PUBLICATION VIA INTERNET: *
* E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org *
****************************************************
* OPERATION REFUAH: *
* http://www.operationrefuah.org *
****************************************************
* JEWISH CHILDREN: *
* Get your own letter in a Sefer Torah! *
* http://www.kidstorah.org *
****************************************************
* Kids! We Want YOU To Join *
* Tzivos Hashem (The Army of G-d) *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/tzivos-h.htm *
****************************************************
* MOSHIACH - CHILDREN'S PAGE *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/children/index.htm *
****************************************************
THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED TO THE REBBE,
RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON
OF LUBAVITCH
"I BELIEVE WITH COMPLETE FAITH IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE MOSHIACH.
"AND THOUGH HE MAY TARRY, I SHALL WAIT EACH DAY, ANTICIPATING
HIS ARRIVAL." Maimonides, Principles of the Faith, No. 12
*********************
* TABLE OF CONTENTS *
*********************
* Introduction.
* The Weekly Torah Portion.
* The Rebbe's Prophecy.
* Chof Daled Tevet.
* Yahrtzeit and Practical Deeds.
* Moshiach Matters.
* It Happened Once.
* Court Case in Gomel.
* A Call to Action.
* The Weekly Shabbat Calendar.
* Laws of Shabbat Candle Lighting for the Blind.
* Shabbat Candle Lighting Blessing.
* Moshiach Information Hotlines.
* Moshiach In The Air - Electronic Media.
* Subscription Information for this Weekly Magazine:
Living With Moshiach.
****************
* INTRODUCTION *
****************
We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the
blind, our weekly publication, Living With Moshiach.
*
In this week's issue, we focus on Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi,
whose yahrtzeit is next Tuesday, 24 Tevet, Jan. 8.
*
On a personal note:
Next Wednesday, the 25th of Tevet, Jan. 9, is the 64th yahrtzeit
of my grandfather, Rabbi Yitzchok Elchonon Halevi Shagalov, who
literally gave his life to spread Yiddishkeit in Russia. Therefore,
in his memory, we also present a famous incident in his life.
*
Our sincere appreciation to L'Chaim weekly publication,
published by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, for allowing us to
use their material.
Also, many thanks to our copy editor, Reb Mordechai Staiman, for
his tireless efforts.
*
It is our fervent hope that our learning about Moshiach and the
Redemption will hasten the coming of Moshiach, NOW!
Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov
Administrator
Committee for the Blind
E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org
15 Tevet, 5762
Year of Hakhel
Brooklyn, New York
***************************************
* THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION *
* Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe *
***************************************
PARSHAT SHEMOT
This week we commence the Book of Exodus (Shemot), which begins:
"These are the names of the Children of Israel who came to Egypt."
This is not the first time the Torah enumerates the names of the
Children of Israel. The sons of Jacob have already been tallied
several times in previous chapters. Why, then, does the Torah list
their names again?
The Midrash offers two explanations:
Even though they were in exile, the Jewish people did not change
their names for Egyptian ones.
The Jewish people are likened to the stars, about which it
states, "He [G-d] counts the number of stars; each one He calls by
name." Aside from denoting preciousness and value, once something
has been counted it can never afterward be nullified.
Chasidic philosophy explains that a person's name relates to his
most external aspects rather than his innermost being. (The reason
a person has a name is so that others can call him by it; he
himself, however, does not really need a name.)
To a certain extent, this describes the Jewish soul after it
descends into the physical world and is invested in a body.
However, not all of the soul comes down into the physical world:
its essence always remains above, united with G-d, while only its
external reflection descends to the physical plane.
This is alluded to in the verse "And these are the names of the
Children of Israel who came to Egypt." The Hebrew name for Egypt,
Mitzrayim, comes from the word meaning constriction and limitation.
Only the "name" of the Jewish soul, its outermost reflection, is
subjected to the limitations of the physical world and the
difficulties of the exile. The soul itself, however, remains
unaffected and in full possession of all its powers.
The Jewish soul has never gone into exile. It is not contained
or restricted in any way by the physical world, and its essence is
always "free." Thus it is a perpetual source of strength for its
reflection down below, enabling a Jew to overcome spiritual
obstacles and cleave to G-d in all circumstances and situations.
It was this strength that empowered the Jewish people throughout
their years in Egyptian exile, allowing them to remain faithful to
their beliefs and retain their original Jewish names. Indeed, this
is the connection between the two explanations in the Midrash: the
Children of Israel were able to "stay Jewish" in Egypt precisely
because the essence of the soul never goes into exile -- a lesson
that applies to our day as well.
************************
* THE REBBE'S PROPHECY *
************************
The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch, issued
a call that "THE TIME OF OUR REDEMPTION HAS ARRIVED!" and
"MOSHIACH IS ON HIS WAY!"
The Rebbe stressed that he is saying this AS A PROPHECY, and
asks us all to prepare ourselves for the Redemption, through
increasing acts of goodness and kindness.
LET US ALL HEED THE REBBE'S CALL.
_______________
See "Living With Moshiach" Vol 259:
http://www.moshiach.net/blind/lwm-5761/259.htm
*********************************************
* IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR GRANDPARENTS, *
* *
* Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid *
* Passed away on 3 Tishrei, 5755 *
* *
* Mrs. Fraidel Chedvah Bas Reb Zev Wolf *
* Passed away on 4 Adar II, 5755 *
* Pais *
*********************************************
********************
* CHOF DALED TEVET *
********************
Next Tuesday, Chof Daled (the 24th day of) Tevet, Jan. 8, is the
yahrtzeit of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the
first Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch and the founder of Chabad Chasidic
philosophy and the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty.
The Alter Rebbe opened a new path that allowed the teaching of
the previously hidden aspects of the Torah -- P'nimiyus HaTorah --
to be grasped through the intellect and thus reveal additional
G-dliness within the world.
But the Alter Rebbe was not only a master in the area of the
more esoteric aspects of the Torah. Even as a child he was
considered a great scholar of the revealed parts of the Torah --
nigle d'Torah -- as well.
This quality of the Alter Rebbe is alluded to in his name,
Shneur, which can be broken up into two Hebrew words, "Shnei" and
"ohr" which mean "two lights." The Alter Rebbe illuminated the
world with his greatness in the two lights of the Torah.
In the Alter Rebbe's magnum opus, Tanya, he writes: "The
Messianic Era...is the fulfillment and culmination of the creation
of the world, for which purpose it was originally created." This
means that our spiritual service will reach its full completion
only with the fulfillment and culmination of the entire creation
that will take place when Moshiach is revealed.
The entire purpose, in fact, of the revelation of chasidic
philosophy is to hasten and prepare the world for the Messianic
Era.
Thus, when each one of us studies Chasidus, whether the more
sublime aspects or the most esoteric concepts, we prepare ourselves
and the world around us for Moshiach.
* * *
The Alter Rebbe's works incorporated the whole spectrum of
Jewish thought. The philosophical system he created is a synthesis
of the mystical and revealed aspects of Judaism. But the Alter
Rebbe was not merely a cold, analytic scholar, as the following
story reveals:
Once, Rabbi Dov Ber, the Alter Rebbe's son, was studying late at
night, his infant son in a cradle nearby. Rabbi Dov Ber was so
immersed in his studies that when the baby fell out of the cradle
he did not hear the child cry. The Alter Rebbe was also studying in
another part of the house. But he heard his grandson's cry and
quickly went to pick him up.
"You must always hear the cry of a child," the Alter Rebbe
rebuked his son.
This simple admonition is like the rallying cry of all of the
Alter Rebbe's descendants and followers since then. The Alter Rebbe
devoted his life to hearing the cry of every child -- regardless of
his chronological age. Indeed, within each one of us there is a
child crying out to his Father in Heaven, waiting to be picked up
and brought close. The Alter Rebbe's teachings, especially his main
work, the Tanya, were written to help enable one to achieve that
very closeness.
**************************************
* YAHRTZEIT AND PRACTICAL DEEDS *
* Adapted from a Letter of the Rebbe *
**************************************
21 Tevet, 5720/1960
To all participants in the Annual Dinner of the
United Lubavitcher Yeshivos "Tomchei-T'mimim":
This year's Annual Dinner takes place on the auspicious day of
the 24th of Tevet, the yahrtzeit of the Alter Rebbe, author of the
Tanya and Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) and founder of Chabad
Chasidus.
* * *
A Yahrtzeit is the annual remembrance of the last day of life on
this earth for a Jewish neshama (soul), and of its return to its
Creator. This day marks the summation of the whole span of life,
the conclusion of the soul's mission on earth.
Like all remembrances in Jewish life to which the Torah calls
attention, a yahrtzeit is not just a reminder that is to remain in
the realm of memory.
It recalls and demands practical deeds in the spirit of the
soul's mission of the person whose yahrtzeit is commemorated, and
by means of such practical deeds in that spirit one becomes part
and parcel of the creativity and eternity of that person.
According to the explanation of my venerated father-in-law and
of his father, of saintly memory, the inner aspect of the soul's
mission and of the life and work of the Alter Rebbe -- as reflected
also in his name, Shneur (shnei-ohr, meaning "two lights"), two
lights united together in one word -- was to fuse together the two
Divine lights, the revealed light of the Torah (Nigleh she'b'Torah)
and the hidden inner light of the Torah (Nistar she'b'Torah), in
such a way that the innermost should permeate, irradiate and shine
forth through the outer (revealed) light, resulting in a whole and
complete Torah -- Torah T'mima.
And, as explained in the Zohar, this is also the means whereby,
in the same way, the innermost aspect of the soul is merged with
its outer aspect -- the revealed part of the Jewish soul with its
inner nekudas haYahadus (Divine spark).
Such is also the inner purpose of the Yeshivos "Tomchei T'mimim"
Lubavitch, namely, that the students should become t'mimim (whole
and complete) in the spirit of Torah T'mima, as defined and
expounded upon by the Alter Rebbe, whose yahrtzeit is commemorated
today.
* * *
All those who adequately participate in the Annual Dinner of the
United Yeshivos Tomchei T'mimim on this auspicious day of the 24th
of Tevet, including those who were unable to participate in person
but take an adequate share in the supporting and strengthening of
the Lubavitcher Yeshivos, thereby contribute and become an integral
part of the creative deeds and accomplishments of the one whose
yahrtzeit is being commemorated.
May G-d grant that such participation be in a growing measure,
with a steadily rising vitality and devotion.
And the zechut [merit] of the Baal-ha-Yahrtzeit, the Alter
Rebbe, will surely stand you all in good stead, men and women, who
take an active share in the support and expansion of the Yeshivos
Tomchei T'mimim, which are conducted in his spirit and with his
system, and will bring you Divine blessings in all your needs, both
material and spiritual, which go hand in hand together.
********************
* MOSHIACH MATTERS *
********************
Next Tuesday, 24 Tevet, Jan. 8, is the yahrtzeit of the first
Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. We would
like to share with you just a few of the hundreds of references to
and explanations about Moshiach, the exile and redemption, that
Rabbi Shneur Zalman made in his numerous scholarly works.
*
"In the days of the Holy Temple, the Children of Israel were by
their very nature drawn by a genuine yearning towards the service
of G-d; for them the demands of this world were a matter of
necessity, to be dispensed with off-handedly, and without ardor. In
the time of exile the opposite is true: A man is drawn by nature to
his bodily needs and to this-worldly matters, while his divine
service and his love of G-d are earned at the expense of
considerable toil."
Likutei Torah
*
"The time of exile has been likened to a dream. For so it is
written, "When G-d will return the exiles of Zion, we will have
been like dreamers." A dream can fuse two opposites. In the present
time of exile likewise, a person can be a paradox. While he is at
prayer he is aroused to a love of G-d; when his prayers are over,
this love has vanished: he is preoccupied all day with his business
affairs, and gives priority to his bodily needs."
Torah Or
*
"Fulfilling mitzvot during the time of exile is like sowing
seeds. A seed planted in the ground sprouts into a harvest that far
exceeds its beginnings. So, too, by fulfilling mitzvot, one "sows"
and increases the lights Above, in the Supernal "Land," and the
harvest will "sprout" in future time. Moreover, the longer a seed
remains in the ground, the richer will be the yield. So, too, the
longer this exile is extended, the more intense will be the
revelation in time to come."
Likutei Torah
*
"It is well known that the Messianic Era, and especially the
time of the Resurrection of the Dead, is the fulfillment and
culmination of the creation of the world, for which purpose it was
originally created.... This culminating fulfillment of the
Messianic Era and of the Resurrection of the Dead, depends on our
actions and service throughout the duration of the exile."
Tanya
********************
* IT HAPPENED ONCE *
********************
In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia, and the route of the invasion
led through White Russia. The Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of
Liadi, leader of the chassidic movement in White Russia, who had
twice been accused of high treason, turned out to be a most loyal
patriot. Although the French conqueror was hailed in some religious
Jewish quarters as the harbinger of a new era of political and
economic freedom, the Alter Rebbe saw in Napoleon a threat to basic
religious principles and spiritual values.
The Alter Rebbe had nothing but contempt for the man whose
arrogance and lust for power knew no bounds, and who represented to
the Chabad leader the antithesis of humility and holiness. The
Alter Rebbe urged his numerous followers to help the Russian war
effort against the invaders in every possible way. With the aid of
his followers behind the enemy lines, some of whom were employed by
the French Military Command, the Alter Rebbe was also able to
render valuable intelligence service to the Russian generals at the
front.
When the French armies approached Liadi, the Russian generals
advised the Alter Rebbe to flee. In August (1812) the Alter Rebbe
hastily left Liadi, leaving everything behind, and fled with his
family towards Smolensk. For some five months the Alter Rebbe and
his family suffered the hardships and perils of the road and of an
unusually inclement winter, until they reached a village in the
district of Kursk. Here the Alter Rebbe succumbed to a severe
illness in the final stages of the harrowing journey, and passed
away at the age of 68.
Traditions and records preserved in the family of the Alter
Rebbe provide interesting details in connection with the Alter
Rebbe's last and fateful journey. From an account by Rabbi Nachum,
grandson of the Alter Rebbe, relating his personal experiences, we
learn the following details:
It was on Friday, the 29th of Av, that the Alter Rebbe fled from
Liadi on the advice of the generals commanding the Russian armies
in that area. Sixty wagons were put at his disposal, but they were
not enough, and many had to walk on foot. A number of armed troops
were assigned to accompany and protect the caravan. In view of the
rapid advance of the French army, the generals suggested that the
best route for the flight of the Alter Rebbe would be through the
town of Bayev. But the Alter Rebbe decided to head for Krasna,
urging the caravan to make the utmost haste, in order to cross the
river Dnieper at the earliest possible time.
After covering a distance of about two miles, the Alter Rebbe
suddenly requested the accompanying troops to let him go back to
Liadi. Arriving at his deserted house, he ordered his men to search
the house carefully to make sure that nothing whatever, however
trivial, had been overlooked. The only things found were a pair of
worn-out slippers, a rolling pin and a sieve, which had been left
in the attic. He ordered these to be taken along, and to set the
house on fire before the enemy arrived. Then he blessed those of
the townspeople who remained in the town, and speedily departed
again.
No sooner had he left the town on the road leading to the
Dnieper than the avant-coureur of Napoleon's army reached the
town from the opposite end. Presently, Napoleon himself with
his entourage entered the town on their galloping steeds.
Napoleon inquired after the house of the Alter Rebbe, but when
he reached it, he found it ablaze, the fire burning beyond
control. Napoleon wished to have something that belonged to the
Alter Rebbe and offered a rich reward to anyone who could bring
him anything. [1] But nothing was there.
During all his long and arduous journey the Alter Rebbe kept in
touch with the situation of Russian Jewry caught in the gigantic
Franco-Russian war. At that time the invading armies plundered
everything they could lay their hands on. Starvation and ruination
were the order of the day, and the Alter Rebbe's heart went out to
his suffering brethren, who were the most hard-hit victims of the
invasion.
The Alter Rebbe had foreseen Napoleon's invasion of Moscow as
well as his defeat there. He also predicted that Napoleon's final
defeat would be at the hands of his own compatriots. At the same
time he knew that the retreating French armies, starving and
desperate, would plunder the Jewish communities that lay in their
path. Arriving in Piena, the Alter Rebbe embarked upon a relief
campaign to aid the Jewish victims of the war, including
resettlement plans, fund raising, and relief distribution. For ten
days after his arrival in Piena the Alter Rebbe worked feverishly
on his plans and projects to alleviate the plight of his brethren.
Then, he fell ill, his condition worsening day to day. At the
conclusion of Shabbat Parshat Shemot, after reciting the Maariv
(evening prayer) and Havdalah, he composed a letter full of
mystical allusions, and a few minutes later he returned his soul to
his Maker.
_______________
1. It seems that Napoleon practiced some sort of sorcery for
which such an object was required. Ed.
***********************
* COURT CASE IN GOMEL *
***********************
The following is a true story related by a Russian Jewish woman
who was present at the court case described below:
In 1924, the Russian masses, most of whom had been fervently
religious before the Revolution of 1917, were in the process of
being weaned away from their religion. But, there were many -- even
Communist party members -- who remained faithful to their
religions. Many Jews retained outward appearances to show that they
were good Communists, but deep within them burned the eternal
Jewish spark.
One such man created a sensation in Gomel. Soon after his wife
gave birth to their first child, a son, he said that he was suing
for divorce. The reason: his wife had the baby circumcised!
The Communists had a chance to display to Gomel's Jewish
population how a young man was prepared to sacrifice family ties
for his party. They immediately planned a public trial. The trial
was well publicized and when the day arrived the galleries were
filled to overflow.
The judge, who was himself Jewish, called the husband first.
"Tell me, Comrade, are you a loyal party member?" he asked.
"I am indeed." And the husband described his important post in
the governmental hierarchy.
"Until now, have you loved your wife? Have you been on good
terms?" asked the judge.
The husband answered in the affirmative.
"What then, Comrade, has happened that you wish to divorce her?"
the judge asked.
"Comrade Judge, my wife gave birth to a son. I looked forward to
bringing him up as a true Communist. One day, I came home and to my
utter consternation found that he had been circumcised! Was I
supposed to stand guard all day, neglecting my important work for
the advancement of communism? I hold her responsible!" the husband
said emotionally.
"Let the wife step forward," the judge ordered. "Comrade, are
you guilty of perpetrating this heinous crime?"
"Comrade Judge," she wept, "it isn't true. He won't listen to
me. We live in a single, rented room in someone else's house. One
day I had to go shopping for food and I left my baby sleeping in
his crib. I made sure to lock the door before I left. It took me
longer than I expected. Just imagine how frightened I was when I
found the door of our room wide open! I looked around and saw that
nothing had been touched. But suddenly, I realized that my baby was
gone!
"There was no one else in the house, no one to ask, no sign of
any theft. I ran out into the street like a madwoman when I
suddenly saw my parents and my husband's parents. Imagine my relief
when I noticed my mother carrying the baby. She tried to calm me;
they had just taken the baby for a walk, she told me.
"I believed them. But when I brought him home and changed his
diaper I had a fit. How could my parents do this to me?" she
screamed.
"Terrible," the judge shook his head. "Unbelievable that in the
modern Soviet Republic these religious practices still exist. Let
the child's grandparents come forward."
All four grandparents stood together. Both grandfathers had gray
beards and wore long black coats. The grandmothers' heads were
covered with kerchiefs. One of the grandmothers, who knew a little
more Russian than the others, spoke for them all.
"Honorable Comrade, I admit that I can't see what's wrong with
our grandchild having a bris like all Jewish boys. But you should
know that we didn't mean to do it. It just happened."
The public galleries reverberated with howls of laughter. The
judge called for silence and asked sarcastically. "How, Babushka,
does a circumcision just happen?"
"We took our little grandson out for some fresh air. We came to
streets where we hardly ever go. Suddenly a young rabbi walked over
to us, whom we never saw before and asked, 'Do you want your
grandson to have a bris like every Jewish boy?' 'Of course,' we
answered. So he quickly took out a knife and before we knew what
was happening our grandson had a bris!"
The gales of laughter from the galleries couldn't be contained.
"Babushka, have you finished your ridiculous story?" asked the
judge.
"I have told you all," said the grandmother. "But I want you to
know that I am very happy."
"Happy?" roared the judge. "About what?"
"Happy that our dear little grandson had a bris. Just like you,
your honor! Aren't you proud to be a Jew?"
Try as he might, the judge could do nothing to stop the titters
and snickers. Eventually the courtroom was brought to order. The
husband was called back to the witness stand.
"Tell me, Comrade, hero of communism, if not for this most
unfortunate affair, is there any other reason you have for
divorcing your wife?"
"No, Comrade Judge, none whatsoever."
"If I tell you that she is not guilty, will you consider
returning to her?"
"Of course, Comrade," said the husband.
"Then, here is the decision. Your wife is innocent. It is
entirely the fault of the grandparents who persist in observing
these religious practices. They will be fined 50 rubles. This is
the decision of the Soviet Court of Gomel."
As the spectators filed out of court, they couldn't help but
admire the ingenious plan of the young party-member and his wife to
have their son circumcised while still retaining his high-ranking
job and party membership.
The bizarre story about the stranger was, of course, to protect
the mohel's identity. But, it was no secret to anyone; everyone
knew the one mohel left in the city, Rabbi Yitzchok Elchonon Halevi
Shagalov, a young rabbi who had studied for ten years in the famous
yeshiva in Lubavitch, and was one of the chasidim left in Russia by
the Previous Rebbe to continue with Lubavitcher activities at great
personal sacrifice.
* * *
In the early hours of the morning, on the 4th of Tishrei, 5698
(September 9, 1937), while still up and learning Chasidus, as was
his nightly custom, Rabbi Yitzchok Elchonon Halevi Shagalov was
arrested for spreading Yiddishkeit in Russia and shot to death (at
the age of forty) in prison less than five months later, on the
25th of Tevet, 5698 (December 29, 1937).
In 1953, his wife Rebbetzin Shagalov, may she live and be well,
settled in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. With the Al-mighty's
blessings, she is enjoying the blessings of many descendants
(including a number of great-great-grandchildren), all of them
Lubavitcher chasidim, and many of them emissaries of the Rebbe on
all five continents!
********************
* A CALL TO ACTION *
********************
The Rebbe's slogan is: "The main thing is the deed." We
therefore present from the Rebbe's talks suggestions what we
can do to complete his work of bringing the Redemption.
Study Tanya:
The book Tanya, the basic work of Chabad Chasidic philosophy, is
based on the Torah verse, "It [the full scope of Torah] is very
close to you."
The yahrtzeit of the Tanya's author, the Alter Rebbe, on the
24th of Tevet, should inspire us to establish fixed programs of
study that focus on this fundamental work of Chabad Chasidic
philosophy. As it is divided into 53 chapters, corresponding to the
53 Torah portions, chasidim of old customarily studied one chapter
each week. The Previous Rebbe divided the Tanya into daily portions
and instituted its daily study, and the Rebbe has repeatedly
encouraged this study.
*
One can study over the phone via pre-taped classes by
calling (718) 953-6100, or via the Internet, at:
http://www.lchaimweekly.org (except on Shabbat or yom tov), or
attend a class at your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center.
The daily portion of Tanya is also available
electronically via the Internet. To subscribe, go to:
http://www.lchaimweekly.org/general/subscribe.html
***************************************
* In loving memory of *
* HORAV CHAIM YEHUDA KALMAN *
* Ben Horav Avrohom Yehoshua Marlow, *
* head of the Bet-Din (Rabbinical *
* Court) of Crown Heights, *
* Passed away, on Friday Morning, *
* 20 Sivan, 5760 (June 23, 2000) *
***************************************
*******************************
* THE WEEKLY SHABBAT CALENDAR *
*******************************
** JEWISH WOMEN AND GIRLS LIGHT SHABBAT CANDLES **
*******************************************************
* FOR LOCAL CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES: *
* consult your local Rabbi, Chabad-Lubavitch *
* Center, or call: (718) 774-3000. *
* or: *
* http://www.candlelightingtimes.org/shabbos *
* *
* FOR A FREE CANDLE LIGHTING KIT: *
* contact your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center. *
* *
* FOR A LISTING OF THE CENTERS IN YOUR AREA: *
http://www.candlelightingtimes.org/general/shluchim.html
* In the USA, call: 1-800-Lubavitch (1-800-582-2848). *
*******************************************************
>>>> Times Shown Are for Metro NY - NJ <<<<
FRIDAY, JAN. 4, EREV SHABBAT PARSHAT SHEMOT:
* Light Shabbat candles, [2] by 4:23 p.m.
SATURDAY, JAN. 5, SHABBAT PARSHAT SHEMOT:
* Shabbat ends at NIGHTFALL, at 5:29 p.m.
_______________
2. The Shabbat candles must be lit 18 minutes *BEFORE* sunset.
IT IS PROHIBITED AND IS A DESECRATION OF THE SHABBAT TO
LIGHT THE CANDLES *AFTER* SUNSET.
***********************************
* LAWS OF SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING *
* FOR THE BLIND *
***********************************
Edited by Rabbi Y. K. Marlow O.B.M.*
* A blind woman who lives alone should light her Shabbat
candle(s) with a blessing.
* If she is married to a non-visually impaired person, HER
HUSBAND SHOULD LIGHT THE SHABBAT CANDLES WITH THE BLESSING.
* If she is eating and lighting in the company of others who
are non-visually impaired, and they lit the Shabbat candles,
she should light her own Shabbat candle(s), BUT WITHOUT SAYING THE
BLESSING.
* (If at all possible, she should not be the last one to light
the Shabbat candle(s), so that she can be absolved by the latter's
blessing.)
_______________
*. Head of Bet-Din (Rabbinical Court) of Crown Heights.
************************************
* SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING BLESSING *
************************************
* First light the candles. Then spread your hands out around the
candles, drawing your hands inward in a circular motion three times
to indicate the acceptance of the sanctity of Shabbat. You then
cover your eyes and recite the following blessing:
BO-RUCH A-TOH ADO-NOI E-LO-HEI-NU ME-LECH HO-OLOM
A-SHER KI-DE-SHO-NU BE-MITZ-VO-SOV VE-TZI-VO-NU
LE-HAD-LIK NER SHEL SHA-BOS KO-DESH.
Translation:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe,
who has sanctified us with His commandments, and
commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.
* Uncover your eyes and behold the Shabbat lights.
* The time of lighting is considered especially propitious for
praying to G-d for health and happiness. The prayer is readily
acceptable because it is offered during the performance of this
great mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles.
CAUTION:
The candles must be lit 18 minutes *BEFORE* sunset. IT IS
PROHIBITED AND IS A DESECRATION OF THE SHABBAT TO LIGHT THE
CANDLES *AFTER* SUNSET.
**********************************************
* MOSHIACH INFORMATION HOTLINES *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/hotlines.htm *
**********************************************
*********************************************
* MOSHIACH IN THE AIR - ELECTRONIC MEDIA *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/e-media.htm *
*********************************************
******************************************
* SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/subs.htm *
******************************************
===========================================================
= End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Shemot, 5762 =
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Yosef Shagalov, Editor Virtual Jerusalem, Ltd.
Moshiach http://www.virtualjerusalem.com
yys@dorsai.org "The Jewish World from the Heart of Israel"
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