Chabad
Of Tzfas: A Community Like Kfar Chabad And Nachalat Har Chabad ...And
Even More
Beis
Moshiach correspondent Menachem Ziegelboim visited the Chabad
community of Tzfas, where he found a most impressive community. *
An interview with the first shluchim to Tzfas and with the
directors of its schools. * Part 2 of 2
*
(Click
here for Part 1)
The
Chabad community of Tzfas is blessed with “gemachs,” for the g’milus
chesed here is first rate. “The feeling here is of one large
family,” says the principal of the girls school, Mrs. Nechama Navon.
Mrs. Navon has won many prizes and awards from various professional
educational associations for her administration of the school.
“First
of all, in this community we don’t designate people as Ashkenazim,
Sephardim, old and young, as baalei teshuva and those who have
always been frum. Everyone is beloved and precious. Simplicity is
the byword here. And when you live a simple life, there is no jealousy
or competition like in other communities.”
*How
is this feeling of community expressed?
“We
do many things together. For a bris, women help by cooking,
organizing and preparing everything for the meal. If a mother or father
are not well, the women deliver food to her home and provide cleaning
help and babysitters.
“There
is also a gemach for kallos, the Shifra and Puah
organization, and lending gemachs. But more than anything else,
the feeling here is of community. There’s joy in meeting somebody in
the building, the neighborhood or the grocery store, and it makes no
difference what your views are. We are really ‘Chassidim – one
family.’”
The
basis for this sense of community is established when the children are
young. The schools have developed from just nine children, who started
the first gan, and have grown to over 1,500 students in all the mosdos
chinuch.
Chinuch
begins
at a year to two years of age in eight daycare centers, and then in 15
kindergartens around the city. The daycare centers and kindergartens are
run by shaliach Rabbi Aharon Eliezer Tzeitlin. He opens another gan
nearly every year to meet the demand.
The
boys elementary school is attended by 400 children and is run by Rabbi
Y.Y. Lepkivker. There is a parallel girls elementary school with 420
girls, who come not only from the Chabad community, but from all over
the city and even neighboring cities, such as Kiryat Sh’moneh, Yesod
HaMaaleh, Katzrin in the Golan Heights, Teveria, Rosh Pina, Dishon, and
other settlements. The school is so popular that this year there will be
five first grades, the most they’ve ever had!
After
graduating elementary school, the girls move on to the Beis Chana
campus, which has 500 students and is run by Rabbi Shlomo Raskin. Beis
Chana is housed in a number of buildings with an attractive garden
surrounding it. The caring is obvious in all aspects, material and
spiritual.
Beis
Chana is divided into three divisions – the junior high, headed by
Mrs. Notik, the high school, run by Mrs. Zalmanov, and the seminary, by
Rabbi Y.Y. Chitrik. Many seminary girls are daughters of shluchim
from the rest of the country or from Chabad families around the world.
They attend the seminary in Tzfas because of its excellent reputation.
Even girls from non-religious homes in Tzfas attend the seminary because
of its high standards. Most of them have since become frum and
have managed to inspire their families.
All
these mosdos chinuch, run collectively under the organizational
name of Ohr Menachem, are united under one hanhala headed by shaliach
Rabbi Shneur Zalman Eliyahu Hendel.
Parallel
to the high school for girls is the yeshiva for boys. In a
previous article we spoke about the 250 boys from around the country who
study at the yeshiva. There is also another yeshiva for
teenage boys. This was Rabbi Leibel Kaplan’s, a’h, last
project and it is directed today by his son, Rabbi Chaim Kaplan, and
son-in-law, Rabbi Hertzel. Rabbi Kaplan began a yeshiva for those
families who wanted an even more intensive educational program for their
sons when they reach their teenage years.
There
are two kollelim in Tzfas, one in the Tzemach Tzedek shul
in the old city, directed by Rabbi Chaim Kaplan, and another kollel in
the K’naan neighborhood.
Two
mosdos were founded to be mekarev Jews to Torah and
Chassidus. Machon Alte, for baalei teshuva women, attracts
students from around the country and around the world. Some women go to
visit Tzfas because of its captivating atmosphere, and while there, find
their way to the school. There is also Ascent, headed by Rabbi Leiter,
which is a study program for men and English-speaking students who
typically visit Tzfas to sample some mysticism and Kabbala and
end up staying to learn Chassidus. Both Machon Alte and Ascent have
enjoyed great success and have excellent reputations.
***
They
told me, “Come visit on Shabbos. You’ll see how this community comes
alive.” When Shabbos spreads its wings over Tzfas, there’s nothing
like it anywhere else in the world. Anybody who has been in Tzfas for
even one Shabbos can tell you that. Seeing the sun setting behind the
mountains, feeling the pure atmosphere descending on the city...
Reflecting on the author of Lecha Dodi (Rabbi Shlomo
HaLevi Alkabetz), who wrote the piyut in Tzfas... Imagining the
Arizal, wrapped in white, turning to his holy talmidim with the
words, ‘Come, let us go up to Yerushalayim!’
Tzfas
and Geula – it seems as though the words are synonymous. There
is something in the air of this mystical city, a certain ancient charm
hovers above it; one may try to penetrate its mystery, but the mystery
remains.
As
a resident of the center of the country, I know that today there is a
spirit of Moshiach that emanates from Tzfas. Say Tzfas and people will
say, “Oh, Meshichistim.”
Why
is this the prevailing perception?
Rabbi
Hendel:
“I had the privilege of having a yechidus after Shavuos 5733. I
presented a number of shlichus options and the Rebbe told me that
Rabbi Kaplan was going to establish Kiryat Chabad in Tzfas and I should
check it out. The Rebbe stated the purpose of establishing that
community – “l’hachzir atara l’yoshna” (to restore the
crown to its original glory). The spirit of Moshiach and Geula was
always prominent in Tzfas, and Moshiach will come from the Galil. The
purpose in establishing the community was to restore the crown of Chabad
to its original glory.”
Rabbi
Hendel considers the establishment of a Chabad presence here a
preparation for Moshiach: “Every community the Rebbe established was
founded for a reason. Kfar Chabad was founded for the Russians who came
to Eretz Yisroel empty-handed. Nachalat Har Chabad was founded for new
immigrants who came from Georgia and Bucharia. What was Tzfas lacking
that the Rebbe bothered to establish a community here? It certainly
wasn’t meant to solve problems with living quarters!”
Amram
Moyal
(a student of the yeshiva): The goal of restoring the crown to
its original glory was fully realized. This was once a vacation spot.
But now under Chabad influence, the city has acquired a religious
character. The vacationers go to Teveria now. Now our city is a vacation
spot mostly for the religious crowd. Three hotels have been transformed
into Chabad mosdos over the years!
“The
Rebbe restored the spirit of Moshiach in Tzfas, which has always been
part of its character. He returned the city’s inner connection as a
city of kabbala and p’nimiyus ha’Torah. In a number of
sichos, the Rebbe speaks of Tzfas as a spiritual city. Rabbi
Shimon bar Yochai was here, the Arizal was here, Rabbi Yosef Karo, Rabbi
Alkabetz. They were all here. It’s a tremendously spiritual place, and
that power exists in our time as well.”
The
talmidim, who go out every Friday to disseminate the wellsprings
throughout the north, do a good job; they tell every Jew they encounter
about Moshiach’s imminent arrival.
Rabbi
Shlomo Zalman Lepkivker:
“Most of the talmidim live with Moshiach and constantly
publicize the besuras ha’Geula. We have always focused on one
point: the Rebbe! Even in Rabbi Wilschansky’s nigleh classes,
he quotes relevant sichos and speaks about the ways of Chassidus.
In the yeshiva we live with the Rebbe in every respect, indeed,
we are living with Moshiach.”
Amram
Moyal:
“I also learned in another Chabad yeshiva, but here in Tzfas
there is an amazing interweaving of learning with the Chassidic way of
life, expressed in day-to-day living and in disseminating the
wellsprings outward.”
How
do you react to being called extremists with regard to the issue of
Moshiach?
Rabbi
Lepkivker:
“Of course we’re extreme, for the Rebbe never compromises. At the
same time, as the Rebbe writes in his letters, all publicity about
Moshiach has to be presented ‘pleasantly and with strength.’ We need
strength in order not to veer in the slightest from what the Rebbe said.
We must remember the principle of not lowering the Torah, but to
elevate others to the heights of the Torah, to inform them about the besuras
ha’Geula in a pleasant way.”
Rabbi
Moshe Orenstein:
“Man by nature is extreme. You can see this today with the different
political parties in Eretz Yisroel, where those who tried to stay in the
center have gone bankrupt. The younger generation wants the truth.
“What
the Rebbe has said about publicizing the besuras ha’Geula is
well known. A Lubavitcher Chassid who believes every word of the Rebbe
has to know it is the truth. Obviously if there is extremism, it has to
be tempered. But if it has to be one or the other, extremism on the side
of simple faith is preferable.”
Amram
Moyal:
“In the time of Moshe Rabbeinu people erred because they weren’t
sufficiently connected to Moshe and they didn’t believe enough in what
he said. That’s why they sinned with the golden calf. We see this
throughout Jewish history. All of our shortcomings came about because of
a lack of connection with the tzaddik of the time.”
Here
in Tzfas is where the students of the Arizal caused the Geula to
be delayed because of personal calculations. Perhaps by your personal
interpretation of what the Rebbe said, you are repeating the same
mistake?
Rabbi
Lepkivker:
“We follow what the Rebbe said. Period. Whoever tries to add his own
interpretations is missing the point. What is ofen ha’miskabel?
What the Rebbe says is miskabel [able to be accepted]. If the
Rebbe made a statement, it means that statement is automatically
acceptable. The Rebbe does not want people to invent their own ideas.”
Amram
Moyal:
“As I said, the mistake of the Arizal’s talmidim was that
they were supposed to realize that their Rebbe understood Shulchan
Aruch better than they did, and thus they should have followed
him without hesitation.
“Originally,
we all had complete emuna in the Rebbe’s words, not only
extremists. However, after Gimmel Tammuz, some people withdrew from
involvement in inyanei Geula and Moshiach and urged
everybody else to stop, as well. Here in Tzfas we learned the lesson
well, and we won’t make the mistake of introducing our own ideas
instead of following the Rebbe’s words exactly.”
Kfar
Chabad magazine claims that the atmosphere you create here is
what led to a man attacking a rav because the rav’s
beliefs did not agree with those of the attacker.
Rabbi
Lepkivker:
“He was exposed to a community with a Jewish atmosphere. Does that
mean that all Jews are responsible for his action? What’s the
connection? He received encouragement for positive things and
discouragement for negative things.
The
atmosphere here is definitely Meshichistic. Do his actions
reflect this? Definitely not. If he cared about the Torah or about what
the Rebbe said, would he have done what he did? Absolutely not! It’s a
false association which reminds me of similar tactics in the Middle
Ages. When the rav said to cut off contact with him, everybody
censured him and kept their distance.”
Rabbi
S.Z. Hendel:
“He caused the community many problems.”
Rabbi
Avrohom Goldberg (one
of the administrators of Beis Chana): “The atmosphere in the yeshiva
and the community is greatly influenced by the three main rabbanim,
Rabbi Wilschansky, Rabbi Lepkivker, and Rabbi Orenstein. They have been
conveying their ideas about Moshiach and Geula to the talmidim and
the community since before Gimmel Tammuz.
“I
would emphasize again that there are differences of opinion, which is
legitimate. At Beis Chana we invite rabbanim and mashpiim
with varying views. When the rav comes to speak, not one girl
ever challenges him. This is because we respect one another.”
***
Every
Friday night at the conclusion of Lecha Dodi, hundreds of
people dance to “Yechi Adoneinu” around the bima of
the shul. Each Shabbos there is a farbrengen opening with
Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Lepkivker’s words of inspiration about Moshiach.
Both
the boys and the girls in school absorb this atmosphere from the
youngest ages. We spent part of our conversation with Mrs. Nechama Navon
on this subject. I wondered whether a school which had garnered prizes
from the Ministry of Education, Aliyat HaNoar, and from the education
department of the northern district, openly discussed Moshiach or
perhaps toned things down a little.
Mrs.
Navon, an articulate woman, exclaimed, “What do you mean?! We clearly
teach that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach and nobody is
ashamed of it. Although they don’t always agree with our faith,
parents of other groups send their daughters here and they see that our
faith is sincere. ‘Yechi Adoneinu’ is printed
on every document, including those we send to the government offices.”
Is
there an educational purpose to the emphasis on Moshiach or is that just
the natural expression of the teachers’ emuna?
“Our
goal is to educate girls to be yiros Shamayim, Chassidiyos,
and healthy of spirit. I believe that a girl who comes here is a
“vessel” to receive all the positive influences and will succeed in
her studies. A girl who has a message of strong faith in her heart that
the Geula is imminent is a happy girl. The Geula gives us
all chayus.”
How
do you instill a spirit of the Rebbe and Moshiach?
With
varied activities, both during the learning and during vacation. I’ll
tell you a little story. During the summer vacation we had computer
courses for parents and their children. Although the walls were being
painted and things were topsy-turvy, even people whose children don’t
attend our school were full of compliments. One mother told me that we
have a terrific school. When I answered, “It’s the Rebbe’s school,
not mine,” she said, “You really feel the Rebbe here. Your walls
radiate the Rebbe.”
When
Mrs. Navon took on the school, she had 100 students. Today there are 420
students.
What’s
the secret?
The
Rebbe’s bracha. It’s the only thing that helped us
throughout.
But
what has been your contribution?
What
an individual does isn’t ultimately what makes the difference. The
beginning and end of every project is the Rebbe’s bracha. You
can do a lot, put in time and energy, but if you don’t have the bracha,
it’s a waste of time.
“Listen
to this,” says Mrs. Navon. “We once put together a think tank at the
school for a certain project. After a few days, we saw that things
weren’t progressing as we wanted, so I wrote to the Rebbe and received
the following answer: ‘In connection with the establishment of
committees, as was decided in their school... it would be worthwhile for
each committee to take upon itself...’ The Rebbe continued to mention
specific directives.
“I’ll
give you another example. We decided to take the girls to Ein Zeitim on
Lag B’Omer. We made a program and decided to have a farbrengen
with the hanhala with mashke. Soon after that we received
the response, “Yashar ko’ach for the Lag B’Omer farbrengen
in the forest, and gedola legima sh’mikareves ... (great is
[the power] of drink, which draws close).”
As
I said, it’s the Rebbe’s community and he runs it all... Tzfas is
still awaiting the true and complete Redemption.
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LONG
RANGE PROPHESY
Rabbi
Avrohom Goldberg relates: This little anecdote occurred nearly twenty
years ago. At the edge of the city there was an abandoned army base used
only in emergencies. Near the base were a few buildings belonging to a
hotel. We wanted to buy these buildings for the girls school. When we
wrote to the Rebbe about it, the Rebbe asked us to describe the area. We
described the empty lot at a distance from the community, not far from
an abandoned army base used only in emergencies.
The
Rebbe’s response was not to buy there. Five or six years later, the
Israeli army decided to re-open the base where the North’s central
base is now located. The Rebbe selected another suggestion that at the
time we had thought wasn’t appropriate because it was on the edge of
the city. We took it, and today ours is a prime location in the center
of the city.
LUBAVITCH
SH’CHITA
On
the first floor in one of the tall buildings in the center of Kiryat
Chabad is a grocery store called Super Chabad. Everybody knows that in
this store you don’t need to check the hechsher of any product,
because the entire store is under the personal hashgacha of the rav
of the city, Rabbi Levi Bistritzky.
This
grocery store has become a well-known business center around the
country, thanks to the widespread advertising, which has been done these
past ten years under the heading, “Ofe Super Chabad –
Sh’chitas Lubavitch.” In 5750, after the neighborhood grocery
store was expanded to its present tremendous size, the store’s
manager, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Bronstein, decided to go all-out in a
campaign aimed at marketing chicken with Lubavitcher sh’chita
to Chabad Houses around the country.
From
a business perspective it was a risky venture, because in those days
there wasn’t any special awareness of the advantages of Chabad sh’chita,
and many Lubavitchers weren’t particular about it. It was this
ignorance that pushed Rabbi Bronstein to take the plunge and to do a
marketing campaign to reach the Lubavitcher consumer. The gamble paid
off so well that today there are a number of chicken producers around
the country who produce chickens with Chabad sh’chita, and baruch
Hashem, many establishments are prospering from the business that
was generated.
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