English translation — שיחה לחברי הכוללים "תפארת זקנים – לוי יצחק" ו"חכמות נשים" שיחיו יום ג' פ' ראה, כ"ג מנחם-אב ה'תשד"מ - לאחרי תפלת מנחה, בבית הכנסת

Torah explains,

and as you also each feel this in your heart,

and especially a Jewish heart — that when Jews gather together,

in health,

in joy and with a good purpose — to strengthen themselves further in Judaism,

and to strengthen one another in all matters that are needed,

by saying a good word to the other,

by giving good advice,

or help in another way — it is understandable. The joy and happiness that this arouses in oneself,

regardless of what age one is,

whether it concerns the very young or those of middle years,

or those advanced in years.

This (the joy of gathering together)

is further emphasized when older people gather — both men and women — of whom the language of the Gemara¹ says:

"How many events have passed over them,"

they have gone through various life experiences during the years that the Almighty has blessed and succeeded them.

Surely then "the multitude of years shall teach wisdom"²:

With each year, he

(or she)

has gained more understanding and more feeling for another person who needs to receive help or good advice,

for in the years that the Almighty gave him

(or her)

he observed the various events and learned from them how one should conduct oneself in life and what brings the Almighty's blessing,

which gives him more understanding and feeling to help another.

That is, that the Almighty gave him

(or her)

the ability to utilize what he has learned to help others.

Through this, he receives more enjoyment in the length of days with which the Almighty blesses him,

and He will also continue to bless him with many long,

good,

healthy and happy years,

with much true nachas from himself and from the children,

grandchildren and all the Jews around him.

The joy of this gathering is even more special because it takes place in a place where there is a special connection with the Almighty — through praying there to the Almighty and pouring out one's heart before Him and asking Him to fulfill

(fill)

the various requests,

For the Almighty is "the Father of mercy,"

a Father to every person,

and especially to every Jew,

and especially to those who have passed years of life in the world and have conducted themselves and reached the state that they gather together in this place.

And furthermore, this is a place of Torah study,

and the meaning of Torah is — instruction

(hora'ah)³,

that is, when one studies Torah one receives a clear instruction,

"Torah is light"⁴,

how to conduct oneself in daily life.

And as the Torah promises⁵ "in order that your days may be lengthened":

By fulfilling Torah and mitzvos, the Almighty grants even more years and more happiness,

strength and health in those years — that one may enjoy,

a bright,

a peaceful and healthy enjoyment,

of the years,

the many tens of years,

that the Almighty will yet give,

and true nachas,

And also to live to see — as was just said in the prayer — "and may our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy,"

that we will live to see the coming of Mashiach Tzidkeinu,

who will take out each one of us and all of us together,

with the entire Jewish people,

and will bring us all to our holy land,

to Eretz Yisrael,

and there itself — to Yerushalayim,

to the Beis HaMikdash,

Where you will meet with all the relatives from all four corners of the world,

for the Almighty will gather them all together

(through Mashiach)

in the Geulah,

And one will rejoice,

as is the nature of human feeling,

that when one meets relatives whom one has not seen for so much time,

and moreover — one did not even know that one had a relative somewhere,

and afterwards it turns out that one meets all together in our holy land,

in our holy land,

and one only then discovers that one has a branched-out "family" and branched-out relatives

it brings about a very great joy,

that together with that which one rejoices all together over the Geulah,

the redemption from exile,

one rejoices over the Kibbutz Galuyos,

that the Supreme One has gathered together the entire Jewish people and also gathered together all the "Galuyos",

the dispersion within the families themselves over the entire world,

and afterwards they all met together in health and in joy.

As mentioned above, Torah is "Torah Ohr",

in the Torah one finds a luminous instruction on all matters in which one is in need in order to live a true and correct human life,

and a Jewish life,

with true nachas from oneself and from children and grandchildren.

The Torah says in today's Sidrah,

Parshas Re'eh

(as a part of it was read yesterday (Monday),

and it will also be read on Thursday,

and afterwards — the entire Sidrah will be read on Shabbos),

in today's Chumash portion

(Tuesday of Parshas Re'eh)⁷ —

that "After Hashem your G-d shall you walk etc.":

The Supreme One requests from every Jew and gives him the power for this, that he should go in the ways that the Supreme One has indicated in His holy Torah,

which is also called "Toras Chayim",

a Torah that is connected with the daily life of every Jew.

And moreover — as the verse concludes — "and in Him shall you cleave":

Not only must one become closer to the Supreme One by going in the ways that the Supreme One has indicated,

rather — one must attach oneself to the Supreme One,

"cleave to His ways"

(as Rashi explains)⁸.

What in this

(in the ways of the Supreme One which every Jew must follow and with which to attach himself)

is also included

(as Rashi brings down⁹)

— "bestow kindnesses etc. as the Holy One, blessed be He did",

that one should do a favor for another Jew,

"and you shall love your fellow as yourself"¹⁰,

and also influence

(from the aspect of Ahavas Yisrael)

that another Jew should also strengthen himself in his Judaism.

And one must do all these things from "After Hashem your G-d shall you walk",

serve the Supreme One — in the manner that the Supreme One commanded that He be served — with joy and with a good heart,

with gladness,

with a good heart and with a healthy heart.

And this is the lesson from today's Chumash portion:

"After Hashem your G-d shall you walk" — The Supreme One requests and gives power to every Jew that one should go in the ways of the Supreme One as indicated in His holy Torah,

which is also called "Toras Chayim",

a Torah that is connected with the daily life of every Jew,

and certainly of all Jews together,

and certainly — even more so when one takes true resolutions when one gathers all together,

As one sees in the nature of a person,

that a "decision",

a resolution

(decision)

that one takes together with several people — takes hold of him more,

and it comes easier for him to carry it out with joy and a good heart¹¹.

So too regarding the resolution that is indicated in today's portion — to go in the ways that the Supreme One has indicated.

And it is certain that if one will only resolve to conduct oneself thus with truth,

it will come much easier than one imagines.

And moreover — in a manner of "and in Him shall you cleave":

Through going in the ways that the Supreme One has indicated,

one will become not only closer to the Supreme One,

rather one will also attach oneself to Him.

And since the Almighty is the source of all blessings,

without Him all blessings depend and come from Him - therefore when one attaches oneself to the Almighty

("and to Him you shall cleave"),

the blessings that each one receives for himself and for his entire family are further increased,

for his wife,

the children,

grandchildren and great-grandchildren:

blessings that come from the Almighty, from His full, open, holy and spacious hand,

from the Almighty's open hand,

and with a pleasant countenance,

with joy.

And in particular, that "after the L-rd your G-d you shall walk" is the manner in which the Almighty wants to be served - with joy and a good heart

(as above).

The aforementioned lesson from today's Chumash class - a) that one should follow in the ways that the Almighty has indicated

("after the L-rd your G-d you shall walk")

even to the extent that one attaches oneself to Him

("and to Him you shall cleave"),

and b) doing this with joy and a good heart - is especially connected with the current gathering of the members of the Kollel "Tiferet Zekeinim - Levi Yitzchak",

which was connected with the yahrtzeit of my father,

whose name is "Levi Yitzchak",

and after this name the Kollel was named:

"Levi" is from the word "yilveh"

("yilveh ishi eilai"),

which means - attachment,

"and to Him you shall cleave". And this was the mission and work and "function" of the tribe of Levi - to connect and attach Jews

(every Jew and all Jews)

with the Almighty, the source of all blessings,

through being a living example and through words and Torah.

"Yitzchak" means - "tzchok" and "schok",

joy and vitality,

and "Yitzchak" is connected with the Almighty's miracles

(even to the extent that this brings "tzchok"),

therefore the first Yitzchak was called by this name - because his birth was connected with miracles that brought about a "tzchok" and the greatest joy.

From this the lesson is - as above:

"Levi" - one must attach oneself to the Almighty

("and to Him you shall cleave"),

and in the manner of "Yitzchak" - with joy and a good heart. And furthermore:

through attaching oneself to the Almighty,

one can then serve Him with joy and a good heart - and if one needs to reach this, the Almighty demonstrates miracles.

The aforementioned also has a connection with today's lesson in the Rambam and Sefer HaMitzvot

[surely you have heard about the fact that these lessons are studied,

and some of you probably participate in the lessons]:

The father writes in them a description precisely of his name "Levi Yitzchak" - that "Levi Yitzchak" in gematria equals "Neder".

And regarding the matter of vows, today's lesson in the Rambam discusses:

The lesson in the Rambam is in the laws of Naziriteship,

for "nezirut is a vow from among the vows of prohibition" - and the content of the matter of vows is connected with the aforementioned content of "Levi Yitzchak",

that one attaches oneself to the Almighty and with joy and a good heart.

The explanation of this:

The Almighty gave a Jew the power to make a vow. The content of a vow is:

One takes an ordinary thing, an ordinary day,

ordinary powers,

and one makes through speech

(in words)

a vow "in order to establish his opinions and correct his deeds",

saying:

Since I am a Jew and you are a Jew and around there are Jews,

"a holy nation",

a holy people - the ordinary thing becomes

(day and powers)

holy. One connects the ordinary thing with a sacrifice,

with holy things,

etc.

That is, through a vow one oneself,

and the ordinary things around oneself

(upon which one made a vow),

become more attached

("Levi")

to the Almighty. And with joy and a good heart - "Yitzchak".

And this is not an imaginary thing

(G-d forbid),

but through this the thing truly becomes holy and connected with the Almighty and receives the Almighty's special blessings.

So too regarding the vow of nezirut:

He makes a vow verbally in a very simple matter,

that he takes upon himself that he will not cut his hair for thirty days

(with the other details of nezirus),

for which he does not need to have any trouble or exertion,

and it costs no money - says the Almighty:

If the vow of nezirus is in the manner of "one who vows to Hashem in a way of holiness",

for the sake of the honor of the Almighty,

for the sake of Heaven,

for the sake of a vow and nezirus,

and one says the vow verbally and carries it out in action - he serves thereby the Almighty,

and he receives through this a special holiness,

"the crown of his G-d is upon his head, etc., he is holy to Hashem",

even more than every Jew who belongs to "a holy nation"!

From this there is a lesson and an explanation:

There are those who are frightened,

and not that they are frightened themselves,

rather a non-Jew comes to them and frightens them:

What does it mean you will take upon yourself to learn Torah and fulfill all its commandments - while you do not have the strengths for this,

and you do not have the money for this,

and this is a difficult service and a difficult labor,

with more such reasons that come from the foolish evil inclination!

The matter of nezirus teaches:

Even through such a simple service,

that he takes such an ordinary thing as hair and cutting the hair,

which is not connected with any troubles and money,

and it is not about a long time,

rather even about not cutting hair for the duration of only thirty days -

Then says the Almighty in the Torah of truth,

that with such a simple thing that he does for the sake of Heaven - one serves the Almighty,

and one becomes through this holier than before,

and the Almighty accepts it with a pleasant countenance,

and blesses him with more blessings than he had before!

For the importance of this is not so much the difficulty and exertion and its length in time,

rather it is important that one do it for the sake of the honor of the Almighty,

that since he has the matter

(of not cutting the hair etc.)

"under his hand" and he has the ability to give honor to the Almighty by not cutting his hair for thirty days - the Almighty says that with this one serves Him and gives Him honor.

This teaches a Jew,

a man or a woman,

that regardless of how many strengths and money he possesses - he (she)

can add to the honor of the Almighty,

and this also gives honor to the Jew - even through simple things,

not specifically regarding cutting hair,

rather whatever ordinary thing it may be - through that which he

(or she)

makes the ordinary thing a matter for the sake of the honor of the Almighty,

by making a vow - and in this time saying by it "without a vow" - through which he makes the thing holy and makes himself holier,

and adds to the honor of the Almighty,

and provides the Almighty with true pleasure.

As we see it all the more so from a person:

When one provides pleasure to a person who has much power,

all the more so when one provides pleasure to a president of the "United States",

it is certain that he

(the president)

will use the opportunity to make easier and better the life of those who provided him pleasure;

all the more so an incomparably greater number of times,

when one provides a pleasure to the Almighty - however small it may be, even connected with a small exertion,

the Almighty already gives an abundance of blessings and successes in everything that one needs.

And in particular

(as above)

when one has gathered together in a place where one prays to the Almighty and asks Him for blessings,

and the Almighty fulfills the requests,

together with this one also says a word of the Almighty's Torah,

the Written Torah and the Oral Torah,

And one does this in a manner of "Levi Yitzchak",

that one wants through this to draw near and attach oneself to the Almighty

("and to Him you shall cleave"),

and one does this in a manner of "Yitzchak" - out of joy and goodness of heart,

with happiness.

Consequently, it is also understandable that one also affects the people around oneself,

especially Jews,

that they too should conduct themselves in this manner.

This then receives the power of a community,

of many people together,

who have a greater power and a greater ability to implement all these things,

and to implement them to the fullest extent and without any hindrances.

This is also the lesson of today's day of the week - Tuesday:

Regarding this day it says twice "good"

(it was doubled, for it was good)

. This interprets Torah,

that this means "good to Heaven and good to creatures",

which includes the explanation - that it is good for oneself,

and one sees that it should be good also for another Jew and for another person and for the entire surroundings,

This then has a special strength,

and it comes down into actuality,

and one does it with joy and a good heart.

Therefore, now money will also be distributed for charity,

As is the custom,

that in addition to this that we all prayed together to the Almighty and asked of Him various blessings for health,

for nachas from children and grandchildren and for long, healthy, happy years,

and we also studied verses from Torah,

and discourses from the Oral Torah,

from Gemara and Midrashim -

now each of you will also be given a dollar to give to charity,

so that this should be an additional connection and attachment between all those gathered here together with the Almighty. And a connection through the primary mitzvah - the mitzvah of charity,

For through this, each one becomes united with all those gathered here,

through the fact that they all together fulfill the same mitzvah with the same thought,

to thereby create a pleasure for the One who commanded the mitzvah of charity - the Almighty - consequently, through this, "and to Him you shall cleave",

one attaches oneself to the Almighty.

Through this, one has all three things of Torah, service, and acts of kindness

(charity)

- this further causes that very soon there should be fulfilled,

that each and every one of you and each and every one of us and the entire Jewish people - should be "and our eyes shall behold Your return to Zion with mercy",

We will all meet together in the third Holy Temple in the third redemption,

which comes after the redemption from the two destructions that were before it.

And we all meet together in our Holy Land. Which will be in peace and complete,

and will also be in a manner of "the L-rd your G-d will enlarge your border",

in a good manner,

in a peaceful manner and in a broad manner.

And the beginning of the redemption should already begin with each and every one of you and with each and every one of us,

through additional blessings and success in everything that one needs.

And be blessed - as it gets closer to the month of Elul and Rosh Hashanah,

and it is already after the fifteenth of Av,

when it is the custom,

that one wishes and blesses everyone. Everyone around oneself - that one should have a good inscription and sealing for a good and sweet year,

for length of days and good years,

and healthy,

happy and long years.

[Afterwards he said:

There is a chazzan here - we will conclude by singing the melody "Shivaneh Beit HaMikdash".

The chazzan, may he live, began to play "Yehi ratzon... Shivaneh Beit HaMikdash bimheirah veyameinu, vetein chelkeinu beToratecha".

Afterwards, the Rebbe, shlita, distributed to each one a dollar to give to charity].