NOT EMPTY OR SUPERFICIAL BUT SOLID GOLD

If the “pomegranates” adorning the hem of the m’il of the Kohen Gadol are (not functional per se but) intended for bringing out beauty, the virtues of the Jewish people, we must not emphasize the quality alluded to by pomegranates (“the empty among you are full with Mitzvos as a pomegranate”) but the inner virtue of a Jew, the fact that every Jew is like a “golden apple” (solid gold, not empty or vacuous, G-d forbid). * The inner quality of a Jew in the light of the commentary of Ramban.

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INAUGURATING A HOUSE

The groom writes to his bride in the k’suba, the marriage contract, “I will honor, and provide food, and support, etc.” At first glance, though, this is puzzling, for our Sages say, “A man is only granted sustenance for the sake of his wife.” How then can the groom pledge, “I will honor, and provide food, and support”? [How can he be charged with providing for his wife’s needs when apparently he plays no role in the process?]

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THE REBBE CONTINUES TO BE ENCOURAGING

The Chanukas Ha’bayis for the new school building was set for Sunday, 26 Adar. Before the grand celebration, R’ Zalman wrote a letter to the Rebbe asking for a bracha in the name of Anash: Please arouse much mercy that Hashem send His blessing and much success for the development of the yeshiva with many good students and quality learning and guidance. And that Anash be able to be involved in the yeshiva and everything associated with the Rebbe and Chassidus with expansive material and spiritual good, and that the Rebbe derive much nachas from his children, his students, and that we all merit to meet in the hall of the Rebbe in a state of satiety of joy.

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JACKIE WILL ALSO GO TO A JEWISH SCHOOL

Mendy sat on the plane, learning Chitas. Suddenly, there was an announcement. “Please fasten your seatbelts. Due to a malfunction we must make an emergency landing.”…

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FROM GAZA STREET TO GAZA CITY

When the prime minister declared that he would not evacuate settlements, there were many who breathed a sigh of relief and folded up their protest signs. This is exactly what he wanted - to take the wind out of their sails. He knows how to do this with fiery speeches that will reassure the public. Fortunately, we have immediately understood this time that he is trying to deceive us. In other instances, the fraudulence was revealed less quickly, and in the meantime, those faithful to the cause of Eretz Yisroel calmly went to sleep.

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THE YOUTHFUL ELDERLY CHASSID

R’ Yaakov Peles a”h was youthful despite his age. You could see him until his final day walking the streets of the Kfar going from one activity to the next. He astonished those who were far younger than he was. * His life was one of askanus. He greeted new immigrants in the 60’s, started the yeshivos Tomchei T’mimim in Kiryat Gat and Achei T’mimim in Rishon L’Tziyon, and urged Jews to lead a life of Torah and mitzvos.

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JOY AND MOSHIACH

Whoever is of the seed of Israel ought to rejoice in the joy of G‑d, Who is happy and joyous with His abode among the creatures of the lower spheres, who are on the level of actual physical Asiya

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THE REMEDY TO SPIRITUAL DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS

Simply immersing oneself in the spiritual ocean of Torah and then abruptly leaving it to go onto “dry land” can be hazardous to one’s health… If we fail to make the gradual and deliberate transition from the holy to the profane we risk suffering a spiritual form of decompression illness that can derail our spiritual progress.

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THE GUARDIAN ON THE DOORPOSTS

On Motzaei Yud Shvat 5734, the Rebbe gave the signal for the Mezuza Revolution. The Rebbe spoke about the importance of having mezuzos on the doorposts in every Jewish home and about checking mezuzos every year. * The terrorist attack in Maalot took place a few months later and astonishingly, there were 21 murdered which corresponded to 21 pasul mezuzos in the school they attended. The Rebbe affirmed the connection. * The Rebbe urged the Chassidim to undertake a major campaign to raise awareness of the importance of the mitzva and even sent $10,000 for the cause. * Forty years since Mivtza Mezuza began.

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THE PRIME MINISTER’S CHABAD DELEGATION

The prime minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, the greatest political friend of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, recently visited Eretz Yisroel for the first time. Included in his entourage were a dozen shluchim from Canada along with ministers and other public figures. * A member of the delegation, R’ YY Zaltzman, told Beis Moshiach about the special relationship the shluchim in Canada have with the prime minister, about the seventh mitzva of the Noachide Laws, and more.

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