בס״ד
passoverwe’ve got you
covered
feature:
an Interview with the rebbe
inside:
divine MedsHow I got my vision back
Funny rabbiLos Angeles’
new comedian
15 words to Live ByLife lessons in the seder
farbrengena little nosh for the soul Volume 12 | Issue 3 Spring 5770/2009
DeDicateD to the love anD inspiration of the Lubavitcher rebbe
on the cover:this passover 2010.
the holidays mean different things to people as they grow older.The good news is we’ve got you covered.
You’ll find stories that will inspire you and the Passover know-how you need to impress your guests with. Plus, we’ve searched the Jewish world to find some tidbits you can take home with you. This issue has gems from Los Ca-bos, Mexico, Ukraine, Brooklyn, New York, and some funny stuff from Los Angeles. So, enjoy responsibly. And that means sharing what you’ve learned with others. Let’s be moved in order to move others. That’s the only way to continue Passover throughout the year.
Happy reading,
Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, Editor
EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rabbi Chaim N. Cunin EDITOR: Rabbi Shmuel Marcus
DISTRIBUTION: Rabbi Avraham GreenMANAGING EDITOR: Rachel Moss COPY EDITORS: Rashi Jacobson
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Rabbi Yosef Marcus, Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, Yehuda
Krinsky, Rachel Moss, Lisa Perlman, Chaim DavidsonEDITORIAL CONSULTANTS: Rabbi Levi Cunin (Jay
Leno’s Rabbi), Jared Sundell, Yosef MarcusART DIRECTOR & DESIGN: Nechama Marcus
contact: [email protected] ARTISTS: Stephen Bennet, Eugene Ivanov
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Uri, Dina, Natan, Yitzchak, Moshe and Gilana Sara Pikover for continuing the Rebbe’s Farbrengen.
Website: www.farbrengen.com • 714.828.1851©2010 by Chabad of California
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any portion of Farbrengen in any form, without prior written permission from the
publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages Printed in the USA
>> About the designer Nechama Marcus:
Art director, graphic, designer and photographer, Marcus grew up immersed in Jewish culture and faith. Her “crisp, modern and elegant” style has brought our vision of a classic, reader-friendly magazine to your kitchen table.
Contact: [email protected].
בס״ד
passoverwe’ve got you
covered
feature:
an Interview with the rebbe
inside:
divine MedsHow I got my
vision back
Funny rabbiLos Angeles’
new comedian
15 words to Live By
Life lessons in the seder
from the eDitor:
the$18 matzaThe eight-day Passover holiday is famous for its three matzot and four cups of wine that are used at the seder. This year, Chabad is proud to announce that a limited supply of hand-made shmurah-matza will be available to the public at 4,200 Chabad centers across the world. Why not impress your host or guests with the beautiful giant-size round shmurah-matza? The $18 crispy brick oven baked matza are the perfect center piece for your Passover meal. Contact your local Chabad center to get a taste of history. Check www.Chabad.org for a center near you.
food
soul marketwhat’s new in review
you, a golf club, scuba gear,anD rabbi hershcovichHow about a round of golf at the Palmilla Golf Club in Los Cabos, Mexico? It’s the #1 golf course in Mex-ico according to Cigar Aficionado. Our buddies at Jewish Cabo are giving one lucky winner a trip to remember plus 2 free tickets for a 4 day/3 night soul vacation at the 5-Star Pueblo Bonito Sunset Hotel. The Re-Jew-vination includes kosher meals, ATV’ing on the Pacific coast, scuba diving around El Arco, a chance to pray mincha on a private sailboat sun-set cruise, and some spa-rituality at Chabad of Cabo. Raffle tickets start at twenty-dollars with all proceeds going to support Jewish Cabo. Drawing to be held on May 3rd 2010. For tickets and information visit www.JewishCabo.com
$20 to Los Cabos!!
Send us your new albums, products or any other soul findings to [email protected]
Send us your comments to [email protected]
editor's choice
review | products
about jewish caboJewish Cabo was founded
in 2006 by Rabbi Benny and Sonia Hershcovich. Foreign
businessmen, as well as tourist, make up the Jew-
ish community of Cabo. Philanthropist Jose Galicot was instrumental in bring-
ing Chabad to this resort destination. The Cabo
Jewish Center is located at Miguel Hidalgo Y Ninos
Heroes, Cabos S. Lucas, BCS, Mexico. Call them at
52-624 143-1951 and by the way, ¡sí habla yiddish!
the iJew appWhen the Jews left Egypt, G-d commanded them to count each day, of the seven weeks, leading up to the giving of
the Torah on the festival of Shavout. If they only had this iPhone "app" they could have avoided the golden calf. The Sefirat HaOmer Application shows the correct day, including the blessings before and after. This application won't send you reminders, but if you keep it on the front page of your iPhone, it will remind you to say it every day. The app is free and available for download at www.rustybrick.com/iphone.
>>>
Born into a Chasidic family trailing genera-tions of rabbis, Moshe Hecht grew up striv-ing to define himself while staying true to his faith. He turned to singing and song writing to put the pieces together.Moshe’s music draws inspiration from folk, classic rock,reggae and Chasidic melodies. His lyrics are poetic, honest, and confident, complimented by a voice that is aged with a depth, wisdom and passion beyond his 23 years. Moshe considers his music a tool for communicat-ing elevating ideas and lessons. His barrier-breaking live performances are a dynamic interplay of singing, story-telling, insight and humor that have already warmed audi-ences of every calling. The dream, he says, is “to inspire people to connect with their roots in a natural yet power-ful way.” Moshe is currently working on his debut album.
New voiCeS
SiNger SoNgwriTer Moshe hecht
How do you think you will stand out on the Jewish music scene?
Well, for starters all the songs are my original compositions written through various stages and travels in my life. Although I draw inspiration from Jewish artists like Shlomo Carlebach and Isaac Biton, the sound is completely different and new. Also my music is not solely about en-tertaining but about inspir-ing others to realize their spiritual potential. From my lyrics and melodies, I be-lieve people will sense that.
>>>
judaiCa
holiday | in-depth
A
15 words to LIve By
nd so does the commentary. About a thousand years ago, various short
poems were composed to item-ize the fifteen steps of the Seder.
The one that “stuck” and became standard is attributed to the 11th century sage, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki of France. It is the famous fifteen-word poem “Kadesh-Urchatz….” (see Seder insert).
Starting in the 16th century, various rab-bis began decoding hidden spiritual mes-sages within these fifteen words. These can be found, amongst others, in the writings of the Sefardic scholars Rabbi Moshe Alshekh of Safed (b. in Turkey 1508), Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, known as Chida (b. in Jerusalem 1724), Rabbi Yosef Chaim, author of Ben Ish Chai (b. in Baghdad 1832), as well as in the writings of the Ashkenazic scholar, Rabbi Moshe Sofer (b. in Frankfurt 1766).
These writings, written by our ancestors, are as fresh today as they were then. Here’s a loose adaptation of these writings from foreign lands, written circa 21st century, in California, on a Toshiba laptop:
RINSE AND REPEATKadesh U’rchatz: Sanctify and Cleanse: For too long you’ve allowed yourself to become a Yes-man to your instincts and environ-ment. Begin the Seder of life with the “big
switch”: turning from a consciousness of enslavement to one of self-liberation and strength.
Get back in the driver’s seat. Make use of that “get out jail free” card from G-d known as free choice. At any moment you can make the decision to sanctify (or sepa-rate)—kadesh—yourself from the behaviors and customs of your past, to spiritually and emotionally cleanse (u’rechatz) yourself and start again.
It only takes a split second. It is not com-plicated. And it’s not even that hard. It may be radical, but it’s eminently sensible. Con-sider what you have to gain: Spiritual and physical health. You’ll be a better spouse and a better parent. You’ll be happier, more pro-ductive, and in tune with your Divine core. But you have to do it. You can read a thou-sand about it from every century and conti-nent but it will mean nothing until you take a deep breath…and do it.
Done? Good. Now we move on to steps 3-15 which will help keep us on the donkey.
HUMBLE GIVINGKarpas Yachatz: Karpas-Divide: The easi-est way to help yourself is to help others. That’s the way G-d set it up. It’s a shortcut, a moving walkway of sorts. To help oth-ers, start with humility. The humble veg-
Jews have been doing a Seder for about three thousand years now. And the matzah balls just keep getting better….
etable of Karpas teaches us to be modest and yielding by remembering that we are not perfect—our character is divided (ya-chatz) between good qualities and those that can be improved.
Be satisfied with a simple vegetable dipped in salt water. But this austerity should only be applied to the self; for the other, for the poor, fill his palm with good-ness, and encourage him with soothing words.
Perhaps you will say, “Whence shall I have what to give to the poor?” The answer is: Yachatz—Divide your bread, and give a portion to the less fortunate.
If you sanctify (kadesh) and purify (u’rchatz) your behavior, you will merit “Karpas-Yachatz”: The “harsh labor” (kar-pas) of life, the yoke of financial worries and other anxieties, will be broken (yach-atz) and removed from you. They will most likely disappear. And even if they don’t, you’ll stop experiencing them as a “yoke” and instead see them as opportunities—a new pair of glasses, if you will.
CLEAN PREACHINGMagid Rachtzah: Tell-Cleanse: Don’t suf-fice with your own spiritual work—reach out to others by telling (magid) them about what is working for you. You don’t need to be a rabbi to be an ambassador of goodness: Even if all you know is an Alef (first letter of the Hebrew alphabet), you can teach Alef.
But preaching is dangerous business and extremely unpopular. It’s a hard sell to tell your child not to shout when things don’t go his way if that’s what he sees you doing. You gotta walk the walk—consis-tently seek out and cleanse yourself (racht-zah) of character flaws—if you wanna talk the talk.
Also: Cleanse your words of any nega-tive feeling, animosity, or condescension. Keep that email in the outbox for 24 hours.
Read it again a day later and remove all the caustic barbs and biting language that would cause your message to backfire. All rebuke—telling off—must stem from a place of love and delivered lovingly, cleansed of anything else.
LET THE MATZAH OUTMotzei Matzah: Extract-Matzah: Matzah alludes to the good inclination, since it is the opposite of Chametz, which alludes to the evil inclination. Motzi means to ex-tract, as in Hamotzi Lechem min Haaretz (“Blessed in G-d…who extracts bread from the earth”). Through your spiritual work, charity, and reaching out to others, you will extract (motzi) your good incli-nation (matzah) from its dormancy and give it dominion over your life.
MITIGATING THE MARORMaror Korech: Maror-Wrap: The bitter maror alludes to the evil inclination. Now that you have allowed your good incli-nation to emerge, wrap the matzah and maror together, i.e., educate and elevate your animal consciousness so that you may serve G-d with both of your incli-nations.
Additionally, in reaching out to others, incline your shoulder to help carry their burdens—wrap together (korech) their bitter woes (maror) and carry it for them.
SET TABLEShulchan Orech: Table-Set: Rembember that G-d’s table is always set; and it is within His capacity to sustain those who trust in Him.
By fulfilling all the above, you will merit a “set table” in this world and to the hidden blessings (tzafun-berach) of the World to Come.
HIDDEN BLESSINGSTzafun Beirach: Hidden-Bless: Recognize that there are two types of blessings in
your life: those you can clearly see, and those that you remain unaware of. Re-member to thank G-d not only for the revealed blessings and miracles but also for the “tzafun-berach,” the hidden bless-ings and miracles to which we are na-ively oblivious.
PRAISE AND PEACEHallel Nirtzah: Praise-Acceptance: Some hidden blessings appear to us as troubles. Hallel means to praise G-d for the good as well as what appears to us as negative. In the words of Rabbi Akiva (Berachot 60b): “All that G-d does is for the good.”
Those who internalize the above, will al-ways be in a state of nirtzah, conditioned to accept favorably whatever challenges they may face. Anger and disappointment, even momentary, should become foreign and un-known.
***So there you have it. May the merit
of the authors of these teachings help us implement them in our lives, bringing our-selves and the world to spiritual liberation and peace.
Rabbi Yossi Marcus is the co-director of the Chabad center in S. Mateo, CA, where he lives with his wife and four daughters. He is the author most recently of the Kehot Pirkei Avot, available at Kehot.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
Story from the Chasidic MastersThe deaf man and the musician
“You don’t need to be a rabbi to be an ambassador of goodness: Even if all you know is an Alef, you can teach Alef.”
Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), the founder of the Chasidic movement, was once asked: “Why is it that Chasidim burst into song and dance at the slightest provocation? Is this the behavior of a healthy, sane individual?”
the baal Shem tov responded with a story: Once, a musician came to town -- a musician of great but unknown talent. He stood on a street corner and began to play.
Those who stopped to listen could not tear themselves away, and soon a large crowd stood enthralled by the glorious music whose equal they had never heard. Before long they were moving to its rhythm, and the entire street was transformed into a dancing mass of humanity.
A deaf man walking by wondered: Has the world gone mad? Why are the townspeople jumping up and down, waving their arms and turning in circles in middle of the street?
“Chasidim,” concluded the Baal Shem Tov, “are moved by the melody that issues forth from every creature in G-d’s creation. If this makes them appear mad to those with less sensitive ears, should they therefore cease to dance?”
editor's choice
15 minutes | levenberg
What is people’s reaction when you tell them that you are an ‘or-thodox’ stand up comic?People’s reactions vary. Some people tell me it’s an oxymoron; I’m either lying about the orthodox part or the comedy part. Most people are incredibly support-ive, sometimes too supportive. Everyone wants to tell me their favorite joke. I think I’m the largest recipient of unsolic-ited Jewish jokes in America today. It’s true. I looked it up on Wikipedia.
how did you first get into stand-up comedy?I always had this problem that my mother called, running of the mouth. Since I started talking I can’t stop myself from saying whatever I am thinking. This condition never served me well, until my family and I moved to Los Angeles in 2007. I had plans to write a very impor-tant novel. Writing a novel is one of the most isolating experiences that a human can undertake. After a couple of weeks I was filled with doubt, self-hatred, and the beginnings of an ulcer from drinking too much coffee. We went on a weekend Shabbaton with Matisyahu and during the Friday night meal I had an epiphany. I realized that I was the funniest person in the room and that I could use my “condition” for a positive purpose.
Were you always funny?Yes and No. I think so. Sometimes, I don’t think I’m funny now. Sometimes I talk and nobody laughs, but I don’t perform that much in Emergency rooms anymore.
how do you develop your material?Ideas, insights, or random thoughts invade my brain at random intervals. Sometimes I am able to coax them onto paper and breathe life into them. If an idea is insight-ful, true, and funny I write it down and tell it to another comedian. I have a close friend and mentor Gerry Katzman who I speak to about my material. When I think I have a joke that’s almost ready, I talk it
out with my wife. If she laughs and gives me permission to tell it again, I use it in front of an audience. If the new joke gets a laugh, I will use it again. If the joke fails, I bury it in the failed joke burial grounds I keep in my backyard. Occasionally, I go out back and try to unearth old jokes, but very rarely.
is Judaism ever the inspiration for your comedy?Oh yes. Art imitates life. I love being Jewish, and living as a Jew. It also drives me completely insane. My adventures in Judaism color and influence the way I see the world and my material shows it. Whether I am performing for a Jewish audience (private parties, Chabad Houses, funerals) or at a secular comedy club, Judaism is always up front and present.
how is your comedy unique?Comedy is universal, so one’s material must be accessible to everyone. That having been said, all of my material is based on my life. My perspective on life and the experiences I’ve had are unique and original; and my material reflects that. On stage I talk about my life before I became religious, my experiences as a religious person, and my children.
What reactions have you gotten from other comedians?Every single comedian I have met in my short time doing stand-up has been re-
spectful of my path in life. Regardless of the nature of a comic’s material on stage; in the green room most comedians are warm, nurturing, and accepting of other comedians.
Where do you perform?I perform at Comedy Clubs, private events, on college campuses, at Chabad Houses, occasionally I open up for Matisyahu. Two years ago I performed at a Jewish event with a group of Jewish comics; Gerry Katzman, Eric Passoja and Bruce Fine. It was a fabulous show and everyone had a great time. We started performing together on a regular basis. Our website is www.thejewishcomedians.com. Check it out.
What was the worst show that you ever had?I performed at an “Alcohol Awareness” event during Freshman Week at a col-lege on the East Coast. The speaker who introduced me told graphic stories about undergraduates who died from alcohol poisoning. She was very specific about what those kids drank and how they died. The room was silent. The freshmen were scared. Then she introduced me.
Why are Jewish People so into comedy?Simcha Weinstien wrote a book about it. Interview him. Next question.
Why is comedy important?As human beings we often feel that our problems are singular and unique. We don’t recognize that other people may have the same foibles. Then some random comedian gets on stage and talks about his/her personal problems and experiences and the audience realizes that we are all suffering from the same disease - it’s called life! The audience appreciates the vulnerability and open-ness of the comedian. A bond is formed. Hilarity ensues. The sick are healed, and everyone goes home feeling a little better about themselves.
Simcha Levenberg is a stand-up comedian and improvisational actor searching for the meaning of life in Los Angeles. He studied at the Groundlings Theater and performs stand-up all over America. Simcha has been featured in the New York Times and regularly opens for Chasidic reggae sensation Matisyahu.
funny rabbi15 minutes with La’s only rabbinically ordainedstand-up comic
“the thing about having a beard is that it automatically places you in the company of the spiritually elite. abraham...Moses...Dumbledore...”
Before PassoverIt is forbidden to eat Chametz—all leavened foods that contain wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt—on Passover. So collect products conta-ing Chametz and isolate them in a designated “Chametz Closet.” Then clear the house of any possible remaining Chametz: empty clothes pockets, vacuum cleaner bags, even the pet food goes into the Closet. Since you’ll use a separate set of dishes for Passover, the Chametz dishes get locked up too. Now stock up on Kosher-for-Passover items; for good leads on Passover foods check out www.ok.org.
ChameTz for Sale Because it is even prohibited to “own” Chametz during Passover, lock your “Chametz Closet” and sell its con-tents to a non-Jew by filling out a “Mechirat Chometz” form. Sound complicated? It is, so ask your Rabbi to make the arrangements. Or log on to www.chabad.org to sell your Chometz online.
3/28 Search for The ChameTzAt nightfall begin the “formal search” of the house for Chametz. Traditionally, we use a candle to light the way, a spoon (as a shovel), feather (as a broom) and a paper bag to collect any Chametz found. After the search, place everything you found in a conspicuous place to be burned in the morning.
3/29 Fast of The FirsTbornWhen G-d slew the firstborn of Egypt, he spared the firstborn sons of Israel. Out of grati-tude all firstborn sons fast on this day. // PREPARE TO CElEBRATE Stock up on Seder foods well before Passover begins. But wait. To build an appetite for the Seder abstain from eating any Seder plate foods today, especially Matza. So if you’re a lover of bitter herbs and raw onions, stay out of the kitchen. // BuRNING Of ThE ChAMETz In the morn-ing burn all the Chametz found during the previous night’s formal search. // MAKING NOThING INTO A BIG DEAl After cleaning the house, and selling and burning the Chametz, the head of the household says the appropriate prayers, verbally disowning any Chametz that might have been overlooked.
THINGS TO DO BEFOREYOU PASSOVER
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PASSOVER guide
YOUR TOTAl SEDER kNOw-HOw
For this Passover, we’ve got you covered!www.passover.net
holiday | 15 steps
continued at end of guide
THE
FOU
R SO
NS
A P
erso
nalit
y A
sses
smen
t
The 15 STePS oF The PaSSover Seder
A cHASIDIc PERSPEcTIVE ON THE SEDER
STEP 1: kADESH (SANcTIFY)Bless the first cup of wine. // Kadesh, which means “set aside,” begins the Seder by affirming our desire to elevate this night above all that is mundane. With it we declare to ourselves and all that are present that this is “The Season of Our Freedom.” To stress this point, we recline to the left when drinking, as only free people did in ancient times. // The blessing is a spiritual wake-up call placed with the hope that we will open ourselves to the divine possibilities that await us.
STEP 2: URcHATz (wASH) Wash the hands (in the ritual manner but with-out reciting a blessing). // As the first step on the journey to freedom, we sublimate spiritual distractions by purifying our hands, the most active part of our body, with water. // The Kab-balah teaches that hands represent expressions and attributes, while water epitomizes intellect and purity. Washing refines our attributes with intellect, enabling restrictions to turn into be-nevolence, hate into love, and personal slavery into freedom. // The observance, one of many during the Seder intended to pique the interest of children, awakens the innocence within each of us.
STEP 3: kARPAS (VEGETABlES)Recite the appropriate blessing for vegetables, then dip the Karpas vegetable in saltwater be-fore eating it. // In the saltwater we can taste the tears of anguish and despair our ancestors shed as their spirits were crushed in Egypt. // When rearranged, the word Karpas alludes to the word Perech, or “crushing labor.” Our people were forced to perform senseless tasks in Egypt, endless drudgery without meaning, pur-pose or goal. // Why, some 3,000 years later, do mindless routines and habits, or careers driven by the need for status, still dominate our lives so often?
STEP 4: YAcHATz (BREAkING)The middle matza (of the 3) is broken in two piec-es. The larger piece, designated as the Afikoman,
The Footsteps of Faith: elijah will herald the good tidings of the
coming of Moshiach, may it be soon,
amen.
“Maror alludes to the wicked, while matza refers to the righteous. Hillel, the great Jewish sage known for his
compassion, instructed the righteous to reach out and draw the wicked closer.”
holiday | 15 steps
is wrapped and hidden away for the chil-dren to discover. // The smaller broken piece, the “bread of poverty,” takes cen-ter stage while retelling the story of the Exodus. It personifies the spiritual and material destitution our people endured in Egypt once they no longer grasped the meaning of true freedom. By relating to their plight, we feel what is broken in our own humanity. At the same time, when the children hide the Afikoman we sense the larger dimension of our being, the part of our soul never touched by slavery that waits to be discovered.
STEP 5: MAGGID (TEllING)“Tell your children G-d took you out of Egypt.” Fill the second cup of wine, then retell the story of our rise from the depths of bondage to the heights of redemption. // Maggid begins with the children asking, “Why is this night dif-ferent from all other nights?” The ques-tion can put us in touch with the inno-cence of children as we contemplate the dynamics of liberation. // Are we eating the matzah out of habit, or because we are ready to embrace its significance? Are we observing these rituals to as-suage guilt, or to actualize the desire to live a more meaningful life? // When we allow the events in the Maggid to touch us to the core, we reveal the candor that children hold dear. At the conclusion of Maggid, we savor the second glass.
STEP 6: RAcHTzAH (wASHING)Wash the hands and recite the blessing, Ahl Netilat Yadayim (on the lifting of the hands). // We prepare to internalize the humble nature of matza by uplifting our extremities and expressions. // In its literal sense, the word netila means to move something from one place to another. With this blessing we remove the physicality and vulgarity that may dwell in and around the hands, raising
them up for what is to follow.
STEP 7: MOTzI (BlESSING OVER BREAD)Hold the broken half-matza and two whole ones while reciting the appropri-ate blessing for bread, hamotzie leh-chem min ha-aretz. // The word lech-em (bread) contains the same letters as lochem (war). Food is raw energy that
holds the potential for either good or evil. Thus, a spiritual battle ensues ev-ery time it is consumed. If the purpose in eating is solely to gratify physical crav-ings, evil prevails. However, when eat-ing to gain energy with which to better serve G-d, good prevails.
STEP 8: MATzA (BlESSING THE MATzA)Return the bottom matza to the Seder plate. Holding the remaining one and one-half matzot, recite the blessing for eating matza, ahl ah-chilat matza. // Our ancestors fled Egypt with incon-
ceivable haste, leaving no time for the dough that would nourish them to rise. Once free, their first taste was the “bread of poverty,” matza. From a mystical viewpoint, matza exemplifies a selfless ego. It was with this trait, rather than arrogance, that they accepted G-d-given freedom. Humility allowed them to ap-preciate the gifts of life. After the bless-ing, recline to the left and eat at least one ounce of matza.
STEP 9: MAROR (BITTER HERBS)Take at least 3/4 ounce of bitter herbs and dip it in the charoset, shake off the excess, and recite the blessing ahl ah-chilat maror before eating. // Hav-ing meditated on the bitterness of exile during Maggid, we now physically ex-perience its force. The impact further clarifies the significance of our exile. // Before we can experience true free-dom we have to internalize the might of our haardship—and accept that when we make the right choices, hardship exists only to make us stronger.
STEP 10: kOREcH (SANDwIcH)Break off two pieces of the bottom matza (at least one ounce). Take 3/4 ounce of maror, dip it in charoset and shake off the excess. Place the maror between the two pieces of matza and say, “Thus did Hillel do in the time of the Holy Tem-ple…” Recline while eating. // Maror al-ludes to the wicked, while matza refers to the righteous. Hillel, the great Jew-ish sage known for his compassion, in-structed the righteous to reach out and draw the wicked closer. // Likewise, now that we have felt what it means to break free of slavery on a personal level, it is our obligation to share the experience with others.
STEP 11: SHUlcHAN OREcH (FESTIVE MEAl)In many traditions the meal begins by
Despite his intelligence, the Wise Son insists on asking the same question year after year. He’s also obsessive about the discussion thing, making it rather difficult to get on with the Seder. // A fun guy to have around, the wicked Son’s cynicism is driven by his need to fit things into his down-to-earth world. Sitting next to his wise brother, he injects spice into the evening with his snide and provocative comments. // Out there in a world of silent amazement, the Simple Son is a transparent chan-nel for the Infinite. If only he could tell us about it. // The Son who doesn’t Know How to Question probably thinks he is the wise son. When you know it all, there’s nothing left to ask. He’s not in the photo, because he doesn’t even know it’s Passover. // The fifth Son is the most important one. He’s the son who has yet to experience the freedom of Passover.
holiday | 15 steps
dipping the hard-boiled egg from the Seder plate in saltwater to symbolize our constant mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple, and to allude to G-d’s desire to redeem His people. “Ess, mein khind!” // Across the community and throughout the world, we are together at the Seder table. The wise, the wicked, the simple and the innocent, all equal in the eyes of each other and the eyes of G-d. And we remember the fifth son—he who has not yet experi-enced the freedom of Passover. We are united as one in the common goal of redemption.
STEP 12: TzAFUN (HIDDEN)At the conclusion of the Passover meal, children return the Afiko-man. Eat at least one ounce of this matzah. Nothing else except the remaining two cups of wine is consumed thereafter. // It was nec-essary to partake in every step, every ritual, every taste and every thought before the Afikoman is revealed; then, we can become one with its Divine potential. We eat it only when completely satiated because it fulfills a need higher than the hunger for freedom, and we eat nothing afterward so that its taste remains with us. // In the Seder, as with everyday life, there are no shortcuts to the greater dimension. Yet we are always aware that it is present and yearns to reveal itself when we seek with a pure heart.
STEP 13: BEIRAcH (GRAcE AFTER MEAl) Recite the blessing over the third cup of wine, then drink while reclining. In anticipation of our Ultimate Redemption, we now fill a special goblet, the Cup of Elijah. We then open the door to the house and, holding a lit candle, recite the passage inviting the Prophet Elijah to appear. // Imagine all of creation in a state of spiritual and material freedom. Think about a world free of pain and suffering, war and struggles. Imagine all of existence at this level. Imagine yourself, the light of a single candle, ushering in the era of our redemption.
STEP 14: HAllEl (SONGS OF PRAISE)We offer praise to G-d for his mercy and compassion in redeeming our people from Egypt, and in anticipation of our own ultimate redemption. // Why does G-d need us to praise Him? He doesn’t, we do. As the Kabbalah explains, when we praise His kindness we reveal His compassion. When praying for our needs, we evoke His desire to give.
STEP 15: NIRTzAH (AccEPTED)The Seder concludes with the wish, L’shana Ha-ba-ah Bi-Yerush-alayim. We hope for each other that which our forefathers prayed for while enslaved in Egypt, “Next Year in Jerusalem!” // Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi omitted the passage, “The order of Pass-over is concluded,” from his Haggadah because the Seder’s message remains timeless. Every day, one leaves Egypt by transcending his limitations, to reach higher levels of holiness.
continued from beginning of section
3/29 Time To Seder At sundown candles are lit. At nightfall the Seder begins.
3/30 Brighten Up Before the second Seder begins candles are lit after nightfall from a pre-existing flame. Tonight we begin to count the Omer, which lasts for 49 days. What’s the Omer? In the holy Temple the Omer was an offering of barley taken from the first grain of the new crop. We count seven weeks, from the bringing of the first Omer offering (Passover) until the day we received the Torah (the festival of Shavuot). The 49 days between Passover and Shavuot represent the 49 steps of mystical self-purification and preparation our people went through between leaving Egypt (Passover) and receiving the Torah (Shavuot).
Four InTermediaTes only In between the first two and last two days of Passover, go ahead and function relatively normally. The only exception is, like your mother keeps telling you, you shouldn’t work too hard. But keep the wine flowing; it’s a custom to drink a glass of wine every day of Passover.
4/4 and on The SevenTh day At sundown light candles. This day marks the Miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and our to-tal liberation from Egypt. In commemoration, we stay up all night studying Torah. 4/5 The Finals After nightfall light candles from a pre-existing flame. This day, the final day of Passover, emphasizes an even higher level of freedom. It is dedicated to our imminent and final Redemption.
4/6 LasT BuT NoT LeasT Yizkor memorial prayers are recited during ser-vices. following the custom of the Ba’al Shem Tov, Passover concludes with a “feast of Moshiach”—a festive meal complete with Matza and, yes, four cups of wine. It begins before sunset and is designed to greet Moshiach, offering us “a glimpse of the Messianic age.” Nightfall marks the official conclusion of Passover. Wait an hour to give the Rabbi enough time to buy back your Chametz and then, eat Chametz to your heart’s content.
The Ballad of the Yarmulke Kid takes young readers on a fun-filled joyride from a tall roof top to a sunny beach front, from a quite porch to a singing circus. The award-winning artwork explores the world through the eyes of a young and proud Yarmulke kid. The highly imaginative rhythmic lyrics make it the perfect book to read again and again.
rabbi Shmuel Marcus is a singer song-writer for the jewish rock group 8th day and continues to perform the “Yarmulke Blues” on stages worldwide. Marcus lives with his wife Bluma and their chil-dren in Cypress, California where they run Chabad of Cypress.
Marc Lumer early works have appeared on the warner Bros’. hit shows Batman and Superman. while Lumer was at dreamworks his paintings helped cre-ate the animated films Prince of egypt and The road to el dorado. Lumer now owns and operates a boutique advertis-ing agency in Los angeles.
For more information and to pre-order, visit www.yarmulkekid.com.
Pre-order at www.yarmulkekid.com
in stores summer2010
New children's book coming soon!
divinemedicationhow i got my vision back
story | dear rebbe
of a carpet sweeper, which struck the bottom of his right eye with great intensity. Sarah, immediately called their friend, Dr. Jack Gold-stein, an ophthalmologist, who advised them to meet him at his of-fice as soon as possible.
After his examination, the couple was referred to the office of Dr. Stephen Feldon, at the Doheny Eye Institute in Los Angeles at the USC Medical Center. To get in to the doctor you normally have to wait several months. Their friend, the eye doctor, was able to arrange an appointment with the distinguished expert for that very day.
The examination showed that the inferior rectus muscle, was in-jured, thus causing the eyeball to rotate upward not allowing for vi-sion from both eyes. He would have to wear a patch over the injured eye for an indefinite period of time.
On that afternoon, Rabbi Yitzchok Newman had called the Reb-be’s office.
A month passed and no sign of any positive development ap-peared. As per the doctor’s orders Dr. Lovitch underwent further testing. Dr. Feldon then suggested to Dr. Lovitch that he undergo surgical exploration on the eye and he would attempt to reattach the muscle to the eyeball.
At the time of his eye injury Dr. Lovitch was in the early stage of his professional career as a General Surgeon. To do surgery two eyes are required for binocular vision, which results in stereoscopic vision and adequate depth of field. Subsequent to the injury, all his work had to be curtailed. He was extremely apprehensive: Will my vision ever return to normal, or will all the years of schooling and hard work go for naught?
After further consultation, Dr. Lovitch decided to proceed with the operation. Since he had a relationship with Chabad, he realized that he should seek the blessing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and he
A True Story
he face of the ophthalmologist revealed grave
news. He said, “Your eye injury looks serious. I recommend you be examined urgently by a renowned expert, Dr. Stephen Feldon.In the early morning Dr. Lovitch, a general surgeon, got
up from his bed, and went quietly into the closet to get dressed. He did not light up the room, so as not to wake his wife. Then a startled sharp cry of pain filled the room. Dr. Lovitch’s startled wife Sarah found him writhing in pain. It turned out that he had encountered a long wooden handle
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did. The Rebbe gave his blessing to Dr. Lovitch for the surgery.
After the surgery Dr. Feldon reported to Dr Lovitch and his wife, Sarah, that he had two reports, one good and one not so good. First the good news: the surgical procedure revealed that the eye muscles of the eyeball itself were completely intact and healthy. The bad news was that the damage could not be cor-rected, and that he could not return the eye to its proper place.
Dr. Feldon offered a partial solution: obtain prism glasses which alter the angle of light entering the pupil of the eye. These glasses were obtained and Dr. Lovitch found them dis-turbing. They were not comfortable, and certainly did not pro-vide a permanent solution to enable the surgeon to return to his work.
Dr Lovitch was depressed and quite despondent. He felt a need to turn back to the Rebbe. He called the Rebbe’s office saying that it appeared as if he was going to lose his entire professional career. He asked for the Rebbe’s advice and guid-ance. The secretary noted the seriousness of the situation and promised to deliver the request to the Rebbe.
During the next day there were no family members at the Lovitch home as they were all attending a wedding. Upon their return, the phone rang. “I have been trying to reach you all day,” said the Rebbe’s secretary. “The Rebbe wants to know if you are careful to make kiddush and havdalah on red wine.”
Dr Lovitch replied “No.”
“You,” the secretary said, “should always sanctify over red wine.”
That Shabbat Dr. Lovitch publicly made kiddush on red wine and performed havdalah on red wine, he did the same the next week.
Mystical blessings and improvements began. The next day he suddenly felt a change. New hopes were aroused and he found himself waiting expectantly for further signs of im-provement.
His vision was improving. Certain times during the day he could see without those awkward prism glasses. The eye condition improved day by day, and by the fourth Saturday he reported complete recovery.
Dr Lovitch was ecstatic. A few days later he returned to work in his office and hospital as before.
Dr Feldon was completely shocked when he examined the damaged eye of Dr. Lovitch. It had indeed, become completely healed and was functioning normally. He repeatedly referred to the earlier data and photos, and there was a puzzled expres-sion on his face. He asked, “Whom do you know?”
Dr. Lovitch answered Dr. Feldon that he had sought the blessings and advice of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Brooklyn, New York.
Dr. Lovitch is a practicing doctor living in Long Beach, California, he refers to this story as “My Eye Story.”
grabbed a cab tonight at 12:40am on 68th and Broadway in NYC.I checked his number and knew
he was driving for at least 30 years. "Nice to meet you Harry, I'm Chaim."
"My Hebrew name is Chaim too. I don't think I've thought about that since my Bar Mitzveh. Where we going?"
I say: "Crown Heights, Crown between Kingston and Albany. "
An old school driver, he knew exactly where to go. Actually he took the 59th Street Bridge to the BQE. I've never gone that way.
"You see the trick is to take the upper level of the bridge. It's the best view in town. This is the stuff that great paperweights are made of."
During one story about a girl he almost married, he says to me. "I chose discretion the better part of valor." I said, I like that. He says, "Yeah, I like to think I can turn a phrase. I shoulda been a writer instead I became a procrastinator."
"I used to stutter but I figured out if you scream or sing you can get rid of it. Here in the cab I'm always screaming, so that works. When I was a salesman people mistook it for enthusiasm."
"I still have a rotary phone at home. These kids today...the cell phones...I can't get over the folly of it."
I ask him for a cab story. "This guy gets in followed by another guy who promptly pulls a knife on him...like in a sitcom the first guy gets out the other door. The guy with the knife says: 'Jersey please.' I can't argue with a guy with a knife. I take him to the Tunnel and say that's as far as I can go. He says thanks, pays me and gives me a tip."
I invited him for shabbos but he says he can't. "Its one of my busiest nights." He might just come one of these weeks.
Ijewish reverb
by Chaim Davidson
some fooD for thoughtsoul shorts
shorts | inspiration
Hey Mister can you help meHey Mister do you know the wayI've only got my sleeping bagThis old bible someone threw away
I feel like I'm lost and all aloneLooking for a place to call my ownHappy people loving facesSittin' 'round their fire places
Wish I was there tooWish I was there too
Hey mister can you help meHey mister do you know the wayI come from a troubled homeGot so bad I had to run away
I'm cold out here standing in the snowWatching all the lucky ones who knowHappy people loving facesSittin' 'round their fire places
Wish I was there tooWish I was there too
Hey mister can you help meHey mister do you know the wayI'm looking for a synagogueSomeone who can show me how to pray
I feel like I'm going round and roundLooking for a thing I've never foundHappy people loving facesSittin' 'round their fire place
Wish I was there tooWish I was there too
t was my first week working as an aide for the Rebbe, Rabbi Menach-em Mendel Schneerson. I was alone in the secretariat office when the
intercom buzzed. I lifted the phone, and the Rebbe, on the other end, requested that I enter his office.
When I walked in, the Rebbe was sit-ting at his desk, editing the first draft of a letter that had been typed; it was nearly a full page. The Rebbe asked that I wait until he finishes, I stood there for about ten minutes until the Rebbe hand-ed me the edited draft and asked me to retype it. Though I was accustomed to the Rebbe’s handwriting, this particular letter was now like a maze, a labyrinth
of words; there was writing between the lines, arrows here and arrows there, all leading to even more edits.
The Rebbe sensed my anxiety and said, “Start from the beginning and take it word by word, line by line and in the end it will all work out.”
And that’s exactly what happened.The Rebbe taught me a lesson for
life. That sometimes when things seem confusing, disconnected and puzzling, just start from the beginning and take it word by word, line by line and in the end it will all work out.
Rabbi Krinsky was recruited by the Rebbe in 1957 to serve as a member of his secretariat and later as corporate secretary of his three central organizations. These positions gave him unique access to the Rebbe over the four decades of his leadership. Rabbi Krinsky lives and works in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
“The rebbe sensed my anxiety and said, ‘Start from the beginning and
take it word by word, line by line and in the end it will all work out.’”
line by lineby Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky
I
hey misterAn Oldie but Goodie
In 1978 "Megama" brought you the hit song "My Zaide." Their other songs are not as well know. Here are the lyrics to a personal favorite of mine.
Lyrics by MegamaMoshe Yess & Sholom Levine
was one of those who didn’t appre-ciate my Jewish heritage until my divorce. I was forty-seven and I had no meaningful base to fall back on.
I had more questions than my kids. So, I after looking at my new work schedule
I realized there is no way I could check into a yeshiva for six months. Luckily, I discovered Rochel from JNet. The Jewish Learning Network is easy to use and I was soon asking Rebbetzin Rochel Fried-man all my questions. Jnet.org provides people like me with the opportunity to take some time out of their busy work week - whether at the office at home or sometimes in the car (with hands free of course) - to study Torah and meaning of life and the Kabbalah. I call it my spiritual 911 for my soul. You can log onto www.jnet.org to start learning now!
911 for your souljust call www.jnet.org
By Lisa Perlman
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Lisa Perlman is a fashion critic bent on learning how to cook like her mother. She lives with her son Michael in Park Slope, New York.
editor's choice
journal
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feature | The Rebbe
The rebbe began with introductory remarks:his year has special significance, being the 200th anniversary of the histalkus of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of general Chasidism.
The word histalkus does not mean death in the sense of coming to an end but rather an elevation from one level to another on a higher plane. When one has accomplished his mission in life, he is elevated to a higher plane. The significance of this for us is that everyone can now lift himself easier to a higher level by studying the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and taking an example from his life.
From the very beginning, one of the first things the Baal Shem Tov did, was to teach small children simple things, like blessings, and to explain to them how they could be near to G-d Almighty -- that G-d was very real for them and close to them and not far-removed in some “seventh heaven.” He worked not only with teenagers but even with six- and seven-year-old children, making them understand how G-d Almighty watches over them all the time -- not only Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, but all the days of their life, and that by obeying G-d’s will they would be assured of a happy and harmonious life, materi-ally and spiritually.
The epoch of the Baal Shem Tov came after the Chmielnitzky pogroms, which left the Jews in a state of dejection and despair. It was the aim of the Baal Shem Tov to encourage the Jews and to show them how they could meet the problems of their day while living a life of Torah and Mitzvos.
Our present age is similar in many ways to the times of the Baal Shem Tov. One-third of the Jewish population
Fifty years ago, on March 7th 1960, a group of university students met with the rebbe. the following is an excerpt from the transcripts of that candid conversation.
a n i n t e r v i e w
rebbewith the
has perished under Hitler and has been cut off from us. How great, then, is the obligation that lies upon each and every one of us to do as much as is within his power to spread the light of Torah and Mitzvos in his own surroundings and throughout the world in general.
The rebbe said that one should spread Torah. How and in what manner is this to be done?
rebbe: Everyone must do as much as possible in his immediate surroundings by speaking with other people in a way that shows his certainty and confidence in the matter. For confidence is a charac-teristic of the youth specifically. An older person is often beset with doubts and hesitancies, while the young are sure of themselves. It is this characteristic that we must utilize in spreading Torah and Mitz-vos, and everyone must work at 100% capacity.
Every means must be employed: the newspaper, the radio. But, above all, the most vital is the personal example we set in our every-day living.
what was the role that the Baal Shem Tov played in the Cha-sidic movement?
rebbe: we can understand what the Baal Shem Tov did by the simile of the relationship of an electric powerhouse with a lamp that is connected to it by a wire. In order to light his lamp, one must find the right switch, or push the correct button. The soul of every Jew is a part of and is connected with G-d Almighty, but in order that one can enjoy the great benefits of it, the correct switch must be found or the proper button pushed. It was the Baal Shem Tov’s mission to explain and proclaim that every Jew without exception is connected with “the powerhouse,” and every one of them has a switch in his innermost, that will be found if searched for.
So also every one of us in our own work in strengthening Judaism, must try to find the switch in the soul of every Jew. One can never know what will make the connection, perhaps one word. But by this, you open up the well or inner fountain of his soul.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30 inches, by Stephen Bennett 2006 New York, from the collection of Dr. Raphael Kellman.
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what is the difference between Chabad Lubavitch and other Chasidic groups?
rebbe: Lubavitcher Chasidim are often called Chabad Chasidim, an abbreviation of the Hebrew words Chochmah, Binah, and Daas, which indicate different aspects of understanding.
To serve G-d with the emotions alone or with faith alone or even with intellect alone is not enough, for it would be an in-complete service. Rather, there must be a fusion of all of these elements, the service must permeate the entire being of a Jew and every single day. However, the intellect is the “Ruler” of these elements, and it is this that the Alter Rebbe stressed when he said that a Chasid must use his intellect and not be content with a service of G-d cen-tered only in the emotions or in faith alone.
Can Chasidism bring non-religious jews back to their judaism?
rebbe: Certainly! Today it is expect-ed that one understands his doing and therefore many Jews can be reached only through their intellect. But in order to reach the intellect of someone else you must use your own intellect, for only through your mind can you reach the mind of another.
why is Chabad so successful in its activities?
rebbe: Today everyone tries to un-derstand before he does something. I am not discussing whether this is good or bad, but only stating a fact. Everyone requires proofs and understanding. Chabad Cha-sidus provides it. It explains aspects of Ju-daism so that they can be understood by the intellect. As a Chabad Chasid I have a more categorical answer: I have no doubt that Chabad Chasidus is the Truth and Truth must be successful.
what is the function of a rebbe?rebbe: As was said earlier, to find the
switch in every Jew and help him become connected with the power house.
This afternoon we heard a lecture by dr. Block in which he explained that a jew has a divine spark. He didn’t say ex-plicitly, but he intimated that only a jew has this divine spark but a non-jew does not. is this so?
rebbe: A non-Jew and every created thing does have a Divine spark, but it is not the same kind of the Divine spark that a Jew has. To illustrate from the body again, each part has its own function: the brain to think, the heart to feel, and the legs to carry one about. So the mission of a Jew
in life is to transform the physicality of the world into spiritual, divine. The non-Jew has a different purpose and therefore the two do not have the same Divine spark.
Can a jew be a Chasid even though it is necessary for him to work on Shabbos, especially in the case of a physician?
rebbe: you mean he thinks it is neces-sary for him to work on Shabbos. Really, it cannot be that it is impossible for a Jew to keep Shabbos. For G-d would not have commanded us to do something and then have put us in a position where it would be impossible to perform.
The questioner continued and asked what a physician should do if a life is in danger?
rebbe: Under ordinary conditions, a physician must not desecrate Shabbos, and his entire life must be as holy and Jewish as of every Jew. However, when an emergency arises and a life is at stake, it is not only not a desecration but it is a Mitzvah. One is com-manded to save the person. And it states (in the Jewish code) if one is a (gadol) -- very pious, and a talmid chocham, the Mitzvah should not be given to another but he himself must save the person.
does the rebbe have the power to perform miracles?
rebbe: This world is not separate from the higher worlds but is another step, the last one, in a long chain of worlds.
Everything in this world comes from, and is influenced by, the higher ones. A miracle is something that happens which
you could not have calculated. When a Jew connects himself through his Divine spark with G-d through fervent prayer, Torah, and Mitzvos, he can affect things in this physical world “from above” -- that means by a way which is beyond calculation. This power is not the prerogative of one Jew but of every Jew.
rabbi gurewitz, of the Brooklyn Hillel foundation, thanked the rebbe for the interview and started to leave, but then the rebbe said:
Now I want to ask you a question, and at the same time try to perform a miracle.
Everything has a purpose. What was the purpose of our coming together here tonight? Certainly it was not merely to ask questions and receive answers, good or bad. Rather it was to achieve something. All of us here are young, myself included, and have tens of years yet before us. Since six million of our people in Russia, Poland and Hungary have been lost to us through Hitler, we have a special task to accomplish -- the work that they could have done, at least a major part of it.
Everyone counts. No Jew is expendable. We all must work to the fullest capacity, every one of us. In our day-to-day life we must use our full strength to add to the side of good, and by this we will gain a life of happiness and harmony -- and all this can be done only through a life of Torah and Mitzvos tested by our 3,500 year his-tory. This obligation lies upon every Jew and G-d has given him the power to carry this through successfully. And if each of us, beginning tomorrow, should add in his own personal life more Torah and Mitzvos and influence the environment in the same direction, if we all will do this, myself in-cluded, this indeed will be our miracle.
reaD more online WWW.therebbe.org
the Lubavitcher reb-
be, RABBI MENACHEM
M. SCHNEERSON, THE
SEVENTH LEADER IN
THE CHABAD-LUBAVITCH
DYNASTY, IS CONSIDERED
TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
PHENOMENAL JEWISH
PERSONALITIES OF MOD-
ERN TIMES. TO HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF FOL-
LOWERS AND MILLIONS
OF SYMPATHIZERS AND
ADMIRERS AROUND THE
WORLD, HE IS kNOWN
SIMPLY AS “the rebbe.”
read more about the rebbe online at www.therebbe.org.
the mega site is both a testament to the rebbe’s impact on people’s lives and a glimpse into the scope of his teachings and advice.
see toward a meaningful life by simon jacobson and heaven on earth by faitel levin. books are sold online at www.kehot.com.
book excerpt | chicken kiev
About the artist: Eugene Ivanov was born in 1966 in Tyumen (Siberia, Russia). His works are held in many private collections in the Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, Poland, Russia, UK and USA.
think of my mother at the weirdest times. Once I was in the back seat of a taxi. My thirteen-year-old student was crying in the front seat. Anes-
thesia does wear off. His parents don't keep kosher and he goes to shul alone. And today when he faced the mohel, he was alone.
Have you ever held hands with some-one on the operating table? Or stood close enough to look him in the eyes? I've be-come a mother.
My visit is unplanned and unusual. I wanted to make sure Igor, now Moshe, got home safely, and I went without my con-stant partner Yossi.
The apartment building looks like any other, and without lighting, the staircase feels like any other. Are the light bulbs stolen? Or simply never put in? We climb three floors in utter darkness.
The first door on the third floor leads to a hallway with about six doors, three on each side. Igor's mother comes out from the last door on the left with a big smile. Zachadeet! she said. Zach-adeet means "come in please." Come into what? I thought. The front entrance to the one-room home is, at best, the size of a refrigerator. Three small stools, the table, and anything else that has no place to go are crammed into this all-purpose room. Immediately above us hangs clothing to dry for the next day. In the bigger room, hard working Mr. Vodofsky is sleeping; I
can hear the snoring.Mrs. Vodofsky is the secretary at a
nearby metal factory. She has red hair that lights up her face. She tells us to sit. Would you like something to eat? Igor is too embarrassed to eat his non-kosher dinner in front of me, so he lies and says he isn't hungry. I ask for coffee. She gets up and leaves the apartment. The kitchen cannot be that far because soon she is back with a kettle. We sit around the small table sipping and whispering jokes about men who snore.
The local bakery in Kharkov doesn't sneak any extra ingredients into the bread, and I tell Igor that the mini-rolls on the table are kosher. He was later an-gry with me for saying that, claiming his mother buys those exact rolls ever since.
Mrs. Vodofsky asks about what one can do about working on Shabbat. We speak, and after a while I ask to use the restroom. It is small, but not too small. Above the toilet are hand-built shelves filled with pots and pans. I wonder how many people live like this; then I flush.
We speak some more, but this time I ask the questions. Each floor has one communal kitchen and one communal shower. I ask the obvious and practi-cal question: What happens if you and your neighbor both want to shower at the same time? She actually answered and said something in Russian. Words that I cannot translate but understand. Her sad
smile was enough.It is getting late, and they invite me
back to see the big room. I say I will come back, and I do.
Recently, the city managers of Khar-kov have come up with a great way to conserve money and energy: simply shut off the city's power for an hour when it is used and needed the most. Incredible. Dis-trict by district, the electricity goes dead. But they don't leave us exactly like the olden days; the phones still work.
Our apartment building is spared, thanks to an important factory nearby. But lights out is common and people have candles and patience.
This time Yossi comes along, and by candlelight, plays chess with Mr. Vodofsky. The man of the house is a mus-cular guy who loads and unloads trucks for a living. He is either built for the job or from the job. He shows me trophies from
lightweight boxing. Igor is so proud. Only ten more minutes, and the lights will go back on and allow us to see the big room, the home, the Vodofsky residence.
The time comes, and the lights go on. The room is big enough for the couch bed and a reclining chair that becomes my student's bed at night. Things are neat enough not to make me feel as if I'm in a bedroom. Igor shows us his computer game that is hooked up to the black and white television, and we play a shoot-ing game. I'll never forget their smiles. In Kharkov, you can fit a lot of people into a small room, providing they all smile.
Shmuel Marcus is the Director of Chabad of Cypress. He is the editor of Farbrengen Magazine and author of Chicken Kiev and The Ballad of the Yarmulke Kid. Marcus is also a singer songwriter who performs under the name 8th Day. He and his wife Bluma are the founders of the Hebrew High of Los Alamitos and JewishCypress.com. He lives with his wife and four children in Cypress.
“Have you ever held hands with someone on the operating table? or stood close enough to look him in the eyes? i've become a mother.”
by Rabbi Shmuel Marcus from his book "Chicken Kiev"lights out in kharkov
I
buy this book at www.kehot.com
Original watercolor illustration by Eugene Ivanov
