|
Dear Friend
Yael and Shabtai told of the time when they, a newly married couple expecting their first, were undercover Israeli spies in Iran. He posed as an Iranian and she, due to her heavy Israeli accent, as a French Canadian. Everything was going smoothly until one of their contacts introduced Yael to another French Canadian. Her training allowed her to navigate a conversation about the geography of Canada but she couldn't speak a word of French! When her new 'friend' asked her to "say something in French", Yael had to think quickly. "You know how men are. My husband is a proud Iranian and feels uncomfortable when I speak a language he doesn't understand. I swore to him that I would never speak a word of French again". And all was saved.
As we listened, spellbound, to the tales of courage, espionage and deception, it dawned upon me that each and every one of us is actually a spy in foreign territory too. Our souls are "literally a piece of G-d", hewn from the heavenly throne. Like a fish out of water, our souls are then sent to a foreign land, to planet earth, where we are tasked with the mission of "building for G-d an embassy in this world". Each mitzvah we do, temptation we overcome and every moment we engage in the holiness of Torah and her directives, we are planting seeds of light that will ultimately accumulate and become a home for G-d with the imminent arrival of the Moshiach. It's critical for spies to always remember their cover. A young child exposes your cover in enemy territory: do you kill the child or flee? You encounter an injured Israeli soldier: do you assist or afflict? These are questions that the Mossad's psychological department ingrains within her graduates as vital to the success of their missions. Like an actor who becomes their character, a spy must assume the identity of their enemy. But if the spy forgets his identity of origin, all is futile and the mission is pointless.
As we engage in this wonderful world, let us recall that we are here on a secret mission: to illuminate this world with the light of Torah, Mitzvah, goodness and kindness. Nobody said it's going to be easy. Sometimes you will be put into situations that will test the far reaches of your creativity and wit. And like us listening enraptured to Yael and Shabtai's stories, G-d will be "sitting at the edge of his seat", waiting to see how you fulfill your secret mission! Ssssshhhh- let's keep our mission a secret. But never a secret from ourselves! Wishing you a Shabbat of successful espionage, Rabbi Dovid and Chana Vigler
Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens ~~~
Am Yisrael Chai! At the Western Wall last Friday afternoon, our Chabad of PBG group joined thousands of Jews of every kind at the holy Kotel, the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Suddenly a brigade of 140 soldiers from the combat engineers and another 60 from the air-force joined us at the Wall. Spontaneously, we all broke out in song that united us, despite our apparent differences. A soldier asked for my hat and I willingly obliged. Another placed his army beret on my head and both of us were suddenly hoisted on the soldier's shoulders in celebration of this joyous moment! ~~~ Next Week at Chabad
Sunday ~ May 21
Monday ~ May 22
Tuesday ~ May 23
Wednesday ~ May 24
Thursday ~ May 25
Friday ~ May 26
Shabbos ~ May 27
~~~ It happened once
The renowned chassid Rabbi Moshe Meisels of Vilna, youngest of Rabbi Schneur Zalman's disciples, once told Rabbi Eisel of Homel: "The aleph of Chassidism saved me from a certain death." [In his Tanya, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi states: "By its very nature, the mind rules the heart." This axiom, known as the "aleph of Chassidism," is a cornerstone of the Chabad-Chassidic approach to life.] Rabbi Moshe Meisels, an extremely learned man, was fluent in German, Russian, Polish and French. During Napoleon's war on Russia he served as a translator for the French High Command. Rabbi Schneur Zalman had charged him to associate with the French military officials, to attain a position in their service, and to convey all that he learned to the commanders of the Russian army. Within a short while Rabbi Moshe had succeeded in gaining the favor of the chief commanders of Napoleon's army and was privy to their most secret plans. It was he, Reb Moshe, who saved the Russian arms arsenal in Vilna from the fate which befell the arsenal in Schvintzian. He alerted the Russian commander in charge, and those who tried to blow up the arsenal were caught in the act. "The High Command of the French army was meeting," related Reb Moshe "and hotly debating the maneuvers and the arrangement of the flanks for the upcoming battle. The maps were spread on the floor, and the generals were examining the roads and trails, unable to reach a decision. Time was short. Tomorrow, or, at the very latest, the day after, the battle on the environs of Vilna must begin. "They were still debating when the door flew open with a crash. The guard stationed inside the door was greatly alarmed and drew his revolver. So great was the commotion, that everyone thought that the enemy had burst in in an attempt to capture the French Chief Command... "But it was Napoleon himself who appeared in the doorway. The Emperor's face was dark with fury. He stormed into the room and raged: 'Has the battle been planned? Have the orders to form the flanks been issued?' " 'And who is this stranger?!' he continued, pointing to me. In a flash he was at my side. 'You are a spy for Russia!' he thundered, and placed his hand upon my chest to feel the pounding heart of a man exposed. At that moment, the aleph of Chassidism stood me by. My mind commanded my heart to beat not an increment faster. In an unwavering voice I said: 'The commanders of His Highness the Emperor have taken me as their interpreter, as I am knowledgeable in the languages crucial to the carrying out of their duties...' " Biographical notes: Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, also known as the "Alter Rebbe" and "The Rav," was born in Li'ozna, White Russia, on the 18th of Elul 5505 (1745). He became a disciple of Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch (the second leader of the Chassidic movement) in 1764. In 1772 he established the "Chabad" branch of the Chassidism. For twenty years he worked on his Tanya, in which he outlined the Chabad philosophy and ethos. First published in 1797, the Tanya is regarded as the "bible" of Chabad Chassidism upon which hundreds of works and thousands of discourses by seven Generations of Chabad rebbes and their disciples are based. Rabbi Schneur Zalman passed away on the 24th of Tevet, 5583 (December 1812) while fleeing Napoleon's armies. Rabbi Moshe Meisels was originally a disciple of Rabbi Eliyahu, the Gaonof Vilna, and a member of the opposition to the Chassidic movement. He later became a devoted chassid of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, and, after the latter's passing, of Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch and of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch. Rabbi Moshe served as the leader of the Chassidic community in Vilna until 1816 when he made aliyah ("ascent") to the Holy Land and settled in Hebron, where he passed away in 1849. FOOTNOTES Rabbi Schneur Zalman actively supported the Czar against Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars, both on the celestial level, intervening on high for a Russian victory, and by down to earth methods such as the Chassidic spy of our story. Rabbi Schneur Zalman was of the opinion that while Napoleon's plans of "emancipating" the Jewish community may bring respite from the harsh Czarist decrees and improved material conditions, this is but the glittering veneer of forced assimilation and spiritual genocide. The Rebbe's contribution to Russia's victory was recognized by the Czar, who awarded Rabbi Schneur Zalman descendents the status of "An Honorable Citizen For All Generations." Five generations of Chabad Rebbes were to make use of this special standing in their work on behalf of the Jews of Russia. ~~~ It's good to laugh There are 3 Spies that get captured. One spy is French, one is German and the other is Jewish. Their captors come into the cell and grab the French spy and tie his hands behind a chair in the next room. They torture him for 2 hours before he answers all questions and gives up all of his secrets. The captors throw the French spy back into the cell and grab the German spy. They tie his hands behind the chair as well and torture him for 4 hours before he tells them what they want to know. They throw him back into the cell and grab the Jewish spy. They tie his hands behind the chair and begin torturing. 4 hours go by and the spy isn't talking. Then 8 hours, then 16 and after 24 hours they give up and throw him back into the cell. The German and French spy are impressed and ask him how he managed to not talk. The Jewish spy responds, " I wanted to!, but I couldn't move my hands!".
|
