WAVE L ENGTH. A Hidden Scholar THE SIBLING. Dear young Shluchim and Shluchos, ב ה VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 TEVES 5777

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THE SIBLING WAVE L ENGTH ב ה Sponsored by the Win a $25 Gift Card to ANY STORE! See the editor's letter for details.

Her father, Reb Baruch Batlan, was a big believer in educating women.

Reb Baruch educated his daughter in every aspect of halacha.

Rochel became an expert in Shulchan Aruch, especially in the area of tznius.

When Rochel reached marriageable age, she got engaged to Reb Shneur Zalman. Shneur Zalman was a big opponent of women learning.

Rochel smiled back at her new husband without saying anything about how learned she really was.

The men were all walking in the front while the women walked close behind.

1 THE SIBLING WAVE L ENGTH ב ה Sponsored by the Win a $25 Gift Card to ANY STORE! See the editor's letter for details. A Hidden Scholar The Alter Rebbe's bubby s name was Rochel. Rochel was a big tzadekes and a very learned person. Her father, Reb Baruch Batlan, was a big believer in educating women. In those days it was very rare to have women learning, and especially having a man as a big advocate for it. Reb Baruch educated his daughter in every aspect of halacha. As a newborn baby, Rochel was brought twice a day to the doorway to kiss the mezuzah, instilling in her a love of Torah from the earliest age. Rochel became an expert in Shulchan Aruch, especially in the area of tznius. No one besides their immediate family knew that the women were educated or how much Rochel knew. When Rochel reached marriageable age, she got engaged to Reb Shneur Zalman. Shneur Zalman was a big opponent of women learning. Reb Zalman asked his new wife if her mother taught her the important things that a women should know like how to cook, clean, and sew. Rochel smiled back at her new husband without saying anything about how learned she really was. A few months later the family of Reb Baruch Batlan was walking home from shul one cold Shabbos. The men were all walking in the front while the women walked close behind. As they were walking, the caretaker of the shul ran after them screaming, The Eruv has fallen and you are now carrying! (Continued on page 2) VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 TEVES 5777 Dear young Shluchim and Shluchos, How was your month of Kislev? I want to know about your Chanukah: Did you like the present that Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe sent you all? Wasn't is a cool game to play? Did you get lots of Chanukah gelt? Did you eat so many jelly donuts and special Chanukah jellies that your stomach hurt? We are now in the month of Teves. In Teves there are many special days. The Alter Rebbe s Yartzeit is this month on Chof Daled. I hope you will be going to a farbrengen on that day. Something not so happy is the fast day of Asara B Teves. Learn more about it on page 4. B H we got many responses to the question of the story last month and the "You be the Author" question. Did you know you can (Continued on page 2) 1

Should they drop their gloves and the seforim in middle of the road so they wouldn't break shabbos? Reb Baruch turned to his daughter Rochel and said, Rochel you are the expert in Halacha.

2 (Continued from page 1) They all looked at each other and everyone was carrying gloves to protect their skin on this cold Russian Shabbos. Rochel's little brother Binyamin was also carrying seforim home to learn on shabbos afternoon. What should they do? Should they drop their gloves and the seforim in middle of the road so they wouldn't break shabbos? Reb Baruch turned to his daughter Rochel and said, Rochel you are the expert in Halacha. You tell us what we should do. Rochel couldn't believe it. She kept her secret from her husband all this time just to have her father spill her secret. Reb baruch continued as he looked at the fellow men saying, We men are so busy studying Talmud and other such subjects, that when we are faced with a practical question of law, we do not know it. We have no choice but to turn to Rochel." Reb Shneur Zalman turned to his wife and said, is this true? You are very learned in Halacha? Rochel blushed. Her father was waiting for her to answer so she began. "There is no need to take off our gloves," she said quietly, "for this is a case of 'accidental', and there can be no likelihood of anyone taking off his gloves and carrying them, for, as we are in company, it would immediately be noticed and the person reminded. As for the seforim, these should be transferred from hand to hand until we reach the yard of a non-jew, where they can be handed from the zone of 'public property' to that of 'private property'." Rochel could see from her husband's face that he was not pleased. He said to the family standing there, the gemara says that a wife of a tzadik is considered a tzadik also. In my case I must be on the same level as my wife. It pained Rochel that her husband had that feeling. Her father piped up and said, the Gemara also states that the wife of a criminal is also a criminal. I gave my daughter to you as a wife, and we will see what you make of her, whether a tzadik or a criminal. It is all up to you. Reb Shneur Zalman understood what his shver was telling him. From that moment on he was no longer ashamed of how learned his wife was. On the contrary, he was very proud of her and learned with her. He used to ask her shailos when he didn't know the answer. Reb Shneur Zalman, just like his shver, became a big supporter of women learning Torah. After all, Hashem did give all the Yidden the Torah not just the men. Think About It! Just as we see many years ago women were not allowed to learn Torah, the same was for people with a disability. Why do you think this was so, and what can we say to people who still feel this way? your answer to yossi@yaldei. com for a chance to get a gift card to the store of your choice. See page 3 for some answers to last month's question! P J Words~of~Wisdom J Moshe questioned Hashem why he was chosen to tell Paroh to free the Yidden from slavery in Egypt. Moshe said to Hashem, I have a speech impediment and Paroh won't listen to me. Moshe brings a point. If you want the Jews to be freed, wouldn't you send the most articulate person you have? The answer is simple: Paroh was stubborn and didn't want to let the Yidden free. Hashem made Paroh's heart even more stubborn than usual. If the leader of the Yidden (Moshe) was a good and articulate speaker, then the Yidden would say, "Oh, Moshe convinced Paroh to free the Yidden with his words." All the credit would go to Moshe speaking on behalf of the Yidden with his great words. Hashem didn't want this to happen, so He sent someone who had a difficulty with his speech. 2 We see that the Torah treats all the Yidden as equal. One Yid isn't more important or held to a higher standard than another Yid, even if they have a special need. We see even if someone has special needs, he is very important and can do Hashem's shlichus like anyone else. We are all special to Hashem in the same way.

(Continued from page 1) get a gift card to any store in the WORLD! Yes the whole world! If you win the raffle of any two of those questions, you can get a gift card to the store of your choice.

All you have to do is write in your response to the question of the month or answer the question to the story. It is so simple!

3 (Continued from page 1) get a gift card to any store in the WORLD! Yes the whole world! If you win the raffle of any two of those questions, you can get a gift card to the store of your choice. You can pick Amazon. com, Target, or FAO Schwarz... the choices are unlimited and the choice is yours. All you have to do is write in your response to the question of the month or answer the question to the story. It is so simple! Even if your response does not make it into the magazine, you will still be entered in the raffle. We hope you learn a lot from this month's issue of The Sibling Wave Length! Speak to you guys next month, Yossi & the SibClix Team Think About It! Last month's question was: "What lesson can we learn from the story of the poritz and Feivel?" Below are some of the responses: A lesson we can learn from the story of the poritz is having emunah. It is so important to have emunah in Hashem and to have a kesher to our Rebbe. In the story, Feivel was questioning the Tzemach Tzedek. The Rebbeim were all big Tzadikim. We must all try to strengthen our hiskashrus to the Rebbe. -Nechama WINNER OF THE $25 GIFT CARD: Hi, I am Leib, and I am 13. In the story of last month, there are many lessons we can learn. One lesson to learn is that Hashem has a plan for everything. There is a famous line: "Everything will be ok in the end. If it s not ok, then it's not the end. This is very true to that story. Hashem has a plan for everything and not always do we see it. "My little brother has autism and never really makes eye contact with me while I am talking to him. Why is that?" Thank you so much for your question. For many years doctors and researchers have attributed the lack of eye contact in children with autism to social deficit. They felt that many character traits of autism were lower social cues, and this may still be correct. In the past few years, research done by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York has come out with a new possibility. The research showed how generally the center of the eye connects with the object a person is are looking at. According to this research, people with autism don t see with the center of the eye. The study found that the outer part of the eye is where people with autism have the most focus from. This explains why your brother doesn't make eye contact with you when you speak. Have a question relating to special needs? it to yossi@yaldei.com and we will IY"H get it answered for you. Plus, you'll be entered in the raffle for a $25 gift card to the store of your choice! 3

Upcoming Month Of... א' Esther became queen Purim isn't for another two months, but this day has a very special connection to Purim.

Achashverosh was very picky to find a new wife. When he saw Esther, whose real name was Hadassa, he knew she would be his new queen.

ה' Didan Notzach - Hey Teves Hey Teves is known as day of celebration and rejoicing for Chassidim.

The Rebbetzin said in her testimony that the Seforim and my father belong to the Chassidim. The judge used what the Rebbeztien said to make his decision.

4 Upcoming Month Of... א' Esther became queen Purim isn't for another two months, but this day has a very special connection to Purim. It is the day that Esther became queen of the land of Persia. Achashverosh was looking for a new wife after he had Vashti killed because she disrespected him by not coming to his party. Achashverosh was very picky to find a new wife. When he saw Esther, whose real name was Hadassa, he knew she would be his new queen. Sorry guys, you're going to need to wait two more months to dress up. Take the time and start planning your costume. ה' Didan Notzach - Hey Teves Hey Teves is known as day of celebration and rejoicing for Chassidim. It was on this day that the Federal Court issued a ruling that the library of the Frierdiker Rebbe did indeed belong to Agudas Chasidei Chabad. How did the judge come to this decision? The Rebbetzin said in her testimony that the Seforim and my father belong to the Chassidim. The judge used what the Rebbeztien said to make his decision. The Rebbe urged Chassidim to buy new seforim and to learn with the seforim on this day. י' Asara Bteves Fast Day This is the day that the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar, the emperor of Babylon, surrounded the walls of Yerushalayim. No one was allowed to leave or enter the city. For over a year the soldiers held the city captive. On Yud Zayin Tammuz, a year and a half later, the soldiers broke the walls of the holy city of Yerushalayim down. We don't eat on this day becuase it is a fast day. 4

כ Yartzeit of the Rambam The Rambam was born in Cordoba, Spain and was one of the greatest minds to ever live. The Rambam didn t always have the easiest life.

The Rambam lived most of his life in Egypt, and it was there that he was the doctor to the Sultan of Egypt. The Rambam wrote many seforim, and he is most famous for the Mishna Torah.

The Alter Rebbe was the greatgreat grandson of the Maharal of Prague. As a young child, the Alter Rebbe showed extreme talent.

During the Napoleonic invasion in Russia, the Alter Rebbe vigorously supported the Czar when many Jewish leaders supported Napoleon.

5 כ Yartzeit of the Rambam The Rambam was born in Cordoba, Spain and was one of the greatest minds to ever live. The Rambam didn t always have the easiest life. His father, wife, sons and brother all passed away within two years. It was after this that he started to study to become a doctor. The Rambam lived most of his life in Egypt, and it was there that he was the doctor to the Sultan of Egypt. The Rambam wrote many seforim, and he is most famous for the Mishna Torah. The Rambam is buried in Tiveria in Eretz Yisrael. כ ד Yartzeit of the Alter Rebbe The Alter Rebbe was the first Rebbe of Chabad. He was born to Reb Baruch and Rivkah in the city of Lioznia. The Alter Rebbe was the greatgreat grandson of the Maharal of Prague. As a young child, the Alter Rebbe showed extreme talent. At the age of 15 he got married to Sterna Segal, the daughter of a wealthy Chossid. The Alter Rebbe wrote the Tanya and his own Shulchan Aruch. During the Napoleonic invasion in Russia, the Alter Rebbe vigorously supported the Czar when many Jewish leaders supported Napoleon. The Alter Rebbe said if Napoleon was successful it would be good for the Yidden financially, but not good for their relationship with Hashem. If the Czar won it wouldn't be good financially for the Yidden, but their relationship with Hashem would be good. On this day, Chof Daled Teves, just three months after settling in the city of Peyena while fleeing the army of Napoleon, right after making Havdalah the Alter Rebbe passed away. The Alter Rebbe is buried in Haditch, Ukraine. Birthday of Rebbetzin Chana כ ח Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson was born in the year Her father, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, was the Rav of Nikolayev. She was the eldest of four children. The Rebbe Rashab was the one who had the idea for her to marry Reb Levik. Reb Levik and Rebbetzin Chana had three sons, the eldest being the Rebbe. When her husband was sent to hard labor in Siberia, it was Chana who went along with him and got berries for him to have ink so he could write his secrets on the Torah. After Reb Levik passed away, Rebbetzin Chana moved to New York. The Rebbe would visit his mother every day when she was in New York. 5

6 Sibling Spotlight What is your name and how old are you? Mendel, age 12. Where is your family on shlichus? Maryland Can you please tell us some interesting things about your city/ country? I live near the capital of the United States, Washington D.Cc and a lot of people come to tour. There are also lots of people who work for the government around our area. What are some of the special ways you help out in your shlichus? I help by setting up and cleaning up at parties and events. I also go with my father on mivtzoim. What do you feel is the hard part of being a shliach? I live far away from Crown Heights. What is the most rewarding part of being a shliach? I am doing what the Rebbe wants. You have a brother with special needs. What's his name and age? Zalman, age 9. Tell us a little bit about your brother. What are his likes and dislikes? Zalman loves football and he likes talking about it a lot. He gets annoyed when people are not nice to him. How do you help your special brother? I play football with him even though I don't always want to. What do you feel is the hardest part of having a sibling with special needs? It's hard when kids are mean to him. Do you think having a special sibling makes you a kinder person, and if so, how? I guess, because I have to be nice to him and take care of him. If you could meet anyone from Jewish history who would it be? The Rebbe. What food do you like so much you could never get sick of it? Sushi. If you could visit anywhere in the world where would it be? Israel. Where will you be in 20 years? A Shliach. 6

AN OPEN D00R An open door is where you have a place to comment, ask questions, or share stories with your fellow shluchim. To submit, please email yossi@yaldei.com. We wanted to say thank you to Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe for sending us a nice Chanukah package.

You sure made us smile when we saw a package just for the kids in our family. Moshiach Now!

It is so interesting to see how we all have such different lives yet are all shluchim from the Rebbe.

7 AN OPEN D00R An open door is where you have a place to comment, ask questions, or share stories with your fellow shluchim. To submit, please yossi@yaldei.com. We wanted to say thank you to Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe for sending us a nice Chanukah package. We really like when you guys send us special things. Living away from lots of kosher food and Jewish games can be hard at times. You sure made us smile when we saw a package just for the kids in our family. Moshiach Now! -The N Family I just wanted to say that my favorite part of the monthly magazine is the spotlight on a sibling. It is so interesting to see how we all have such different lives yet are all shluchim from the Rebbe. Someone that lives in Chile will have a very different life than someone who live in Long Island or Miami. It is always the first part of the monthly magazine that I read. -Devorah, age 10 -Hi Devorah Thanks for writing in. It is a very good point. Where you live has a big impact on how life is. Yes, we are all Shluchim of the Rebbe, but the world is so big. So glad you enjoy reading, and thank you for your feedback! YOU BE THE AUTHOR Last month the question was: What do you do if you see a bully acting in a bullying way towards someone with special needs who can't stand up for themselves?" Here are just some of the responses we got: I hope that if I saw a bully I would stand up for the person with special needs. Even if the person doesn't have special needs, I hope I would stand up for anyone who was being bullied. It is so important to be kind to everyone. I was told by my parents to always stand up for what is right. -Mussie We do what is right as shluchim. If someone is being bullied we must make them stop. Everyone was made in the way Hashem wants. That is why we must treat everything, including animals, with respect. Everything on this earth has a purpose and a job. We must be examples as the Rebbe's Shluchim. -Yankel I would just go over to the person who is bullying the kid with special needs, and tell him that it is not nice to bully in general and especially to a kid with special needs. If he still does not stop bullying him, I would just go over to the kid with special needs and tell him to just him to walk away or ignore the bully. -Levi WINNER OF THE $25 GIFT CARD TO ANY STORE This month's question: "In what ways does your sibling with special needs inspire you?" your answers to yossi@yaldei.com to be included in the new extra special raffles. Good luck! 7

FUN PAGES WORD SEARCH Check out the hints on the right and try to figure out

N R X X V M R H K E R E J L K E E J U F T A B C A H O Q K Y U T S X P N I A P S

Q L B A U A R X E I B Y M P R M L A T B F I G S C A P I P S J C U M F Y O F W O

S Q E J L R Z E T J HINTS 1) The name of this month 2) Passed away on Chof of

4) The woman who knew lots of Torah in the story.

6) The name of the Alter Rebbe's mother 7) The country the Rambam was born in

name of the Alter Rebbe F Z I D K Z S P T L M P S L Q EYE CONTACT SHNEUR RIVKAH

8 FUN PAGES WORD SEARCH Check out the hints on the right and try to figure out what the word is without looking at the options, then search the word in the word search. Good luck! R C C E U D O W P E S K M M R Z I U V H G N P N U H E Z F Q G G V J O H P A Y F N R X X V M R H K E R E J L K E E J U F T A B C A H O Q K Y U T S X P N I A P S H S M S M R K P Y D I C C S R K M O V U Q A F Q J D G I H O P M N M K R E M I T Q L B A U A R X E I B Y M P R M L A T B F I G S C A P I P S J C U M F Y O F W O T B R Y J T C A T N O C E Y E C O O H A L R R O C H E L V A S J F S N K Z Y R U S Q E J L R Z E T J HINTS 1) The name of this month 2) Passed away on Chof of this month 3) The sibling spotlight this month is from here. 4) The woman who knew lots of Torah in the story. 5) Children with autism avoid with other people. 6) The name of the Alter Rebbe's mother 7) The country the Rambam was born in 8) On Hey Teves we got the back 9) The first name of the Rambam 10) the first name of the Alter Rebbe F Z I D K Z S P T L M P S L Q EYE CONTACT SHNEUR RIVKAH MOSHE TEVES WORD BANK SPAIN ROCHEL MARYLAND RAMBAM SEFORIM 8 Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe Merkos Suite Kingston Avenue, Suite 302 Brooklyn, NY Yossi Smoller SibClix Coordinator yossi@yaldei.com

WAVE L ENGTH THE SIBLING. The Sparkling Coins. Dear Shluchim & Shluchos, Yossi, Rochel & the SibClix Team ב ה VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 KISLEV 5778

WAVE L ENGTH THE SIBLING. The Sparkling Coins. Dear Shluchim & Shluchos, Yossi, Rochel & the SibClix Team ב ה VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 KISLEV 5778 THE SIBLING WAVE L ENGTH ב ה Sponsored by the Win a $25 Gift Card to ANY STORE! See the editor's letter for details. The Sparkling Coins Reb Gavriel was a devoted Chossid of the Alter Rebbe. For 25 years,