The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Eikev

The Rebbe says:

1. The first words of this week’s Torah portion are, “And it shall be, because you listened to these ordinances of Hashem (G-d)… He will love you, bless you and multiply you…”.

Rashi (an acronym for Reb Shlomo Yitzchaki) points out that the Hebrew word “Eikev” which is simply translated in this verse as “because”, also means “heel”. Consequently, explains Rashi, the verse is alluding to the sort of Mitzvos (commandments) that people regard as relatively unimportant so they tend to “trample on them with their heels”. Thus, the Torah is assuring the Jewish people that if they are careful to observe even these neglected commandments, they can be certain that Hashem will reward them with His kindness.

The source of Rashi’s explanation is from the Midrash Tanchuma who says this in a slightly different way; “When the Torah says, ‘Eikev’”, says the Midrash Tanchuma, “it is referring to “light” Mitzvos which people are not careful to keep and they throw them away under their heels”.

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Shluchim Office Director Visits AU Shluchim

SYDNEY, Australia [CHI] — Rabbi Gedalia Shemtov, director of the Shluchim office met with many of the Shluchim of Sydney, Australia and spoke about how the Shluchim can benefit from the services of the Shluchim office. With him was Rabbi Moishe Pinson Director of the Young Shluchim Division. The meeting was held in “Our big Kitchen” in the Yeshiva Centre Bondi and was hosted by Rabbi Dovid Slavin.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Rabbi Levi Bistritzky OBM (1948-2002)

by R. Michoel Seligson

Hagaon Hachossid Hatomim Horav Levi Bistritsky was born in 1948, on the 8th of Iyar to, may he live and be well Hachossid Horav Hatomim Reb Yehuda Leib and Mrs. Ita Bistritsky.

Tickets for the Rebbe’s and Rebbetzin arrival to the U.S.

Reb Leibel Bistritsky’s father Reb Mordechai merited to a special zchus. In 1941, after the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin escaped from France to Portugal, Reb Mordechai contributed two tickets for their passage to the United States. Originally, the tickets had been purchased for Reb Mordechai’s in-laws, were unable to get out of Europe. Reb Mordechai notified the Previous Rebbe and offered the tickets for the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin. The tickets were accepted, and that is how the Rebbe and Rebbetzin come to the United States on the 28th of Sivan.

Upstate City Says ‘Cheese’

5 Towns Jewish News

It is an unfortunate reality that there are very few suppliers of chalav Yisrael cheese products. As a consequence, the price of chalav Yisrael products is quite high. So when the plant owned by Moshe Banayan almost closed this week, it was a miracle that the right person was there to ensure that the plant continue to supply the Orthodox Jewish market with chalav Yisrael product.

Arthur J. Sciorra, the city manager of Ogdensburg, New York, experienced kosher food firsthand when he dormed in a home with two yeshiva students while he pursued his graduate studies. “I basically only ate kosher for two years of my life, and I remember the Sabbath meals and Pesach Seders,” Mr. Sciorra told the Five Towns Jewish Times.

Chof Av: Yartzeit of R. Levi Yitzchak Schneerson

Chabad.org

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, (1878-1944), was a Chabad Hasidic rabbi in Yekatrinoslav, Ukraine. He was the father of the seventh and last Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson was born in 1878 in the town of Podrovnah (near Gomel) to his parents, Rabbi Baruch Schneur and Rebbetzin Zelda Rachel Schneerson. His great-great grandfather was the third Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn of Lubavitch.

In 1900, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak married Rebbetzin Chana Yanovski, whose father, Rabbi Meir Shlomo, was the Rabbi of the Ukrainian city of Nikolaiev. In 1902, their eldest son, Menachem Mendel was born. He was later to become the Rebbe of Lubavitch.

Picture of the Day – California

RUNNING SPRINGS, CA [CHI] — Rabbi Yosef Brod lights the candles and leads a special service in memory of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, the father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In 1944, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok died in exile in Russia where he was banished for his unyielding dedication and devotion to the education of Jewish children in the face of Communist persecution, to insuring Matzos for Passover in that bleak and oppressive regime, and self-sacrifice for Torah and Mitzvos.

More in the Extended Article!

Michlelet Morasha Seminary Closes its Doors

JERUSALEM, Israel [CHI] — After just two years Michlelet Morasha, a Chabad girl’s seminary in Jerusalem closed its doors amid financial difficulties. In an email sent to parents a few days ago the administrations blamed its financial woes on the fall of the value of the American dollar along with changes to the way ‘MASA’ grants were given and the inability of parents to pay full tuition.

This email comes just weeks before the start of the school year, sending parents scrambling for alternatives. In the email the Education administrator wrote that “any student who is interested in attending any other seminary, I will be happy to help with giving a recommendation.”

Elderly Man found near Home

Record Online

WOODRIDGE — An elderly man who was missing for nearly 16 hours was found late Tuesday morning sitting near a lake, one mile away from his family’s summer home in the Village of Woodridge.

Yankel “Jacob” Salamon, who is about 90 years old, wandered from the Woodlake Village housing complex about 7:30 Monday night. Salamon has dementia, and his family believes he walked away to find the nearest temple. His desire to worship — even when temples are closed — has increased since his diagnosis, they said.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Brooklyn Marks Crown Heights Riot Anniversary

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [NY1] — On Tuesday, Brooklyn marked the 17th anniversary of the Crown Heights riots, one of its darkest episodes.

The violence was sparked by the death of a seven-year-old black boy, Gavin Cato, who was hit by a car driven by a Hasidic Jew.

When it was over, 29-year-old rabbinical student Yankel Rosenbaum was dead.

Hakhel and the Children’s Sefer Torah

The last two commandments in the Torah are Hakhel and the need to write a Sefer Torah, indicating a connection between the two. For this reason, with regard to the upcoming year of Hakhel, the Children’s Sefer Torah Committee has decided to launch a registration campaign to increase the number of letters purchased in the Sefer Torah.

180,121 letters still remain to be sold before the fifth Sefer Torah is completed. Since the completion of the first Sefer Torah in 5741, around 40,000 children buy letters each year, which is close to 3,500 children per month.