TOUS LES CHEMINS MENENT A LA TORAH. n o 13

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1 TOUS LES CHEMINS MENENT A LA TORAH n o 13 nisan-iyar/5772 april-may/2012

2 Dear Friends Shalom and blessings, I thank you greatly for all the help and assistance which you extended to your needy brethren, and to the families of those studying in Kollel, who devote themselves to learning Torah throughout the year. Special thanks to all who helped us financially this year enabling us to assist people requesting help. May the merit of the Torah protect you. Thanks to your benevolence, we have been able to distribute vouchers to poor people enabling them to buy food. In addition, we were able to pay the salaries of the Kollel members, who study Torah all day. Through your generous donations, we were able to assist chattanim, helping them pay for their wedding expenses. We were also able to purchase mezuzot and tefillin for those could not afford them. Likewise, we were able to distribute large donations to many yeshivot, Torah institutions, and organizations that aid those who are impoverished. All this was made possible through your generous donations. Although the money may have been spent, your merit lasts forever. The funds that remain after distributing the amounts allotted for various organizations as determined by our institution is dispersed to the poor and people who study the Torah all the day. David Hanania Pinto under the aegis of rabbi david hanania pinto shlita Paris ohr chaim vemoshe 32, rue du plateau paris Tel : Fax : LYON hevrat pinto 20 bis, rue des Mûriers Villeurbanne Tel: Fax: israel ashdod orot Haim Ou moshe Rehov ha-admour mi-belz 43 ashdod tel: fax: israel jerusalem rehov bayit vagan 8 jerusalem tel: fax: U.S.A chevrat pinto 207 west 78th st - new york ny Tel: fax: Responsable of publication : Hanania SOUSSAN layout : Hanania SOUSSAN contents The Interview...2 Visit in Argentina...13 Hashem Desires Tefillah from the Depths of the Heart...14 How to feel the Pain of the Absence of the Shechinah...24 Journey to Ukraine...28 The Hilula in Morocco...37 Days of Mercy...47 Orot Chaim U Moshe in Ashdod...49 It s Pointless to Fight Against the Darkness. Instead, Create Light!...58 Internet : hevratpinto@aol.com

3 In the Inner Sanctum An interview with Moreinu v Rabbeinu, Rabbi David Chananya Pinto, shlita The grandson and son of two eminent and leading figures of Moroccan rabbinic Judaism Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal and Rabbi Moshe Aharon Pinto Rabbi David Hanania Pinto is one of the most illustrious representatives of an ancient rabbinic tradition. A New Pair of Glasses Q: The tzaddikim of the Pinto family are known throughout the world for their greatness in Torah, for their widespread tzedakah and chessed, for the tremendous power of their tefillot, and their willingness to give counsel and support to all members of the Klal. The Rav, shlita, seems to have taken a different direction by entering the world of kiruv rechokim and bringing people back to the mesorah. For decades, the Rav has been counted as one of the foremost leaders in France, and the whole of Europe. For many years, the Rav has traveled from country to country including the United States, Canada, Eretz Yisrael, and Argentina. Each person who is distanced from Judaism, and has embarked upon the journey of return, finds in the Rav the address for his questions and a wonderful source of advice. However, according to what we read about the illustrious Pinto family, it seems that the Rav s forbears were less involved with members of the public. Why has the Rav taken a new direction? In order to explain the reason for this, the Rav told a story about a Jew who lived in France. This man never kept Shabbat, and had never tasted its holiness and beauty. One night, he dreamed that he saw the visage of Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy a. In his dream, Rabbi Chaim said to him, You are causing me and your parents great distress. Your parents are with me, and they are terribly pained by your deeds. Stop! It is enough! Repent! The man tried to defend himself by saying, Dreams don t mean anything. But the dreams kept coming back, and each time Rabbi Chaim rebuked him for desecrating Shabbat. After a while, the man gave in and started going to a shiur to increase his knowledge of Judaism. He then became completely observant, and kept the laws of Shabbat in all their intricacies. For approximately the past ten years, he has taken upon himself to travel by plane to Mogador to the grave of Rabbi Chaim every year. There he prostrates himself upon his grave and offers prayers of gratitude that the tzaddik saved him from the depths of sin and brought him back to Judaism. A few months ago, he had another dream about Rabbi Chaim Pinto. This time, Rabbi Chaim smiled at him and said, You have a new pair of glasses. Obviously, he was referring to spiritual glasses. Rabbi Chaim then added, You see! It has taken ten years for you to be able to see properly I believe that it is incumbent upon me to fulfill the responsibility involved in being the descendant of Rabbi Chaim, zy a. Since I have zechut avot I believe it is my duty to encourage people to keep mitzvot, such as putting on tefillin, and going to the mikveh, etc. Everyone has problems. I am in the position to be able to say, Do you have a problem? Maybe give something to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and He will help you. Q: It seems that the Rav says that people s problems will be solved on condition that they keep mitzvot? The expression on condition is not appropriate in this context. I never force a person to do anything. I just suggest that it is a shame for a person to request help from Hashem without doing something in return. Q: I have heard that the Rav suggests the practical segulah of If you want to be helped, learn such and such. I always tell people that if it doesn t work, they should not blame me. I say, I want you to do your part, and I will do mine. I want that you should have faith in Hakadosh Baruch Hu. A precious Jew from Syrian descent, who lives in Brooklyn, came to me a short time ago and in a loud voice proclaimed, I have come to thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu! This man did not have children and had come to me for a berachah. Baruch Hashem, his wife gave birth to a baby girl. A few weeks ago, his daughter drowned in his swimming pool. She was found after a long time, when she was already floating on the water, and was declared dead even before the ambulance arrived. The father remembered the 2

4 words of faith that I had spoken to him at every opportunity and shouted out, Master of the world! Did you give me a gift in order to take it away from me? Please, Hashem, use Your tremendous powers to revive my child! The child woke up! I was deeply touched by his story, and said to him, How fortunate you are! In one minute you elevated yourself to the level of the great Tannai m who were able to revive the dead through their pure faith in Hashem. I also encouraged him to further strengthen his observance of Torah and mitzvot. I have instructed my sons to bring every Jew, whoever he is, close to Torah in this way, with a smile and much love. Even if this Jew is exceedingly distanced from Judaism, even if he has tattoos and the like on his body! Every Jew should be brought close with love! When the Rav mentions that one should love every Jew, I am reminded of the time that I had the opportunity to speak with his son, Harav Hagaon Rabbi Refael Pinto, shlita. I asked him, What is the secret of Moreinu, your father, the Rav s success? Rabbi Refael smiled, and replied with the same words that I just now heard from the mouth of the Rav himself: They are our brothers. We love them! Moreover, when I asked Mr. Gabi Elbaz, the president of the Jewish community in Lyon, France, what he thinks is the secret of the Rav s success in bringing the members of the community back to the fold, he thought for a moment and then answered: Love! It is obvious that words that come from the heart enter the heart and that the great love that the Rav has for every Jew paves the path toward their hearts. Only Torah I merited speaking with the Rav during the Shabbat of the hilula in Mogador, Morocco. Throughout Shabbat and the days of the hilula I accompanied the Rav, watching his actions and following his conversations. I sat at his private table during the Shabbat meals, observing what he did, and reading between the lines of both his public speeches and the words of instruction that he gave to people who came to him privately. Throughout this time, I heard, saw, and felt how all the Rav s words were directed toward one subject the Torah. Learn Torah. Go to classes on Torah. Spend your time and energies in learning Torah. The Rav constantly and consistently repeated these words. Q: When the Rav speaks about Torah, the Rav looks like a person who is drunk with the words of the Torah, with love of Torah. (The Rav smiles on hearing this description of himself and nods his head in agreement.) Nothing but Torah! Where did the Rav take this idea from? The Rav sighs and travels to distant times. From where did I get my love of Torah? How can it be otherwise? When I remember the tremendous self-sacrifice that my father, zt l, had so that we should learn Torah, it is impossible to act differently. The pasuk says, I have set Hashem before me at all times. Additionally, the image of my father is constantly before me. He had tremendous self-sacrifice in sending me to a different country in order to learn Torah. My father and my mother both suppressed their natural feelings of compassion and longing so that I could learn Torah. I think it must have been much harder for him than it was for us. At least we had the three-day train journey to take our mind off the separation. We were distracted by the beautiful scenery and everything that was happening on the train. He was left at home, thinking about us. This is the reason that his descendants alone have followed the ways of our holy forefathers. There are many descendants of the Pinto family, but only my father s sons have followed in the Pinto traditions, each one on his particular path to kedushah (sons of one father are we!), continuing the true heritage of our family. Lecture at Buenos Aires - Argentina 3

5 My very bones are infused with my father s immense love and self-sacrifice for Torah. Q: Why did your father not allow you to learn in Morocco? What fault did he find with the system of learning there? My father, zt l, had tremendous respect for the Sephardic way of learning. I also endorse learning the simple meaning of the words; I am not one for sophisticated debate, even though I was educated in the Lithuanian way of learning. My teacher, Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Lopian, zt l, always learned the simple meaning of the words. He was a giant in learning, a tremendous talmid chacham, but he advocated learning the simple meaning of the words. He reviewed the words of Rashi many times. Perhaps, since at that time there were very few Sephardic yeshivot in Morocco, my father deemed it necessary to send us far away to learn. There was another extremely important reason why my father sent us away. This was to ensure that we would be far away from the pernicious influence of the Alliance. Q: When you were in yeshiva, how did you cope with being so far away from home? When I was nine years old, I left home to learn in France and stayed there until I was thirteen. When I turned thirteen, my mother came to France to make my Bar Mitzvah. I didn t receive a new suit or a hat for my Bar Mitzvah. Afterwards, my mother further strengthened herself and sent me to England to acquire greater levels in Torah. I did not see my father for eight years! Today it is easy to travel from one town to the other by bus. Nowadays, there are so many yeshivot that every bachur can find a place to learn either close to home or a short bus-ride away. In those times we had to travel 3,000 kilometers to get to yeshiva! Q: How can a child withstand the difficulties of being so far away from home? How can he suppress the feelings of homesickness and the longing to be with his own family, supported by the love of his parents? There was no choice! My father educated us that learning Torah is our life s purpose. Even if we did not understand this 100% at the beginning, it was by doing something for ulterior motives, one comes to act for the sake of Heaven. Hashem Directs the Footsteps of Man The Rav is silent for a while, engrossed in his memories. The silence could be cut with a knife. It is obvious that the Rav is reliving those feelings of yearning for his family and being cut off from his dear ones at such a young age in order to go to learn Torah. Suddenly, the Rav awakens from his reverie and confides in us a most personal memory: When I was twenty-eight, I came to a crossroads in my life. I didn t know whether to become a simple businessman or whether to follow the path paved by my holy forefathers. My father wanted me to continue in his ways, but I preferred to become a businessman and work for my living while keeping my service of Hashem private. 4 The Rabbi s father, Rabbi Moshe Aaron Pinto Zatzal praying at the house of Rabbi Chaim Pinto Zatzal

6 The Rav tells this over simply, as if he is talking about somebody else who isn t present. In his great humility, the Rav tries to explain: I didn t want that people would start to kiss my hand; I didn t feel that I was worthy of such a thing. I didn t understand what a blessing is why a person should go to a Rav to get a blessing or guidance. There was no such thing in the yeshiva. I was somewhat Litvish in this matter. (The Rav smiles for a moment.) The only blessing that we got in the yeshiva was when the rabbanim there wished us a Good Shabbos. That was it. I didn t see the point of all of this. I battled over this point for two years. I didn t know what to do. Then something happened that shook me up greatly and pointed which path in life I should take. A woman, whose daughter was on her deathbed, decided that I was the one whose blessing would heal her daughter. She came to me requesting that I bless her daughter. When I was unwilling to do so, she demanded it of me, breaking down in tears and pleading that I bless her daughter. She even said that if I didn t do so, she would die, And it will be your fault! When she saw that I was still hesitant, she declared, If your blessing comes true, I promise that I will make a large seudah of thanksgiving and dedicate it to the memory of Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy a. At that moment, I found myself saying, Prepare the seudah. In reality, I thought it was a joke. When the woman returned home, she was informed that at the very time she had made this promise, her daughter had regained consciousness and woken up. A short while later, the daughter was able to get up and subsequently returned to full health. The mother hurried to fulfill her promise of making the seudah in honor of Rabbi Chaim Pinto. I was invited to attend, and when I arrived, I was amazed to see the hall filled to capacity with many people who wanted to receive a blessing from me in the merit of my forefathers. From that time on, I deferred to the wishes of my father, and began to involve myself in bringing my precious brothers back to the path of Torah and mitzvot. Something that started as a joke, Baruch Hashem, has shown that Hashem directs the footsteps of man. A Strong Magnet Q: The Rav continues to involve himself in kiruv, and thousands of Jews throughout the world have merited hearing the Rav s words. A brief glance at the groups of young people coming from France proves that they are newcomers and that not so long ago they lived a completely different type of life. What makes them come? Why should they want to change their whole way of life? The Rav explains that many of these young people have received a basic Jewish education in their hometowns. Most of them are from Paris. They have all acquired a basic of love of Torah and a tangible love of Hashem. Some of these youths joined the Rav on at least one of the trips that he makes in Elul to the graves of tzaddi- Placing the Mezuza at the new Chevrat Pinto Torah Center at Buenos Aires - Argentina 5

7 kim. Last year, he went to the graves of the Rav of Lublin, the Maharshal, the Rema, the Chafetz Chaim, the Vilna Gaon, the Megaleh Amukot, the Ba al Shem Tov, and the Ba al HaTanya, as well as others. The Rav adds that everyone is strengthened by these trips, and that he speaks about Torah topics while they are travelling. These can really be called Torah travels, he says. Q: Even so, what influences a young person who is learning in college or university in France to come to a Torah class given by the Rav? This may sound somewhat amusing, but about 80% of the young people learning in college come to me for a blessing that they should succeed in their studies. I receive them happily, and agree to bless them if they will give me an hour of their time every week. They come, they taste the sweetness of Torah and they stay for more and more. Q: What do they like to hear? In order for such a class to make them want to come for more, it must be very inspiring. All of our classes are based on the central themes of love of Torah and love of Hashem. I give classes on many topics, but they are all centered upon these ideas. I frequently include examples from the lives of our holy forefathers, describing how they served Hashem. These stories appeal to the young people very much, since through them they realize that they are descended from very great people. There is an incident that happened just last week. The students in France put a tremendous amount of effort into their studies. However, many of the teachers and principals are anti-semitic and purposely fix the dates for the exams to be on Shabbat or the Jewish festivals. They see that the Jewish students are nevertheless successful in their exams, but still seek to prevent this. One of the Jewish students, who had become completely observant, managed to become a cardiologist. However, his problems were now doubled. He was unable to find a job that did not involve working on Shabbat. Recently, on the fourth attempt, he found a job which seemed suitable. The first two weeks went well, but then he was suddenly informed that he had to work on Shabbat. He was astounded. He refused to do so saying, Although I have spent many years studying to gain such a position, I would prefer to be poor all of my life rather than desecrate Shabbat. This was a sign to us that Hashem has helped us to instill within this man such great love of Hashem that he is prepared to undergo such self-sacrifice for His sake. Otherwise, he would desecrate Shabbat. There is another student of ours, called Michael Ben Shushan, a resident of Marseille, who did teshuvah through attending our classes. His return to the Torah path began on Shabbat. One Shabbat, he returned home after hearing me speak very strongly about the importance of keeping Shabbat. What is the point of making such a great celebration for a boy s Bar Mitzvah when he will not be keeping any mitzvot afterwards? I asked. He was very shaken up by this question. He went for a walk with his brother in the city square and shared what I had said with him. I think the Rav is exaggerating, he said, he expects too much from us. How are we supposed to keep Shabbat in such a stringent fashion? His brother surprised him by answering, Did our Bar Mitzvahs really have no meaning? Suddenly, a strong breeze blew off the kippah that he had put on to attend the shiur. It landed under the wheels of a car that was parked next to the curb. As he bent down to pick it up, he noticed another kippah underneath the car. We re still worth something! he joked with his brother, at least we make the effort to pick up our kippot and put them back on, even though we could be excused for not doing so in the middle of the city square of Marseille. His brother smiled, and said, But I wasn t wearing a kippah right now. Give me the other one and I ll put it on. Michael picked up the second kippah and both brothers were fixed to the spot in astonishment. The kippah in Michael s hand was embossed with the words a souvenir from the Bar Mitzvah and looked somewhat familiar to 6 Shiur to the Kolel of Ashdod

8 Hevrat Pinto s Kolel in Paris them. This was one of the kippot from the Bar Mitzvah of Michael s brother! He had celebrated his Bar Mitzvah seven years earlier. Just a few moments before this very ceremony had seemed to lack any meaning whatsoever! In those lifechanging moments, the kippah regained its significance, which had been lost until that time. The words written on it now had a tangible meaning, which made a strong impression on the brothers. That experience changed the brothers completely, and influenced them to return to the Torah s ways. Rabbi Akiva s Question is Worth Millions Q: In Eretz Yisrael, the kiruv organizations expend great effort in organizing lectures and seminars explaining the basics of emunah and bringing proofs of the authenticity of the Torah. Why does the Rav not do this, but instead focuses on learning Torah? At the beginning of the road to teshuvah we do explain about emunah, but we very quickly move on to other more practical topics. The Torah says, And the people believed in Hashem and in His servant, Moshe. What does it mean that they believed in Moshe? It means that the people believed in the Torah [which Moshe transmitted to them]. When one believes in Hashem, he must go from the level of believing that Moshe Rabbeinu transmitted the Torah to Bnei Yisrael, to actually learning it. Most people in France have a basic level of emunah; it s a shame to waste time. The main focus should be Torah study. Q: When I was in France, I was told about someone called Gabi, one of the Rav s students, who came from very different circles. He still works, but devotes six hours every day, including Shabbat, to Torah study. How does the Rav influence such a person to be able to do this? He himself has witnessed the power of Torah; that is why he loves it. He has a position as the manager of a large business. One day, a very large business deal unexpectedly came up. Going ahead with the deal meant that he would have to close his Gemara and cancel his learning session for a prolonged period of time. He came to me and asked me what he should do, saying that he would lose a large amount of money by not accepting the deal. On the other hand, he was committed to his learning session. I told him that he should answer the question himself. I did not want to take responsibility for him cancelling the deal, fearing lest he would later regret doing so and blame me for the loss incurred. I told him this, adding, You are big enough, you know what Torah means you have a fixed learning session every morning you can make the decision yourself! He looked at me and understood what I was saying between the lines. With all his strength he exclaimed, I m staying! The people who had come to make the deal were very angry and went on their way. But he did not exhibit a sign of regret for even a moment. That very afternoon, the prospective business partners returned. They were prepared to agree to his conditions. And what is more, they were prepared to allow him to keep to his daily schedule of learning. He benefited in every way. The business deal was much more profitable than had been expected, and he had withstood the difficult test of cancelling his learning session. The most amazing part of this story is that on the same day, when he continued learning after he had made this tremendous sacrifice, he was able to give an explana- 7

9 Shiur at Bne Brak tion for one of the hardest questions asked by Rabbi Akiva Eiger. His self-sacrifice for learning Torah enabled him to do this. Q: How does the Rav infuse such tremendous love of Torah learning into such a person, to the extent that he is able to answer such a question for himself? This takes an enormous amount of effort. One needs to invest a lot of love into these people and show them how much we truly love them. We speak about Hakadosh Baruch Hu continuously, until they come to the realization that He is their Father. One doesn t need to ask a son if he loves his father. We feel especially close to our Father on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. But the point is to retain this feeling for the rest of the year. We were taught this by our teachers in yeshiva. There was no air-conditioner in the yeshiva or plentiful food. Sometimes there weren t even potatoes or bread to eat. I remember very well my teacher, Rabbi Shammai Zohn, z l, who was not a well man, traveling from place to place to raise money to provide us with food. Times were hard, and there was never enough. In the winter, when the cold would penetrate our bones, we didn t have enough blankets to cover us, so we would put the mattress on top of our bodies to get warm. Even so, we felt that our days in yeshiva were the happiest of times. Although the conditions were very difficult and we certainly fulfilled the dictum, You shall eat bread with salt, and drink a measure of water, and on the ground shall you sleep, we acquired true love of Torah, which became a part of us. All the hardships vanished in the face of our love of Torah. And More Torah The Rav speaks with great passion. I find that we have again returned to the topic of love of Torah. The Rav speaks with utter conviction from the depths of his pure heart. Suddenly the Rav stops speaking and changes the subject slightly. He continues: I spoke about the love of Torah that we absorbed from our teachers, when we were youths in yeshiva. I would like to make a point, which you might not agree with, but I feel is true people speak about yeridat hadorot, but I say, Fortunate are the members of this generation! Everyone sees how spoiled this generation is. There are so many material pleasures out there. It s all so easily available to us. For one who wants it, there are so many ways to enjoy oneself and have a good time. The young people who come to us have abandoned all of this. They have thrown away all the enticements of this world in order to learn Torah. Instead they come to the yeshiva!! I am constantly astounded by the strength of such people. How are they able to withstand the allurements in front of them? When I was their age, there were hardly any negative influences that could affect us. We were not faced with the tests that they face today. What was there in Morocco? Nothing! There were no movies, no beach, and no problems with modesty. The Yetzer Hara had much less opportunity to trip us up. A person who wanted to find the Yetzer Hara had to actively seek him out. The whole atmosphere surrounding us was conducive to keeping mitzvot. Who did not keep Pesach? The house was ready for Pesach a month before the festival. Our family was very stringent; we ate only potatoes. Dates and sugar were not allowed in the house. We didn t even eat chicken, in case there was any chametz. Today, every type of food is available on Pesach. It s a different world today. Everything is available. There are so many different types of communication cellular phones, fax, Internet. What don t we have? Those who return to the path of Torah and mitzvot leave all of this behind. They cut themselves off from the world that they were previously accustomed to. As Long As The Candle Burns Q: During the Shabbat hilula that was celebrated in Mogador, I was amazed to see the Rav at the Friday night meal standing for a long time to receive the enormous line of people waiting to receive his blessing of l chaim or Shabbat Shalom. I witnessed this again, during the meal on Shabbat morning. This time the Rav received people for an even 8

10 longer period of time. I saw that the Rav was exhausted after this. The Rav understood that I was wondering about this, and said to me, What don t we do in order to bring others back in teshuvah? When I was sitting with the Rav, I could not hold back from asking about this, and reminded the Rav about this particular Shabbat (the Rav smiled broadly), and I asked: The Rav dedicates himself to these people with tremendous devotion. Are there no bounds to this? There is no answer to this! Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, zt l, was once walking through the town at 2:00 a.m. and saw that there was a light burning in one of the windows. When he peered inside, he saw a shoemaker fixing shoes. Rabbi Yisrael asked him, How long can you work? It is already very late! The shoemaker answered, As long as the candle burns, I can continue to fix shoes. Rabbi Yisrael began to cry, and said, As long as the soul of a person still burns within him, as long as he is still alive, he can still fix and mend his ways! The Rav smiles and tried to explain how far this goes: Sometimes I ask Hashem, Give me all the money in the world, and see what I will do with it! Appoint me as trustee over it all. If one is willing to invest the effort, there is so much that he can achieve. There is so much to do for Klal Yisrael. Q: The Rav gives many Torah shiurim. When does the Rav have time to prepare them? I am not a genius; this is pure siyata di Shemaya. In general, I prepare, and Hashem assists me. It is written that Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it to Yehoshua, and so forth, until it was transmitted to the Men of the Great Assembly. What happened after that? They said three things Where did the Torah go to then? I once explained that the Men of the Great Assembly means all of Klal Yisrael, all of the people. Now the Torah is in the hands of each and every Jew in our hands. We could say that whenever I give over a Torah shiur to another Jew, since he has a portion in the same Torah, I am simply reminding him of something that he has forgotten. I am returning a lost object to him. What about the fact that a good thing is brought about by someone who is meritorious? Baruch Hashem. Give thanks to Hashem for He is good. Your Children Shall Come from Afar Q: A few years ago, the Rav came to live in Eretz Yisrael ( The Gedolei Hador told me to do so for various reasons, including the education of my children that they should attend yeshivot in Eretz Yisrael ), but after three years, the Rav returned to France. There are many youths both in France and in Eretz Yisrael who have changed their whole way of life due to the influence of the Rav. How do the young people in France differ from Israelis in respect to returning to the path of Torah and mitzvot? Here, in Eretz Yisrael, there are many ba alei teshuvah. They have special qualities and I sometimes would like to stay here. In Eretz Yisrael, a person who becomes a ba al teshuvah has a much easier time doing so. He has many more opportunities than a French person. That is because in Eretz Yisrael there are so many rabbanim; here you have the kivrei tzaddikim and many holy places to visit. What is there in France? The Champs Elysees? Paris? What do they have there? Even a Jew who lives in Tel Aviv, on Rechov Dizengof, can take a bus to get to Miron and attain incredible spiritual heights. The very air of Yerushalayim makes one wise. One finds holiness here. Yerushalayim is the seat of the Shechinah. There is no other place like it. One who returns to the proper path in Eretz Yisrael is truly fortunate! However, it is important to mention that everything in Eretz Yisrael is very extreme. If a person falls, he will fall to the very depths. Although there is tremendous holiness here, there is always the converse force opposing it. Q: I have seen on many occasions that all With the Gaon Rabbi Mikhal Yeduda Lefkovitz Zatzal 9

11 different types of people come to the Rav: Sephardim, Ashkenazim, Litvish, Chassidic, people far from Judaism, as well as those who are already religious. From France, England, the United States, and even from Mexico and Panama. How does the Rav have connection with all of these people? I have been traveling around the world for many years, to many different places, in order to bring merit to the people there. More recently, communities have been established in many different countries, such as Mexico, Argentina, and others. At the beginning, I was astounded that most of the people who would come to me in New York were Reform Jews! Now they are all Orthodox. The Rav then related an amusing anecdote that occurred on his first trip to the United States: At that time, I did not know what Reform was. I had married only a short while beforehand, and before that I had been learning in yeshiva. I had no idea that there was such a concept as Reform Judasim. When I came to New York, I was invited to attend a certain event, and afterwards people came to me to receive a berachah. A person came up to me and set a plate of food in front of me, saying, Honorable Rav, please eat. He was proud of himself that he was giving me such an honor, but I was amazed at what he set in front of me. Later I found out that the food on the plate was crab. At first I thought that these must be plastic toys. I washed my hands and picked up my fork, sticking it into one of the crabs. But then I realized that it was real. I didn t know what to do with myself! What is this? I asked. It s fresh, the man said, It s from today. It took me a long time to explain to him that we are forbidden to eat crab He didn t even know that there are certain things that a Jew may not eat. Poor man, he was a Reform Jew. (Baruch Hashem that I did not come to sin ) The members of that generation were children of people who had survived the Holocaust. They were brought up as Reform Jews, totally ignorant of the traditions that their parents had kept in Europe. Unfortunately, their parents had been unable to withstand the terrible horrors of the Holocaust and the alluring temptation to become Americanized. They abandoned religion completely. The children came to me to get a berachah and I would write a blessing on a piece of paper for them. Later, they started coming to shiurim, bringing friends with them. Baruch Hashem, these people are now all Orthodox. I Believe Q: In conclusion, I muster my strength and ask the Rav a question concerning the statement, It is the Torah, and we must learn it. When I was at the hilula I circulated among the people and heard from (very) many of them stories concerning wonders and miracles that the Rav effected for them. From where does the Rav have the ability to promise salvations for people and tell them that everything will be good? The Rav is descended from the illustrious Pinto family; from where did all the members of this family gain the ability to direct people in such a way? Every person says I believe. But there are different meanings behind these words. A person may sing I believe with a beautiful tune, which comes straight from his heart. This type of I believe builds the person in his personal Avodat Hashem. Rav Massoud Zohar was my teacher, and influenced me greatly. He had incredible fear of Heaven, and I absorbed this myself. He used to say: David Hamelech said: And for me closeness to Hashem is good. David did not ask Hashem to grant him victory over his enemies, nor to make him wealthy. He asked only to be close to Hashem. And whoever asks, receives! What does it mean to be close to Hashem? Surely Hashem is very far from us, in Heaven. There is far and there is close. There is someone who is close, who in reality is very far away. The great quality of tzaddikim is that they see Hashem, Who is really very far away from us in Heaven, as being 10 With the Rishon Le Tzion Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita

12 With his Master the Gaon Rabbi Zeev Kofman Shlita right here, very close by. How do they do this? They make no distinction between Heaven and earth. To them, Hashem is always close. He is below as well as Above; He is everywhere. My forefathers taught us to realize this point at all times. To feel that Hashem is truly everywhere. It is difficult to explain this in simple terms. Perhaps I have seen too many miracles. I have so clearly seen Hashem s control over the world. How is it possible to say otherwise? This clear perception of Hashem s mastery over everything enables me to devote myself to fulfilling His will. I can t recall how many hours I have slept this week, or in the last three weeks. If my father, zy a, were still alive, he would probably rebuke me, saying, David, don t neglect your health! Nevertheless, I always wonder: Did David Hamelech spend time worrying about his health? Or the Maharsha, who would put his feet in cold water to stay awake in order to learn? What about Rabbi David Chazan, the learning partner of Rabbi Chaim Hagadol, who used to tie his hair to the ceiling in order not to fall asleep?! Did he think of his physical needs? Of course not! When a person does everything in order to fulfill Hashem s will, then those who trust in Hashem, He will give them strength. Even if a person seems to be drowning in tribulations, if he persists in fulfilling the will of Hashem, no wave of misfortune can overcome him. May it be Hashem s will that the merit of my forefathers stand by you. Gems of wisdom and practical guidance gleaned from the Rav during the interview The Building of My Spiritual Character when I Was a Child I acquired from my teachers a direction for life, as well as incredible love of Torah and fear of Heaven. I learned a tremendous amount from my teacher, Rabbi Shammai Zohn, zt l, just by observing his actions. I am now in my sixties, and I still wish that I could turn back the clock and return to the yeshiva just to hear Rav Shammai pray Shacharit in a loud voice, and to hear him say the word, Hamelech, on Rosh Hashanah. His whole body would tremble when he said it. All of his prayers were infused with fear of Heaven. If only I could go back to experience the prostration during the tefillah of Yom Kippur. It was difficult for Rav Shammai to prostrate himself, yet he always did so, completely. One is unable to forget such things; they become a part of you. They helped mitigate my longing for my parents. To Strengthen Oneself in Mussar I had wonderful teachers: Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Lopian, zt l, Rabbi Shammai Zohn, zt l, Rabbi Gershon Leibman, zt l, and Harav Binyamin Kaufman, shlita. They taught me how to learn mussar and they lovingly directed me on the correct path in life. I have merited learning many different paths of mussar. I learned the way of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter from Harav Shach, zt l. But I also very much enjoy the path of Harav Ovadiah Yosef, shlita, with his characteristic sweetness of presentation. I have been built up by all of these teachers. An Inheritance from the Forefathers During the years of my youth I learned from Gedolei HaTorah who were Litvish, and I accepted their way of learning and Avodat Hashem. I learned a tremendous amount from these rabbanim, who were the leading Torah scholars of that generation. The rabbanim of our times are small in comparison. It was only when I matured that I returned to being a Sephardi. When I traveled to Sephardic communities after my marriage, I then returned to the heritage of my forebears in both custom and the nusach of the prayers. The Great Gaon, Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Lopian, zt l I merited learning for three years, until I left yeshiva, from Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Lopian, the son of Rabbi Eliya- 11

13 hu Lopian. I saw from up close the way he conducted himself in Avodat Hashem. I was always amazed that when he would open up a sefer it would always open on the page that he needed! A great rabbi once told me that when people asked him about this, he brushed aside their surprise. Is this a miracle? he would say. What s so amazing? It s nothing! The main thing is to learn Torah. In the Beit Hamidrash he would walk between the bachurim slowly, in order not to disturb their learning. If anyone tried to get up in his honor, he would sharply rebuke them and tell them to sit down and resume their learning. His personal Avodat Hashem in subduing his physical desires was incredible. He never finished the coffee and cake that he was given to eat. I always finished his cake for him. What is Mine and what is Yours, is all Hers At a certain point I considered stopping my work for the community in order to invest my energies into the education of my children. I addressed my question about whether I should do so to Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchic, zy a, from Zurich, to whom I was very close. He told me, Rabbi David, if you do not do this, then no one else will. What about the education of my children? I asked him. You spend your time looking after the children of Hashem. He will look after your children! This is what the Chasam Sofer said. And so, I continued to devote myself to Hashem s children, in the merit of the self-sacrifice of my wife, the Rabbanit, shetichiyeh. One can say about her the words that Rabbi Akiva said about his wife: What is mine, and what is yours, all belongs to her. I travel for long periods at a time, sometimes for a month or two, in order to bring merit to the community, and it is my wife who is responsible for educating our children. It is her merit that enables me to fulfill the words of the Chasam Sofer: Whoever devotes himself to the community, Hashem will look after his children. Without Protektziot When my sons became old enough to go to yeshiva, I asked the Gedolei Hador, Rav Steinman, shlita, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, and Rav Michel Yehudah Lefkowitz, zt l, where to send them. I wanted to come to live in Eretz Yisrael for three years so that they could learn in yeshiva here without any external distractions. Here nobody knows who they are, the rabbanim in the yeshivot do not know them, and they would not be granted any special protekztiot. Baruch Hashem I am happy that I did this, although not all of the rabbanim I asked advised me to do so. Those who advised it said that I could continue to spread Torah in Eretz Yisrael. When I asked what would become of the Jews in France, they replied that when they would see that I had moved to Eretz Yisrael, they would follow me here. Nevertheless, some were concerned about the people left in France. And there were some who told me not to come to Eretz Yisrael, but to stay in France since they felt that my sons would not suffer any bad effects by staying there. When I returned to France, I redoubled my efforts to restore what I had built up so many years beforehand. Baruch Hashem, I received great siyata di Shemaya in doing so. His Sons I brought up my children in an open manner. I would tell them that so-and-so is sick, or so-and-so has this problem (without names, of course). From when they were small children, I taught them about the different problems that people of this generation face. They grew up with this outlook, since I wanted them to be able to withstand the knowledge of such things. Baruch Hashem, I see that I was correct in taking this approach, since many young people come specifically to them to ask their advice (except in matters of tzeniut, which they ask me). 12

14 Moreinu v Rabbeinu, Rabbi David Chananya Pinto, shlita in Argentina You Would Utter a Decree and It Would be Done The couple who appeared before the Rav when he was accepting supplicants were noticeably emotional. The look on their faces testified to their trials and tribulations. Their eyes lacked luster, but a slight shadow of hope hovered over them. They were on their way to receiving a berachah from the tzaddik! Salvation was near, b siyata dishemaya. Honored Rav, they cried out, tearfully, We are married many years, yet have not merited having children. We have undergone so many treatments and visited so many doctors. But we have not met with success. The tzaddik directed his pure gaze at them. His sympathy and complete participation in the pain of his fellow Jews are renowned. For a moment, he was lost in elevated thoughts. Suddenly, he shook himself back to the present, and said, Do not worry. B ezrat Hashem, you will yet merit having children in the near future. I bless you in the merit of my holy ancestors, zy a, that they pray on your behalf. Their prayers will certainly not go unheeded! Their eyes lit up. Their tears of sorrow changed to tears of hope for salvation. They fully believed that the tzaddik s words would bring their deliverance, with Hashem s kindness. A year went by. With Moreinu V Rabbeinu, Rabbi David Chananya Pinto, shlita s next visit to Argentina, the public once more stood outside his door. A large group of people waited, each with his own problem, each with his own predicament. What a zechut it was to gaze at his holy visage and be blessed by his holy words. In the corner of the room sat a man, his heart thumping in anticipation. Every so often, he glanced at the locked door, waiting for his turn, like all the others. His inner joy lit up his face. He was awaiting his chance to speak with the tzaddik, to relate to him the account of his salvation, and thank him for the berachah that Hashem accepted. When he finally entered, his heart skipped a beat. The honored Rav surely remembers me from last year, he spoke with a tear-choked voice. The Rav, shlita, remembered him well. This was the man who had sat here one year ago, together with his wife, crying in pain, waiting for their turn to hold a child in their arms. We merited, b siyata dishemaya. A few weeks ago, my wife gave birth to three beautiful triplets! Hashem s kindness surely has not ended, nor are His mercies exhausted. The Rav, shlita, was also jubilant at this wonderful news. This descendant of pure lineage aroused the merit of his forefathers, zy a, who administer on High, and this couple was redeemed in triplicate. This story is not unique. There are hundreds of wonders and miracles attributed to Moreinu Hatzaddik Rabbi David Chananya Pinto, shlita, during his visits to Argentina. A precious chain of pearls is strung by the gems of the stories which people relate. There are those who recover from fatal illnesses and others who overcome marital strife. There is an entire world of berachot that were fully fulfilled in the merit of his forefathers, zy a. I Will Send My Angel Before You Argentina is known for attracting great Torah scholars who come to strengthen the community. Famous Rabbanim and Kabbalists have arrived there to fortify the Jewish community. Renowed institutions, yeshivot, and kollelim have slowly but surely sprouted in its soil. To this very day, they blossom and bloom. The Jewish community in Buenos Aires, the capital city, as well as others, is thriving and flourishing. 13

15 But at the same time that there is a spiritual surge, there is a painful problem. Assimilation has taken root here, as in many Jewish communities throughout the world. This leads us to the core activity of Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, in Argentina. He is actively involved in kiruv rechokim and maintaining pure Jewish identity, which is exceedingly difficult for those who reside outside of Eretz Yisrael. It is impossible to relate the incidents of mixed marriages that were stopped in the nick of time in the merit of the great wisdom of the Honored Rav, shlita. My greatest pleasure is watching people do teshuvah and come closer to Hashem. The light of Judaism shines upon them once more. This is most moving to see. He is not sparing with his energy. On every visit to Argentina, several times a year, he devotes himself completely to the public. With his visits, he awakens the public with words of inspiration, without allowing himself the luxury of a good night s sleep. He hardly takes food to his mouth. His goal is clear to increase awareness of Hashem in the world, through Torah and pure faith, connected by links of loving-kindness. And the Spirit of Hashem Rested Upon Him A glimpse at the globe will reveal that Argentina is one of the southernmost countries in the world. It is a tremendous country on the South American continent, and many Jews found a safe haven there from the claws of the terrible Inquisition. A majority of these Jews immigrated to Buenos Aires, the capital city, but a sizeable amount took residence in other cities, building up prestigious centers of Jewry. Mr. Raoul Saban and his wife, may they be well, set up home in Mexico, not far from Argentina. They had not yet had the honor of being acquainted with Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita. Approximately twenty years ago, on one of his pilot trips to Mexico, the Rav was hosted by the Gopez family. The Gopez family entreated the Saban couple to beseech a blessing from Moreinu V Rabbinu, shlita, which they agreed to do. When Mr. and Mrs. Saban appeared before the Rav, shlita, he told them, Do not import merchandise from Brazil, and do not purchase a home in Argentina. These were their secret plans. They stood spellbound by the Rav s far-reaching foresight. But their astonishment did not end there. The tzaddik turned to Mr. Saban and told him that he knows his wife is ill, but B ezrat Hashem, she would recover. Mr. Saban himself was not aware of his wife s illness, and he was shaken to the core. But he immediately took comfort in the words of the tzaddik, which would surely bear fruit, and with Hashem s help, his wife would fully recuperate. The next day, Mr. Saban was called urgently to the home of the Gopez family. The Rav, shlita, was still visiting with them, and had called him to come. The trip for Mr. Saban was not an easy one. Torrential rains blocked his vision. But as his trip seemed to shorten significantly as he travelled, he realized that he was being guided by siyata di Shemaya, in the merit of the tzaddik whom he was going to see. The tzaddik greeted him warmly. He handed him a bottle of water and asked him to have his wife redo the tests in another few days. Beforehand, though, she should drink the entire contents of the bottle. Naturally, the couple followed the Rav s instructions to the letter. B chasdei Shamayim, a miracle took place: the tests came back completely clear!! All traces of his wife s illness 14

16 were gone, to the wonder of all her doctors. A great kiddush Hashem resulted from this. From that day onward, this couple undertook a life of Torah and mitzvot. Their lives underwent a transformation, guided by the capable hands of Moreinu Hatzaddik, shlita. But they don t keep the wonderful taste of Torah to themselves. Mr. Saban accompanies the tzaddik throughout Argentina, sending countless people to him for advice and guidance. These people, too, merit, Baruch Hashem, to attain lives completely devoted to Torah and mitzvot. At the next hilula for Rabbeinu Chaim Pinto HaGadol, zy a, held in Morocco (5755), Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, instructed the Saban family to move back to Argentina. Of course, they accepted his words without hesitation and moved back there. When their dear son, Rav Yitzchak, shlita, reached the age of Bar Mitzvah, a celebration was held in Paris, close to the home of the Rav, shlita, for he is part and parcel of their family. How Wondrous are the Ways of Hashem B siyata di Shemaya, the Saban family has merited closeness with the holy tzaddik, an inseparable part of his massive project of bringing zechut to the masses in Argentina. Through them, hundreds have been drawn to the tzaddik, shlita, meriting to enjoy his Torah teachings, based on pure faith in the Creator and His servants, the tzaddikim, zy a. The Saban family has worked tirelessly, in all fields, in order to bring back the lost souls of Argentina. This is the objective of the tzaddik, to which he dedicates his life. Hashem, in His great kindness, has repaid them manifold. A marriage proposal was suggested for their son by Mr. Korson, one of the esteemed members of the community of Buenos Aires. This was how their beloved son, Rabbi Yitzchak, shlita, married the daughter of the Honored Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, meriting the Saban family with a link in the gold chain of the Pinto dynasty. Fifteen Psalms of Shir Hama alot The Rav has seen fifteen years of blessing in Argentina, may Hashem add more. As we try to summarize the changeover that has occurred during this time, specifically among our estranged brethren, we feel an elevation akin to that of the Shir Hama alot composed by David Hamelech. We aspire to ever greater heights in kedushah, which emanate from the consecrated projects of Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, in Argentina. It is most appropriate to mention the names of those who have been instrumental in these undertakings. They were Hashem s agents in paving the path for the arrival of the tzaddik. They are: the Saban family and Dr. Gustavo, together with Mr. Cohen. Mr. Morris Levi should be praised here, for he helped most generously in any way he could, when the tzaddik first came to these shores. One of the spiritual projects of Argentina is Chevrat Pinto. Approximately seven years ago, the tzaddik gathered together some close acquaintances. These were people who had always accompanied him on his travels to Morocco and to the graves of tzaddikim in Eastern Europe. When he stayed in Argentina, they were most involved in his activities there. The Rav, shlita, appointed Mr. Cesar as president, and Mr. Rosenthal as his aid. A group of important community figures was designated, headed by HaRav David Basoul, shlita. 15

17 The purpose of the establishment of Chevrat Pinto in Argentina is to provide service for anything associated with the tzaddik s visit. From the time when the Rav, shlita, arrives, he receives constant escort. An impressive envoy is sent to greet him at the airport upon his arrival in Buenos Aires. This organization is responsible for arranging prayers with a minyan for the tzaddik. They arrange his round-theclock schedule of Torah discourses, and are involved in all of the events and travels in which he partakes. Sweeter than Honey and Nectar Drippings When the Rav, shlita, delivers shiurei Torah in Argentina, the place is packed. His incisive words cause a great kiddush Hashem. With tremendous charm and charisma, he intertwines pure faith in the tzaddikim together with stories of miracles in the merit of the holy Torah. The audience is comprised of a multifaceted mass of people. Torah scholars sit alongside those taking their first tottering steps in Judaism. Prominent business professionals and merchants also number among the participants. Everyone is assembled to hear the enlightening words of Torah, pure as when they were transmitted at Har Sinai. The citizens of Buenos Aires recount the tremendous honor awarded to the tzaddik, shlita, when he comes to the city. All businesses are closed, and all meetings are cancelled. Everything is put on the back burner, for every moment in the tzaddik s presence is a great zechut. Multitudes are gathered in the Beit Hakeneset Saban, long before the arrival of the Rav, shlita. All are excited at the prospect of seeing him, eagerly anticipating his arrival. They wait for the opportunity to receive advice and a blessing in the merit of his holy father, zy a. The place is surrounded in splendor, the stories of miracles linked together to form a chain of simple faith, entwined with bringing merit and deliverance to the public, above the laws of nature. Whenever Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, accepts petitions in the Beit Hakeneset Saban, hundreds of people inundate the place. These are the luckless people who are down-and-out, without a penny to their name. It is there, before the splendor of his countenance, that they get some emotional and financial support, besides for a berachah from his pure mouth. The following is one story among many, which we merited hearing from him. During his visit to Argentina in 5771, while he was receiving audiences in the Beit Hakeneset Saban, the Rabbanit, wife of the community Rabbi, suddenly burst in, crying that her husband and son had been in an awful car accident, rachmana litzlan. This occurred during the week of parashat Bamidbar. B chasdei Shamayim, they emerged unscathed, save for some minor scratches. In order to demonstrate how great the miracle actually was, she showed us pictures of the car, which was completely destroyed. It was hard to believe that people left this vehicle alive. Then she pulled out of her wallet a note I had written to them seven years previously. It contained words of blessing and success. On the back of the paper, I had written the word Bamidbar, and underlined it twice. This note had been written during the week of Acharei Mot. The truth is, I myself don t know why I wrote the word Bamidbar on the back. But obviously, it was Heavenly ordained that I do so. It was an allusion to the future, another seven years from then. During the week of parashat Bamidbar of that year, they would undergo a difficult car crash, yet escape with but a few scratches. The lines I made under the word hint to these scratches. And the two lines hinted to the two people who were saved, the father and the son. The Rabbanit added an interesting point to the story. All these years, the note I had written was missing. Immediately after the accident, it suddenly turned up. The accident happened near the Beit Hakeneset 16

18 Saban, the place where the note was written. How mysterious are the ways of Hashem! The miracle of their rescue was surely in the merit of her husband and son s Torah study. How great is the zechut of Torah! It rescues a person from dire situations, and nullifies harsh decrees. His Righteousness Endures Forever When Moreinu HaTzaddik, shlita, arrives in Argentina, he is completely devoted to the needs of the community. Various institutions in Argentina in general, and in Buenos Aires in particular, owe him a huge debt of gratitude. The community Ahavat Achim inaugurated a Beit Hamidrash for Torah and receiving a teacher s certification. In this community, located in the city Lanus, a beautiful mikveh was erected, named Mayim Chayim (living waters), after Rabbeinu Hakadosh, the miracle-worker, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy a. The mikveh was built with the funds collected by Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, whose sole purpose is to spread purity in Yisrael. The Kehillat Yeshurun community was established, Baruch Hashem, with the founding of the girls elementary school, as well as a seminary where the girls receive pure Jewish education. The land upon which the school is founded was obtained through the efforts of the Honored Rav, shlita, who worked indefatigably, contacting donors and benefactors. The sum needed was astronomical, and without the immense efforts of Moreinu Harav, shlita, b siyata dishemaya, the property would never have been affordable. There is also a Chabad center in the community, headed by HaRav David Stohler, which operates continually, bringing people back to teshuvah. It, too, is supported by him. A school for children of ba alei teshuvah was also instituted here. The Rav opens his heart to the barren, as well. A support group called Ohel Yaakov has been established for the childless, with his help and encouragement. Here they find halachic solutions to their difficulties. Many have been helped by this organization. The only Jewish institution in the vicinity of Buenos Aires which deals with special-needs children is called Hamakom Sheli. This institute, as well, is supported by the compassionate heart of the Rav. The old-age home, Beit Zion Duer, and the old-age home, L dor Vador, are also supported by him. When functions are arranged to raise funds, Moreinu HaRav, shlita, is at the forefront. His generosity knows no limits. With passion for Torah beating within him, he delivers words of chizuk to the throngs who swarm to hear him. He himself is one of the first to donate, openhandedly, to the charity at hand. His all-out help and superhuman support, coupled with events and meetings to raise funds for the local institutions, are amazing, especially in light of the fact that the Rav, shlita, presides over many yeshivot and kollelim in Eretz Yisrael, which need constant upkeep. When he is in Argentina, the community s needs take precedence over all else. Ready My Steps in Your Word Not only is the Jewish community of Buenos Aires fortunate to have Rabbeinu HaTzaddik, shlita, share his wisdom with them. His pure self-sacrifice includes travelling to far-flung districts in Argentina, to bring the light of Torah there, as well. He wants to give them, too, the opportunity to sate themselves by the pure wellsprings of Torah. His visit to Rosario will not be forgotten. This city is located four hundred kilometers from Buenos Aires. Mr. Rosenthal, vice president of the Chevrat Pinto foundation in Argentina, lives in this city. He is the one who arranged this unique visit. 17

19 Hundreds gathered in the local Beit Hakeneset to hear his words of Torah. They drank in his pure words thirstily. Afterward, he accepted public petitions, until the small hours of the night. Everyone felt as though he was spilling out his heart before his father. With love and patience, Rabbeinu advised and guided the perplexed and downcast. His sincere blessings bear fruit in the merit of his holy fathers, zy a. The power of bringing zechut to the public is successful, B chasdei Hashem, in effecting salvation and deliverance. Mr. Rosenthal testifies to many miracles which he himself witnessed. The following is connected to him personally: I had the zechut to participate in Moreinu V Rabbeinu s traditional journey to the gravesites of the tzaddikim in the Ukraine. Afterward, we travelled to the grave of Rabbeinu Chaim Pinto, zy a, in Morocco. While we were travelling, I turned to the Rav with a personal request. Baruch Hashem, I merited returning in teshuvah. Since then, my entire life is filled with joy. I wondered if it was possible for him to pray for a family member, that she, too, together with her husband, merit returning in teshuvah, tasting of the sweetness of Torah. Moreinu HaRav, shlita, replied, May Hashem be at my side to give me the correct words to persuade them to return. His words were somewhat puzzling. I didn t think the Rav, shlita, had plans of accepting public petitions in our hometown. But I didn t ask any questions. The Rav knows what he is saying. Indeed, after some time, we merited a visit of Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, in Rosario, where he accepted the public. Although the place was packed with petitioners, I tried my best to arrange an audience for my relative and her husband. As they sat across from the sacred image of the Rav, shlita, he turned to them and asked, What did you come for? They replied, Mr. Rosenthal insisted we come. We don t know what this is all about. The Rav continued, Is everything okay in your daily lives? They answered in the affirmative. Suddenly, the Rav, shlita, mentioned the name of a woman who had arrived earlier to receive a berachah for recovery from her illness, rachmana litzlan. She had a hard-to-pronounce Spanish name, yet the Rav stated it nonetheless. The couple was most surprised. It must have been Heavenly ordained. What was the Rav s intention in mentioning this name? Once again, he said the name. His sole intention was to discover whether or not they knew this woman. But they became frightened, and even began crying. Now it was the Rav s turn to be astonished. Why does this name evoke inexplicable fear? They explained, This woman gives us untold anguish. For years, we suffer from her unbearably. How did the Rav know her exact name? This woman used to work for us, they continued, she stopped working for us close to ten years ago. But we suffer from her until this very day. Additionally, we suspect that she utilizes the forces of evil to harm us. Her family is known for its wickedness. Their fear was very real. How wonderful are the ways of Hashem! This specific name, which the 18

20 Rav mentioned enigmatically, helped this couple find their way to Torah and mitzvot. You should know, he continued in his soft-spoken manner, if you accept upon yourselves mitzvah observance, I promise you that in the merit of my ancestors, this woman will not bother you any more. B ezrat Hashem, the spirit of evil will not harm you in any way. A few days later, I approached the Rav, shlita, very excitedly, for this couple was in the process of doing complete teshuvah. We were both understandably very happy. We clearly saw how one who comes to purify himself is helped from Above. Afterward, the Rav asked me to bring him the list of that day s supplicants. The very first name that appeared was a long Spanish name, very similar to the name of the woman who had tormented the couple. This is just one story among many, which inspire those who hear it. At the end of the emotional visit, the community members took their leave of Moreinu V Rabbeinu, amid copious tears. They had one request: To merit seeing him more frequently in his visits which encourage and spur the people to greater and greater levels of spirituality. At 5:00 a.m. the next morning, the Rav, shlita, returned to Buenos Aires. He immediately went to the central Beit Hakeneset for tefillat Shacharit. Then he continued his non-stop holy work. This was his schedule of shiruim in Torah and receiving people with petitions. The city Cordova merited a very moving, special visit from the Rav. In order to appreciate the effort needed to make such a trip, bear in mind that Cordova is over eight hundred kilometers away from Buenos Aires. The Rav s day begins before dawn. Before even landing in Cordova, he delivered a shiur to the students in Eretz Yisrael via telephone. After tefillat Shacharit, he gave an additional shiur to the avrechim of the kollel. Throughout the entire flight to Cordova, the Rav, shlita inspired his escorts with words of Torah and emunah. With his arrival, the throngs swarmed to his door. Each one came with his request and desire to receive a blessing. Their eyes filled with tears at the sight of his holy visage and the sound of his pearls of wisdom. His words are like those said with ruach hakodesh and his insights can awaken the emotions of everyone, wherever they are. 19

21 As afternoon approached, Moreinu HaRav, shlita, delivered a shiur before hundreds who thirsted to hear the word of Hashem. Without taking a break, he continued to receive public audiences. Hundreds flocked to his door. With pleasantness and patience, he heard them all out, and provided encouragement for all. Toward the end of his visit, he delivered his keynote address before an impressive and varied audience. All were enthralled by his words, words that emanated from a pure heart and entered theirs. He even managed to find time to visit the sick and encourage them with his blessings. Then he immediately returned to Buenos Aires, to continue his holy work there for the sake of Am Yisrael. The anticipation of his future visit was tangible. A spiritual light was kindled in the hearts of his flock, as they accompanied him back to the airport. Here is the place to mention a wonderful miracle connected to his visit to Cordova. His visit had been preplanned in every detail, long beforehand, with utmost precision. The wife of one of the influential community members had devoted herself to the success of his trip. In spite of serious illness and great weakness, she worked tirelessly for the sake of the goal of his trip to raise the banner of Torah and kiruv rechokim. The Rav, shlita, was most impressed by the dedication of this righteous woman. He wished, therefore, to bless her before the entire assembly. The blessing of Moreinu, shlita, in the zechut of his holy ancestors, was accompanied by a thunderous Amen, echoing throughout. This powerful blessing flung open the gates of Heaven for the sake of this woman, in whose heart beat the love of Torah and chessed. That very month, she completely recovered from her illness and returned to her former self. The Splendor of Torah in a Splendid Vessel The scope of the wide range of activities of the Rav in Argentina resulted in the founding of the institution Chevrat Pinto. Two years ago, a building was bought in a central location in Buenos Aires. It is undergoing renovations, with the purpose of establishing there the central Argentinean Beit Hamidrash of Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita. B ezrat Hashem, a kollel for avrechim from the new neighborhoods will also open there, as well as a yeshiva for ba alei teshuvah who live further away. Those who devote set times for Torah study will find an organized schedule of steady Torah sessions, comprising Gemara, mussar, and halachah, mingled with words of chizuk. The establishment of this significant spiritual center is another of the blessed activities of the Rav, shlita. Every two weeks, he delivers a shiur via telephone. His many disciples, sheep of his flock, herd together to hear his words, enjoying each one individually. With the completion of the building, each one will find his niche in a spacious center, devoted to their continued elevation. An eminent empire has been established by the craftsman of Torah, crowned with loving-kindness and paved with ahavat Yisrael. This is the empire of the Honored Rabbeinu David Chananya Pinto, shlita, scion of holiness. The threads of purity and sanctity in Argentina are deftly woven with tremendous effort and exertion, into a beautiful tapestry of Avodat Hashem. May Hashem grant him strength to continue in his sacred mission, Amen. 20

22 Hashem Desires Tefillah from the Depths of the Heart Let Me hear your supplicating voice, for your voice is sweet (Shir Hashirim 2:14) Hashem has great joy on the festival of Pesach, when He observes Yisrael, His beloved children, fulfill His mitzvot. The Zohar writes (Ra aya Meheimana parashat Bo 40b) the following: On that sanctified night, the Seder eve, Hashem instructs His angels, Descend and see My children, how they concern themselves with My honor and praise My Name. The angels descend and join Beit Yisrael, listening to their song and praise, through tremendous joy and happiness. Then they return on High and sing the praises of Am Yisrael. All of the Heavenly entourage become invigorated. The Zohar asks an obvious question. Hashem knows everything. He knows that his sons are praising Him. Why, then, does He send down His angels, as if, so to speak, to check it out? By relating what they saw down below, Hashem s honor as well as His joy, is increased in the Upper Worlds. I would like to add to these words. When the angels observe the pure joy, as well as the kedushah in the Jewish homes, along with the song and praise offered to the Creator for His numerous kindnesses, they soak it up and are swept along. When they return to Hashem, this joy is evident, and they are able to spread it in the Upper Worlds. By these means, Hashem s glory is magnified. Many miracles were performed for our fathers at the Yam Suf. I saw the following question of the gaon, Rabbeinu Avraham Yaffen, zt l, quoted in the sefer Arzei Halevanon. On the pasuk (Shir Hashirim 2:14) Let Me hear your supplicating voice, for your voice is sweet, the Midrash gives the following allegory: A king had an only daughter, and he wished to hear her voice. What did he do? He went out walking with her every day. One day, he instructed his men to attack her, as though they were highwaymen. She began screaming hysterically for her father, Father, Father, save me! she wept. He told her, Had I not plotted this scheme, I would never have heard your voice! When Bnei Yisrael were in Egypt, they were bitterly enslaved. They turned their eyes heavenward, and cried out to Hashem, as the pasuk states, The Children of Israel groaned because of the work and they cried out. Immediately after, we find that G-d heard their moaning. Hashem heard their tefillot and released them with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. But then, when He desired to hear their voices again, they were silent. What did He do? He hardened Pharaoh s heart, having him chase after them. When they saw him coming, they turned once again to Hashem, crying out to Him as they had done in Egypt. When Hashem heard their outcry, He said, Had I not sent Pharaoh after you, I would not have heard your voice. Regarding this scenario, Shlomo Hamelech declares, O My dove, trapped in the clefts of the rock let Me hear your supplicating voice. The pasuk doesn t say the voice, but your voice. This refers to the voice He already heard in Egypt. When they cried out at the Sea, Hashem immediately came to their rescue, as the pasuk says, On that day, Hashem saved Israel (Shir Hashirim Rabbah 2:35). Rabbi Avraham Yaffen, zt l, asks how we can even compare the two situations. Their outcry in Egypt came as a result of the bitter exile, when they were in an environment of avodah zarah, bereft of mitzvot, and sunk in the forty-ninth level of tumah. But after that, things began to change. Bnei Yisrael witnessed Hashem s revelation during the ten plagues. They merited performing the mitzvah of korban Pesach with self-sacrifice, as well as the mitzvah of brit milah. Hashem redeemed them with a mighty hand. Hashem provided them with protection, as the pasuk says (Shemot 13:21), Hashem went before them by day. How is it possible to demand only the type of voice He had heard in Egypt; why didn t He expect a greater show of loyalty? The Rav provides an explanation. I would like to offer another point, b siyata di Shemaya. The miracles in Egypt, as well as the ten plagues which Hashem brought upon the Egyptians, were meant to teach Am Yisrael a lesson for all generations. Hashem could have annihilated all of Egypt in one fell swoop. What was the point of ten different plagues? When the Egyptians were punished with the plagues, Hashem wanted Bnei Yisrael to make a personal accounting, coming to the realization that they, too, deserved those plagues. After all, how were they different from the Egyptians? These worshipped idols, and those worshipped idols. But Hashem, in His infinite mercy, distinguished between Bnei Yisrael and the nations, rescuing them in the merit of the Torah that they would soon accept. The retribution reaped by the Egyptians was given in order to teach Bnei Yisrael that Hashem is King over all. If a 21

23 person is in need of salvation, he must realize that there is none other than Hashem who can save him. He can strike whomever He wishes, and He can heal whom He sees fit. When I accept people for private audiences, I hear how difficult is the lot of our Jewish brethren. Appalling accounts are related to me, rachmana litzlan. Our brothers live in dire suffering and tribulation, Hashem yirachem. Together with my berachot in the zechut of my forefathers, zy a, passes the following thought: When a person hears of a tragedy, he should envision himself in that situation. This thought will evoke feelings of teshuvah, as the realization dawns that there is none to call out to for help, except Hakadosh Baruch Hu, Who takes life and gives it. When a person turns to Hashem with this type of pure thought, his tefillah comes from the depths of his heart, cleansing it completely. He knows, with clarity, that only Hashem can extricate him from his hardships. This is what transpired when Bnei Yisrael were in Egypt. The pasuk states (Shemot 2:23), The Children of Israel groaned because of the work and they cried out. Their outcry because of the work went up to G-d. Their cries and groans emanated from their pure hearts. They prayed from the depths of their hearts, with full knowledge that only Hashem could rescue them. Therefore, their prayers went up to Hashem and they merited redemption. There are different types of tefillah. Sometimes, one prays to Hashem, addressing his supplications to Him. It seems, superficially, that he places all his trust in Hashem. But this is not the whole truth. Deep in the recesses of his heart, he is not completely trusting. At the same time that he is praying, he is figuring out how to increase his endeavors, in order to attain what he desires. This is not tefillah emanating from the heart. In contrast, there is one who feels, with every fiber of his being, that there is none other than Hashem Himself. His salvation, he knows, will come only from Him. When he prays, it is evident that he is praying from the depths of his heart. This man will certainly earn Hashem s yeshuah, for salvation is in measure with the faith a person displays. This, then, is the meaning of the Midrash in stating that Hashem wanted to hear the same voice He had heard in Egypt. This was pure, innocent prayer. This was prayer of people who knew there was no other source of salvation. Hashem told Bnei Yisrael that although it is true that they praised Him after their liberation, He desires the type of prayer they prayed while yet in bondage. In order to hear this sweet prayer, Hashem sent Pharaoh after them at the Sea. This brought them to the same situation they experienced while yet in Egypt. And this brought them to cry out as they did then. This was a pure prayer, clear of any blemish of dependence on any other force. It was a cry full of faith in Hashem alone. When they faced the Sea, with the Egyptians in hot pursuit, they had no other recourse but to supplicate to Hashem from the depths of their heart. When each of us contemplates his life, he will recall difficulties he faced. He came, at those times, to the realization that Hashem is his only hope. This evoked heartfelt prayer, from the innermost regions of the heart. I remember that when our daughter was all of one-and-a-half years old, she underwent surgery. She was then discharged, and we returned home. But the next day, we discovered that her face had changed drastically. We were overcome with fear. We rushed her back to the hospital, where even the doctors were frightened by what they saw. They immediately summoned the surgeon. He hurried to the hospital and took my daughter back into the operating room. Due to the urgency, there wasn t time to take care of pre-operational procedures and sign the necessary forms. As we waited anxiously in the waiting room, and observed just how critical her condition was, we understood that we could not rely on anyone, not even the biggest specialist. We could place our trust only in our Father in Heaven. With hearts full of faith, we prayed with tears for her salvation. Moreover, we took upon ourselves resolutions for spiritual improvement. We were ready to do whatever it took to grant our daughter a full recovery. In those moments, my heart was filled with something indescribable. I felt, for the first time, the meaning of sincere prayer, and complete teshuvah. In spite of the many Yom Kippur holidays that I had experienced in my lifetime, I cannot remember such uplifting prayers, and cleansing repentance. This is the type of supplication Hashem desires. Unfortunately, we are ensnared in the web of habit. Due to Hashem s constant kindnesses with us, we take it all for granted. Our prayers, unfortunately, are mere lip service. A person must awaken his heart and inject warmth and feeling into his prayer. This will ensure that his prayers come from deep within. We reach this realization through the simple belief that we have no one to turn to besides for Hashem Yitbarach. Only He can redeem us and fulfill our wishes. I thought that this may be the reason for establishing the seventh day of Pesach as a Yom Tov. The first day of Pesach would seem sufficient for celebration, for this is the day we were redeemed from Egypt. The purpose of the seventh day, though, symbolizes tefillah from the depths of the heart, the clear consciousness of Hashem s existence. Every year, as we celebrate Shvii shel Pesach, this aware- 22

24 ness is sharpened in our minds, and guides us through our prayers. We recall how Bnei Yisrael stood at the Sea, and merited open miracles due to their pure prayers. Tefillah demands the following requirement. A person is enjoined to include all of Klal Yisrael in his requests. He should pray, as well, on behalf of his friend who is also in need of deliverance. This prayer proves that he is concerned with Am Yisrael in general, apart from his own personal concerns. He begs for his fellow Jew s salvation, יכ as he begs for his own. This is a meaning in the words (sweet) ברע (for your voice is sweet). The word ברע ךלוק can also mean guarantor. All of Yisrael are accountable for each other. When they stood at the Sea, each prayed on behalf of his fellow man, and for Klal Yisrael in general, not for himself alone. This brought Hashem to proclaim, Let Me hear your supplicating voice. Hashem was pleased with this prayer, for it contained an element of responsibility for each other. Indeed, their rescue was not long in coming. All of the elements of Pesach involve achdut among all of the elements of the nation. The mitzvah of korban Pesach had to be fulfilled in a group setting. Furthermore, the command (Shemot 12:22), No man shall leave the entrance of his house until morning was in order that they be spared the hand of the destroying angel. It would seem that tzaddikim, such as Moshe, Aharon, and Yehoshua would have been able to withstand the forces of destruction. Still, they were included in this command. The nation was required, as one, to remain indoors on that night. This strengthened their achdut. And it was this achdut that was evident when they accepted the Torah, as the pasuk states (Shemot 19:2), Israel encamped there, opposite the mountain. The Midrash explains the singular form of the word encamped to mean that they were as one man with one heart. My son, Rabbi Moshe Aharon, showed me the following Midrash: When Mashiach will arrive, the nations will suffer greatly, just as the Egyptians during the plagues. A tremendous darkness will descend upon them. But, in contrast to the darkness in Egypt, which lasted for only six days, this plague will continue for fifteen days. Hashem will be busy eliminating the resha im of our nation then. This is puzzling. Hashem can do anything. On Rosh Hashanah, He judges each person individually. He certainly can take retribution on the wicked ones without the need of fifteen days of darkness. If we venture to say that these days will be akin to the plague of darkness in Egypt, the comparison falls short. In Egypt, the objective was for the Jews to check out where the Egyptians kept their valuables, in order to obtain them on their way out. But in the future, Hashem will grant His righteous ones free treasures, irrelevant of the nations riches. What, then, will be the purpose of the fifteen days of darkness? I would like to offer the following interpretation. On the pasuk (Bereishit 2:4), These are the products of the heaven and the earth when they were created, Chazal state, הב created): (when they were םארבהב regarding the word Ye- He created them), as the Navi ה (with the letter םארב shayahu states, For in G-d, Hashem, is the strength of the worlds. The Gemara states (Menachot 29b), With these two letters of His Name, ה-י (G-d), He created both worlds. This world was created with the letter ה, whereas. י the Next World was created with the letter Regrettably, through our misdeeds, we have spoiled the Holy Names, distancing the letters י and ה from each other. Our job is to rectify this by connecting these letters, specifically during the last plague of darkness, the plague that will last for fifteen days. The letters ה-י are numerically equivalent to fifteen. With the coming of Mashiach, Hashem will provide a final fifteen-day period for the resha im to do teshuvah. If they utilize these days optimally, they will be the fortunate ones who saved their souls and corrected the damage to the Holy Names. But if they stubbornly remain with their iniquities, the Names will remain divided, and they will be put to death. How important is the unity among the letters of Hashem s Name, as well as unity among His people. Pesach falls on the fifteenth of Nisan. This teaches us that in order to bring the geulah, one must restore the letters י and ה to their rightful places. This can be done only by means of teshuvah. Sukkot, too, falls on the fifteenth of the month (in Tishrei). On Sukkot, we are given the opportunity to rectify the fallen sukkah of David (i.e., the destruction of his kingdom and the Beit Hamikdash), by means of sitting in the sukkah, in the shadow of faith. After becoming purified of all sin on Yom Kippur, it is most auspicious to reconnect the letters of Hashem s Name. Since these festivals symbolize Hashem s Name in unity, it is appropriate that they fall on the fifteenth day of their respective months. May it be Hashem s will that on this exalted festival, we merit rectifying our deeds, and unifying His Name. May He allow us to increase achdut and peace among our fellow Jews, and to remember that He desires heartfelt prayer. There is no doubt that if we pour forth pure prayer, and ask for the ultimate salvation, He will surely heed our tefillot, and hasten the geulah, Amen. 23

25 Churban Habayit How to feel the Pain of the Absence of the Shechinah As I read these words in the Yalkut Shimoni, I began trembling. These words are being actualized in our day! Not only do the gentiles threaten to annihilate Yisrael, but there is an ongoing battle between the Christians and Muslims. Those in the Persian government, better known today as Iran, stand at the helm of the Muslim world. They have no compunctions to publicly announce their agenda of destroying Yisrael Bein Hametzarim The Virtue of Unity The Rambam writes that when difficult times face our people, everyone should make a personal accounting in order to understand why this came about. When Bnei Yisrael examine their deeds, seeking the source of their troubles, and ultimately do teshuvah, they merit salvation from their suffering. The entire purpose of hardships is to awaken Bnei Yisrael to do complete teshuvah. Once the hardships have accomplished this goal, Hashem removes them. The Yalkut Shimoni on Sefer Yeshayahu quotes Rabbi Yitzchak: Before Melech Hamashiach will reveal himself, all of the nations will compete. The Persian king will do battle with the Arab countries. The Arab ruler will seek the advice of the Roman emperor, but this advice will not be effective. Then the Persian king will come and destroy the entire world. All of the nations will become frightened and feel as though in the throes of childbirth. Am Yisrael will be in the thick of it and will have no recourse for salvation. Mashiach will then reassure them that they have nothing to fear, for the time of their redemption has arrived. But it will be different from the previous redemption, which was with pain. He will assure them that after the final redemption, they will never be enslaved to the nations again. It is well-known that the present exile, after the second Beit Hamikdash, is the harshest exile of all. After the first Beit Hamikdash was destroyed, Am Yisrael was made aware of the cause of the churban. They examined their deeds, and did teshuvah for the three cardinal sins idolatry, murder, and immorality. When they were sent off into exile, the Navi reassured them that it was a relatively short galut, only seventy years. After that, they would build a new Beit Hamikdash, and Hashem would again rest His Shechinah upon His people. In contrast, after the churban of the second Beit Hamikdash, Am Yisrael approached the Chachamim and asked them why Hashem saw fit to destroy the Temple. But no one was able to provide the answer. Since they didn t know their sin, they couldn t correct it. They were ignorant of the sin that caused the churban because it was the sin of baseless hatred. When something is baseless, it is hidden. No one displayed open animosity toward his fellow man. Since Am Yisrael did not recognize their sin, in measurefor-measure, the end of the galut is also concealed from them. It is stretching on endlessly, nearly two thousand years, and we have no idea when Hashem will end it. As I read these words in the Yalkut Shimoni, I began trembling. These words are being actualized in our day! Not only do the gentiles threaten to annihilate Yisrael, but there is an ongoing battle between the Christians and Muslims. Those in the Persian government, better known today as Iran, stand at the helm of the Muslim world. They have no compunctions to publicly announce their agenda of destroying Yisrael. This hatred blazes so strongly, that they are prepared to fight alongside the Western world, termed by the Midrash as Rome. This is all for the sake of the war effort, the war to delete Yisrael from the map, rachmana litzlan. When we perceive how the words of our Chachamim are coming true, we should shiver in the 24

26 knowledge that the end is near. We don t know the exact date of the redemption, when Hashem will gather His people from all corners of the earth, where they are suffering. It is our duty to awaken ourselves to do teshuvah, and seek out ways to strengthen our Avodat Hashem, as the Rambam states above: When Bnei Yisrael have troubles, they must make a personal accounting, and do complete teshuvah. We should not be in the state we were in immediately after the churban of the second Beit Hamikdash, unaware of our sin and therefore incapable of repenting. During the second Beit Hamikdash, Bnei Yisrael seemed fine. They were not guilty of the three cardinal sins and they were involved in Torah study. They were therefore perplexed regarding the reason for the churban. Even after the emperor Titus and his men surrounded Yerushalayim, Am Yisrael did not think anything was amiss, and was not aroused to do teshuvah. How could it be that they didn t seek to improve their ways after Hashem was showing them the first stages of the churban? The answer is that they were ignorant of their sin, and therefore did not feel remorse. But, regrettably, what the nation did not comprehend, the Roman emperor, Titus, realized. With attention to detail, he saw how Bnei Yisrael stumbled in the area of baseless hatred. On the one hand, they would display respect toward their fellow Jews, speaking politely to each other. On the other hand, they didn t hesitate to turn their backs on their fellows, and speak disparagingly about them. Titus defiled and destroyed the Beit Hamikdash. Chazal relate that he had relations with a gentile woman in the Kodesh Hakodashim, on the parchment of a Sefer Torah. Then he chose for himself the Menorah. Why specifically the Menorah, of all the vessels of the Mikdash? The Menorah alone was made of one piece of metal. The other utensils were fashioned of pieces of materials that were melded together, some from different substances. Hashem had originally commanded Moshe to form the Menorah of one piece of pure gold in order to teach Bnei Yisrael to be unified as one piece, like the Menorah, symbol of unity. Since Titus understood why Bnei Yisrael deserved the destruction, he took for himself that which exemplified unity. From Heaven, Titus was given the message that he didn t triumph through his own powers, but only because Am Yisrael spoiled their unity by their baseless hatred. They were decreed to go into exile, symbol of dispersion. On the Arch of Titus in Rome, there is an embossment of a Menorah in stone. Although the Romans helped themselves to many vessels of the Mikdash, it was specifically the Menorah that they wanted to eternalize in stone, symbolizing the deficiency in Am Yisrael s middah of achdut. When peace and harmony reign among Am Yisrael, Hashem rests His Shechinah among them and grants them siyata di Shemaya. We find that Achav s armies, comprised of resha im, always returned intact from battle, whereas Shaul s men, although erudite Torah scholars and tzaddikim, fell before their enemies in battle. What was the reason for this? Chazal tell us that the secret of the success of Achav s men was their internal unity. Hashem s motif is peace, and He therefore granted Achav s men protection. But Shaul s soldiers, in contrast, stumbled in the sin of lashon hara, which sowed the seed of dissention among them. They were punished severely for this by many of their men dying in battle. See how great is the attribute of unity and how despised is the trait of dissention! Am Yisrael merited receiving the Torah on account of their achdut, as the pasuk says, And Yisrael encamped there opposite the mountain. The word encamped is written in the singular form to allude to their unity. This is what granted them the zechut to be redeemed and hear the Torah from Hashem Himself. We must face the truth. If the Beit Hamikdash is not yet rebuilt, it must be because Am Yisrael has not yet corrected the sin of disunity. How can we become unified? By means of Torah study, which teaches a person how to nullify his negative qualities and strengthen his good qualities. When Bnei Yisrael will put personal interests aside, and recognize the Torah s commandment to love one s fellow man as himself, they will merit the arrival of Mashiach, the true redeemer. The Torah states (Bamidbar 24:18-19), Edom (אדום) shall be a conquest and Seir shall be the conquest of his enemies and Yisrael will attain success. One from Yaakov shall rule and destroy the remnant of the city. Chazal tell us this is referring to Mashiach, who will do battle with the forces of Edom (Rome) and bring an end to our suffering. I thought of explaining the pasuk 25

27 to refer to each םדא (individual) of the nation of Yaakov. It is in his power to eradicate the Roman Empire by means וירד מיעקב of his Torah study. The words of the pasuk are (one from Yaakov shall rule). The letter, מ numerically equivalent to forty, alludes to the forty days and nights that Moshe spent in Heaven, receiving the Torah. When Yaakov s progeny subject themselves to the Torah and are submissive to each other, as all of us come from sanctified roots, they will merit overpowering the Roman Empire, and the entire world will be rectified and bring glory to Hashem s kingdom. Churban Habayit How to feel the Pain of the Absence of the Shechinah I remember the days of my youth in Morocco. On Tishah b Av, the women would rend their garments from sorrow, amid much weeping. I would sit by my father, zy a, on the floor of the Beit Hakeneset. How could I not cry, watching him shedding copious tears, his cries reaching the very heavens? Whoever saw us on Tishah b Av certainly thought we had lost a close relative, so great was our anguish. I am sure that just as we wept and mourned the churban in Morocco, so was it in all Jewish communities throughout the world. Why, today, a mere fifty or sixty years later, is it so difficult for us to grieve and lament the churban? Why are our tears only for outward appearances? It is well-known that Hashem destroyed the Beit Hamikdash on account of Bnei Yisrael s sins, for they had turned their backs on Him and His Torah. It seems that by destroying the Beit Hamikdash, Hashem was essentially punishing Himself, so to speak. The Beit Hamikdash was His home, the place where His Shechinah was concentrated. Why did He do this? We can compare this to the following case. The subjects of a king angered him constantly. When the king s anger reached the boiling point, he decided to demolish his palace and leave his people. The king seemingly punished himself, when he should have punished his people, by destroying their homes or whipping them. Why would he see fit to destroy his own home? When the Beit Hamikdash stood, it was the pride and glory of our nation, in the merit of which Am Yisrael received honor and respect from the gentile world. The lives of Bnei Yisrael revolved around the service in the Beit Hamikdash, such as the korbanot. It became an intrinsic part of our nation. Some people value their money as much as themselves, and some even more than themselves. There are those who would give up their lives rather than live without money. This is why money is called at- which literally means blood. They are so closely,םימד tached to their money, it is their lifeblood. L havdil, the Beit Hamikdash was so beloved by the nation, that they felt it was an innate part of themselves. When Hashem destroyed it, He was destroying a part of them. Since Hashem is a loving Father Who has mercy on His children, He preferred to cast His anger on wood and stones rather than hurt His people. This is the reason why Hashem refused to accept Moshe s entreaty to enter Eretz Yisrael. Hashem knew that if Moshe were to enter, he would immediately set out to build the Beit Hamikdash. He would build it to such perfection, that it would never be able to be destroyed. But the time would come, regrettably, when Bnei Yisrael would anger their Maker. He would have no recourse but to vent His anger on the people themselves. This is why He prevented Moshe from entering the Land. I would like to suggest the following reason why we don t feel the pain of the churban as our fathers did one or two generations ago. In previous generations, people lived lives of truth and simplicity. Because they were not overly involved in materialistic pleasures, they were sensitive to the anguish of the Shechinah. In contrast, we are living in a different day and age. The days of Bein Hazemanim come immediately after Tishah b Av. Therefore, instead of focusing on the sorrow of the day and bewailing the absence of the Shechinah, many of us are involved in preparations for the upcoming vacation. We are simply unable to mourn the churban as we should. The more we surround ourselves with materialism and physical pleasures, the coarser and more devoid of sensitivity our hearts become. We are constantly seeking diversions and amusements. These distract us from spirituality and closeness with Hashem. When we lived in Essaouira, Morocco, life was simple. Everyone had just what he needed to exist, and sometimes not even that. It is well-known that a person is comprised of two opposing elements. The physical body pulls him downward, whereas the spiritual neshamah pulls him upward. There is an ongoing battle 26

28 between these two forces. The more the body fills its lusts, the weaker the influence of the neshamah. And in contrast, the less materialism one provides his body, the stronger the neshamah becomes, pulling the person to higher and higher spheres. Based on this, the way to truly feel the pain of the churban and lament the absence of the Shechinah, like our fathers of old, we must minimize our physical passions, which dull our spiritual senses and distance us from our pure source. Certainly, during the days of mourning the churban, one must be strict to separate himself from all thoughts of vacation and Bein Hazemanim. As much as possible, one should focus on the sorrow of the churban. This concentration, coupled with the removal of all contradictory thoughts, will grant us the ability to bewail the churban with true tears. A man once asked me what is the point of crying over the churban. Can the tears help in any way? I answered that when we cry and feel pain over the churban, we show Hashem that we lack His existence within us. When Hashem observes how we feel incomplete, begging Him to return to us, He will hurry to bring back His Shechinah. When we witness a newborn crying from hunger, our compassion is aroused, for we understand that he is completely dependent on us. If we do not meet his needs, they will go unmet, for he cannot fend for himself. Hakadosh Baruch Hu is our merciful Father and we are His helpless children, resting in His arms. When Hashem hears our genuine cries, asking for His closeness, He will hurry to fill our needs, sending us the final redemption. They say that when Napolean returned victorious from battle, the Jews would greet him with a Sefer Torah. He once returned from an extremely difficult battle, but was shocked to find that none of the Jews were waiting for him. When he asked his men the reason for this, they told him it was a day of mourning, when the Jews bewailed their destroyed Temple. They were therefore unable to meet him that day. Napolean went to the Beit Hakeneset to witness their mourning. When he saw them sitting on the floor and weeping profusely, he asked for an explanation. They said that they were mourning their Temple which fell approximately two thousand years ago. To which he responded, If you can continue to feel distress over your Temple, destroyed so long ago, it is an indication that you still feel its lack, and firmly believe that your G-d will one day rebuild it. He remarked that such an open display of sorrow such a long time after the incident implied that they would surely merit its reconstruction. Chazal state, In every generation in which the Beit Hamikdash was not built, it is considered to have been destroyed. This is because if we did not merit the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash in our time, it denotes our lack of sufficiently feeling Hashem s absence. It is obvious that were we living in the time of the Beit Hamikdash, our detachment from Avodat Hashem would have caused the churban. No one can excuse himself by saying he cannot be held accountable for the churban. Had he been living during the days of the Beit Hamikdash, the churban would have been attributed to him, as well. The way to feel the pain of the Shechinah s absence is by reducing one s level of physicality. This will automatically cause an increase in spirituality and the aspiration to be close to Hashem. May we merit the final redemption and the building of the Beit Hamikdash, speedily in our day, Amen. Tishah b Av Torah and Good Character After the churban, the Chachamim asked why Yerushalayim was destroyed. They pondered the matter, but could not find a satisfactory answer. They then turned to Hashem, asking that He enlighten them as to the cause of this distress. He replied, Because they forsook My Torah. Others explain that the churban was due to baseless hatred. Am Yisrael did not demonstrate sufficient respect for one another, and did not concern themselves with each other s welfare. For that reason, Hashem brought about the churban. On Tishah b Av, Torah study is forbidden, for Torah gladdens the heart of the learner. Since Tishah b Av is a day of mourning and sorrow over the churban, our Sages prohibited Torah study then. A mourner does not involve himself in matters of joy. The ban on Torah study on Tishah b Av is a fitting punishment. Since Am Yisrael forsook the Torah, they are prevented from studying it on this day, when they have a mitzvah to suffer in sorrow. 27

29 In Pirkei Avot, the Mishnah states, If there is no Torah, there is no good character; if there is no good character, there is no Torah. Torah and good character are interdependent. When there is a lack of Torah study, good character is lacking. Without the Torah teachings, one man would swallow his friend alive (Avot). Positive character traits, likewise, are the foundation for the words of Torah. Chazal have told us that good character precedes Torah (Avot). The story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza is another reason given for the destruction. In the time of the Beit Hamikdash, there were two enemies who hated each other deeply. One day, one of them prepared a feast for all his friends and he asked his attendant to call for his friend, Kamtza. But by mistake, the man called for Bar Kamtza, the man s sworn enemy. Bar Kamtza prepared to partake of the feast, presuming that the host had decided to make peace with him. He arrived and sat down to eat. When the owner of the home saw his avowed enemy enjoying his party, he ordered him to leave. Bar Kamtza realized a mistake had occurred. The host hadn t wanted to make peace at all. Bar Kamtza begged him to allow him to stay, so that he not be humiliated before all the guests. He was so concerned lest he be disgraced, that he offered to pay for the entire feast. But the host wouldn t hear of it. In spite of the shame and embarrassment, he demanded that he leave. Many Rabbanim were also in attendance at that feast. They were witness to the humiliation of Bar Kamtza. But none of them protested the actions of the host. Silence is a form of acquiescence. Bar Kamtza felt that the Sages were in agreement with the host and his deplorable actions. Otherwise, how could they continue their meal and not attempt to preserve his honor? Bar Kamtza was so hurt and angered at the iniquity done to him that he sought revenge, in order to avenge his honor. He plotted to harm the entire Jewish nation. Bar Kamtza hatched a plan. He went to the Roman Caesar with a libel against the Jews. He stated that they were planning a rebellion. The Caesar had always considered the Jews his faithful subjects and valued the taxes they brought to his coffers. At first, he refused to believe Bar Kamtza. But he agreed to Bar Kamtza s test, a way to gauge their level of loyalty. He would send an animal to be slaughtered as a korban, and see if they would accept it or not. The Caesar sent a sheep to Yerushalayim, and waited to see how things would develop. The Jews wanted to offer the sheep in order to show honor to the government, but they were confused, because it had a blemish, which Bar Kamtza had skillfully made. Generally, a blemished animal may not be brought as a korban. Bar Kamtza presumed they would refuse to offer it, thereby proving their disloyalty to the Caesar. When the Caesar saw that his sacrifice was not accepted, he assumed that Bar Kamtza was right. He hurried to send his son, Titus, to Yerushalayim, to destroy it as punishment for their rebellion. The baseless hatred of the host was a cause of the churban. Had he allowed Bar Kamtza to remain and refuse to allow him to be publicly shamed, this entire incident would never have happened. The churban would have been avoided. There was also a charge in Shamayim against the Chachamim of the generation, who continued enjoying the feast without considering mollifying the host, thereby salvaging the dignity of Bar Kamtza. We might say that although they were great in Torah knowledge, they were lacking in good character. Without this foundation, their Torah had no basis upon which to stand. They, too, were held responsible for the churban. The Torah provides good advice. What is the point of studying it if one doesn t take a lesson from what he learns, and just continues behaving according to his whims and lusts? This is like the case of a person who visits the doctor. The doctor gives him a prescription for medicine, but instead of going to buy it, he throws the prescription in the garbage. He did demonstrate that he cared for his health by going to the doctor, but he didn t accomplish anything, since he did not obey the doctor s instructions. Torah is the potion of life. It can improve a person s character. But if one does not seek to improve himself by working on his character traits, there is no purpose to his Torah study. The initials of the phrase ט אב (Tishah b Av) are equiva- the sum of which is numerically, א and ט, ב and ה lent to ten. The last letters are the sum of which is numerically equivalent to seven. Adding these two amounts will give us seventeen, the numerical equivalent of the word טוב (good). There is no good except for Torah, as the pasuk states, For I have given you a good teaching, do not forsake My Torah. Since Torah is the ultimate good, Hashem forbade us from studying it 28

30 on Tishah b Av, the day of mourning. Instead of gaining personal enjoyment from Torah study, one should use this day to make a personal accounting and become strengthened in yirat Shamayim. He will make himself into a vessel fitting for the Torah to reside in and influence him with its goodness and blessing. There is a wonderful story regarding the great Ba al Mussar, Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, zy a. He was once travelling by train to Vilna, to deliver an address to the Jews there, who thirsted to hear his words. Rabbi Yisrael was smoking and a young man sitting nearby asked him to desist. Rabbi Yisrael immediately put out the cigar, although they were seated in the smoking section. After a while, the young man asked, most brazenly, that Rabbi Yisrael shut the window. Rabbi Yisrael hurried to do this man s bidding in spite of his chutzpah and even though he wasn t the one who had opened it. As they arrived at their destination, this man was surprised to see a large assemblage at the train station. After inquiring whom they were waiting to greet, he was told it was Rabbi Yisrael of Salant. How ashamed he felt when he discovered that Rabbi Yisrael Salanter was none other than the man he had addressed so brazenly! He rushed to ask his forgiveness. Rabbi Yisrael asked him to return to him the next day. He did so, again asking for forgiveness. Before he was about to leave, Rabbi Yisrael asked him what his business was in Vilna. He told him he had come to be tested on the halachot of shechitah, for he wished to obtain a Rabbinic certificate. Rabbi Yisrael wished him success, and asked him to let him know how the exam went. Sometime later, the young man stood before Rabbi Yisrael once more. He said he had failed the test. When Rabbi Yisrael heard this, he advised the man to hire a personal tutor, who would teach him the halachot thoroughly for a considerable amount of time. Only afterward, should he go for another test. He took his advice, and he came to report to Rabbi Yisrael that this time, he passed. Then he turned to Rabbi Yisrael with a question. Honored Rabbi, there is something I don t understand here. I humiliated you, and here you are, wishing me well and showing active concern that I succeed. Not only did you forego your honor, but you are worried about me like a father toward a son. Please explain this. When I was with you on the train, began Rabbi Yisrael, I felt annoyed at your attitude. But I kept on telling myself that one may not get angry. When you came to ask forgiveness, I was happy to be rid of my grievance toward you. But I felt that in order to completely forgive you, it was insufficient to remove the anger from my heart. I decided I would assist you in every way possible, to prove to myself that I was completely at peace with you. Hashem sends us Torah giants who are replete with good character traits and middot of quality. They are like walking mussar sefarim. We must make sure to contemplate their deeds and emulate them. True love toward one s fellow man is unconditional love, without the desire to gain from this relationship. We often find ourselves behaving well toward someone because we need them. We seek ways to find favor in their eyes. Giving to others is sometimes merely a ploy used in order to take from them. What a shame it is that there are those who do not receive from us simply because they have nothing to offer in return! We feel it is not lucrative to invest in them. Let us take to heart the following lesson. If the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed on account of baseless hatred and lack of good character, which caused a breakdown in the level of Torah study, the way to retrieve the Beit Hamikdash is by means of positive attributes, love for one s fellow man, and strengthening Torah study. I know a young man who invited some people to partake in the hilula of Rabbi Meir Ba al Haness, zy a. He took this mission upon himself, without thought of recompense. Sadly, when he went around inviting people to join him, he was shot four times by a madman. He was critically wounded. This young man s mother approached me, stating her son cannot be permanently injured; he was involved in doing an act of chessed. Upon hearing her words, I agreed. Surely on High they recognized her son s righteousness, since he sought the benefit of others over his own. I blessed him with a refuah sheleimah. After being in a coma for three months, he suddenly awoke, and showed signs of improvement every day. He finally recovered completely. At times, it is enough to investigate simple day-to-day occurrences in order to realize the true meaning of life, to understand that Torah protects us, all the more so, Torah coupled with good character. 29

31 Journey to the Ukraine Elul 5771 David Chananya Pinto, The Humble Servant of Hashem As every year, this year, too (5771), we merited visiting the graves of the tzaddikim throughout Europe in Poland, the Ukraine, and Russia. The trip itself was not an easy one. We travelled in an ancient bus, which chugged along at an unbearably slow pace, along the dusty dirt roads. From the windows, picturesque scenes flashed before us, taken from the drawings of the towns of old. Remote villages dotted the horizon, places where the miracles of modernity had never reached. Even before embarking on this journey, I knew what awaited me. I didn t imagine, for even a moment, that I would stay in comfortable, well-appointed lodgings. In spite of, or maybe because of, our squalid surroundings, the following feeling was heightened in my heart: Here we were, traveling to pray at the graves of holy tzaddikim, to beg for mercy upon us and all of Klal Yisrael, at the conclusion of Chodesh Elul, when the heart of each Jew thumps in fear of the day of judgment, great and awesome. As if in a video, all of the events of the past year pass before my eyes. How many things occurred some indeed, happy occasions, yet many were difficult ones, for the nation as a whole, as well as for individuals. Every single prayer uttered before the year 5772 arrives is capable of benefitting the entire nation, protecting them from suffering. These tefillot can provide new dimensions to the new year. They can herald in happy times, times of yeshuah for us. How effective is tefillah to seal our verdict for a good year. At the beginning of the year, we are secure in the fact that Hashem will inscribe us in the Book of Life and peace. But let us not forget that throughout the course of the year, many things can change. The level of our sins can reach untold proportions, and then the positive verdict can be rescinded, rachmana litzlan. We are in dire need of advocating angels, promoting our cause, so that the positive inscription of the beginning of the year will have effect throughout the year. Kohelet states (7:17), Be not overly wicked nor be a fool. Why die before your time? There are those who were decreed, on Rosh Hashanah, to live a good, long life. But due to their iniquitous behavior during the course of the year, they received the verdict to die early, rachmana litzlan. It is sin that kills. Thus, we found ourselves a small group of those who seek to do Hashem s will traveling to the graves of tzaddikim located in Eastern Europe. We wished to pour out our hearts at the sites of these holy men, asking that they should speak up for us before the Heavenly Throne. We placed our hopes in the purity of their merits. The first morning of our weeklong stay dawned upon our group standing at the grave of the Sefat Emet, zy a, and his holy grandfather, the Chiddushei HaRim of Gur, zy a. The first sight that met our eyes as we approached the gravesite shook us into speechlessness. There, clearly drawn upon each of their holy tombs, was a drawing of a cross, may Hashem have mercy on us. We immediately turned to the caretaker, and brought this to his attention. He shrugged his shoulders impassively. He explained that maybe some of the local hoodlums stole into the cemetery at night and committed this vandalism. 30

32 In those long moments of shock, I asked myself, How can it be that the merit of these tzaddikim did not prevent such desecration? How could such wickedness manage to succeed in defiling such a holy place? I found the answer instantly, and turned to those near me. You should know, I began, this, too, is a tactic of the Satan. He knows how priceless is faith in the tzaddik. Therefore, he attempts to hinder us with all types of subterfuges, cooling off the fire of our faith in the tzaddik s powers. The Yetzer Hara wants us to demand, If the tzaddik is so powerful, why can t he protect his own grave? We must know that we are facing, at these very moments, a grave test. It is a nisayon from Hashem. Notwithstanding the desecration before our eyes, does our faith in the tzaddikim who served Hashem, remain unwavering? If we withstand this test, removing any and all doubt from our hearts, even strengthening our emunah in Hashem, this nisayon has succeeded in raising our level of faith. This is our great reward. From there we travelled to Cracow, to pray at the burial site of Rabbi Moshe Isserlis, zt l, better known as the Rema. We then sought the grave of the Ba al Megaleh Amukot, zy a. As we were looking for it, the grave of the Bach, Rabbi Yoel Sirkis, zy a, suddenly appeared before us. We stood by his grave, asking for general and individual salvation for the nation. Suddenly, I received a call from Rabbi Tewito, shlita, of Lyon, one of our community rabbis. He cried to me that his daughter was having complications in childbirth. Her and her baby s life were in danger, rachmana litzlan. The doctors were at a loss and he was frantic. I assured him that I was just then standing before the grave of the Bach, zy a, and I promised him that the Bach s merit would stand by them. With Hashem s help, they would be saved, and in the coming few moments would already hear good news Indeed, after only a few moments, Rabbi Tewito called again. He informed me, with heartfelt emotion and joy, that after our first conversation, he was told that a healthy grandson was born to him, Baruch Hashem. The mother and son were miraculously spared. Even the doctors couldn t explain this medical miracle. But we weren t surprised at all. We believe that these tzaddikim have tremendous merit to effect salvation and bring down mercy from on High, for whoever visits their graves. Chazal have told us (Berachot 18b) that tzaddikim are greater in death than in life. With the tears still wet on our faces, we continued on our way. We came to the Beit Hamidrash of the Gerrer Chassidut. On the Yamim Nora im, this building housed over 15,000 worshippers. These were Chassidim who wished to pay homage to their respected Rabbi, the Imrei Emet, zy a. How painful it was to witness this edifice, once vibrant with life, lie desolate, with not a soul nearby. The stillness was stifling, crying out from every crack and crevice. Less than one hundred years ago, this place was alive and animated. Upon the huge platform, standing lonely now, I pictured the holy Admorim of yore, standing regally. Their faces shone with glory and they led their congregants with the power of their words. Their Chassidim drank in these words thirstily, satiating themselves by their Torah insights. To this day, we enjoy their Torah teachings. The Holocaust called a halt to these sweet sounds. A faint echo sounds in the empty building, recalling with longing those glorious days which will never return. The orphaned edifice cries out a soundless cry, Woe to us that this is what has befallen us! As we toured the place, we were informed that the accursed Germans, yemach shemam, didn t suffice with killing out the Jews of this sacred city. They desired to destroy this holy place, razing it from the ground. B chasdei Shamayim, their plans were 31

33 thwarted. The building still stands today, greeting its visitors, trying to cast a vestige of the extinguished light of those bygone days. With great trepidation, I lit the holy Menorah in the Beit Hakeneset, attempting to breathe some life into the walls that had once soaked up so much pure emunah. I delivered a shiur to those assembled, quoting illuminating statements of the holy works of the Gerrer Rebbes. In this manner, we were warmed by the words of the Sefat Emet, the Imrei Emet, and the Chiddushei HaRim, may their memories protect us, Amen. Feelings of dread engulfed us as we visited the extermination camps and gas chambers in Lublin, Poland. Tens of thousands of our brethren went up in smoke here, may Hashem avenge their blood. They sacrificed themselves, with utmost courage of the spirit, for the sake of Hashem. Our hearts were shattered at the frightening photographs which were plastered on all the walls, silent witnesses to the atrocities that transpired there. We were gripped with shock as we noted the pained expressions on the faces of the Jews, standing in the shadow of death. They were being brought to their deaths for no other reason than the fact that they were Jews. It was traumatizing to watch elderly Jews, together with youngsters and nurslings, men, women, and children, being led like sheep to the slaughter. The background sounds only intensified the experience. There were cries of distress and despair, adding an element of making all who come to visit shake in fear. Nearby stands a dark, cavernous room. Thousands of tiny flames flicker there. They were lighted in memory of those who died al kiddush Hashem. I reflected on the candles, and told myself, These lights testify to the happy ending of Am Yisrael, the eternal nation. The accursed Germans desired to extinguish the light of Yisrael from the world. But we are promised that our nation will live forever. Indeed, as we take note of how the Torah world was rebuilt and is thriving, the words, The eternity of Bnei Yisrael will not be proven false (Shmuel I 16:29) take on a new, lofty dimension. We must continue lighting the flame of Torah wherever we are. The Midrash states (Devarim Rabbah 4:4) that the soul of man and the Torah are compared to a light, as the pasuk states (Mishlei 20:27), A man s soul is the lamp of Hashem. It also says (ibid. 6:23), For a commandment is a lamp and the Torah is light. Hashem has told us, My light [Torah] is in your hands. And your light [the neshamah] is in My hands. If you will guard My light, I will guard yours. If you extinguish Mine, I will extinguish yours. With hearts empowered with faith in Hashem, we wended our way to the grave of the Chozeh MiLublin, zt l. This tzaddik merited the accolade Chozeh, for he was able to see the future through ruach hakodesh. How did he merit this great level of sanctity? Because he was exceedingly punctilious in protecting his eyes. His shemirat ha einayim was well-known. After that, we paid homage to the grave of the Maharshal. Again, we were confronted by a cross painted over his tombstone. With pain and revulsion, we immediately set forth, cleaning and polishing the grave of this Sage, from any vestige of abomination. Later, we understood why we were possessed with the passion to remove the offending cross. After we were done, we came upon a large group of Jews from Eretz Yisrael, who unfortunately were far from Torah and mitzvot. It is easy to imagine their reaction had they seen the great contempt displayed toward the holy tzaddik. It would likely have brought doubts in their emunah in the tzaddik s righteousness, chalilah. There is no greater chilul Hashem than this. It was preordained by Divine intervention that we should meet up with this group. For, although they were obviously irreligious, nevertheless, a spark of Judaism flickered in their hearts. By connecting with the tzaddik at his grave, this spark was fanned into a flame, bursting forth into a fire of holi- 32

34 ness in their souls. They suddenly asked to don kippot, and asked that I bless them. When I discovered that their hearts had been opened, I offered them short words of inspiration in Torah and yirat Shamayim. We ended up setting the scene for acceptance of the yoke of Heaven. Not one eye remained dry, as the strains of Shema Yisrael and Hashem Hu Ha Elokim reverberated there. A spirit of sanctity descended on the place, as the children came back to their Father in Heaven. The lion s share of our trip was still before us. We faced the Ukraine next. It is impossible to ignore the feelings that overtake the heart at hearing the word Ukraine. The Saraf MiKotzk, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, zy a; the holy Ba al Shem Tov, zy a, called the light of the seven days; as well as his holy grandson, Rabbi Nachman MiBreslov, zy a; and his devoted attendant, Rabbi Natan MiBreslov, zy a, are all buried there. As is known, the way to the Ukraine is not an easy one. It was a very hard trip. It took us over eight hours to reach our destination! We waited at the border without food or drink, overwhelmed by tiredness. We nearly fell into the clutches of despair. We doubted whether it was worth all this aggravation. But then we immediately strengthened one another. I told those assembled, I have a tradition from my father, zy a, that in order to attain salvation, one must exert himself. Picture someone preparing for a court case. His life is hanging in the balance. If he had to wait for his defense attorney to arrive, would he be bitter about it? Even if he had to wait for an interminable amount of time, he would be most patient, for he knows this is his only hope. So it is with us. In a few days, we will stand in judgment before the King of kings. We accept, with open arms, all of the advocacy we can, in the form of these tzaddikim who will speak on our behalf. They will arouse Heavenly mercy upon us and all our Jewish brothers, wherever they may be, for a good, peaceful life. It is wellknown that one receives reward for the time invested in waiting to enter the tzaddik s presence, just as he receives reward for appearing before the tzaddik. We finally found ourselves before the grave of the Rebbi MiKotzk, zt l, rabbi of the Chiddushei HaRim of Gur, zy a. For many years, I longed to visit his grave, and besiyata di Shemaya, this year, Elul 5771, I merited this. They say about the Kotzker Rebbe that he was extremely careful with guarding his speech. He was exceptionally knowledgeable in all areas of Torah. Nevertheless, he refused to speak in public, even words of Torah! He feared lest he fall into sinning in speech. Although he didn t deliver shiurim to his Chassidim in an organized fashion, thousands of them flocked to him in droves, merely to gaze at his holy visage. They wanted to absorb some of his kedushah, as the Navi Yeshayahu (30:20) states, Your eyes will behold your teachers. Whatever we merited learning from him left an everlasting impression on us. The Kotzer Rebbe led his Chassidim with a strong hand and scintillating sharpness. Young Torah scholars, who wished to ascend spiritually, came before him, to receive guidance and become purified. Then they returned home. The Rebbe once complained to his attendant, When they come to me, I toil and exert myself to straighten them out, setting them on the proper path. But the next time they come back to me, I can t recognize them! We visited the grave of the Ba al Shem Tov, zy a. He established the Chassidic movement. One of the famous maxims of his holy house of study is based on the wellknown words, For with gladness you shall go forth. By means of gladness one goes forth from his hardships. Serving Hashem with joy is, indeed, a cornerstone of Chassidut. On one of our visits to his Beit Hamidrash, where he prayed and studied Torah, we found a small lamb riveted in its place. It resisted all attempts at removal, and refused to budge. 33

35 When I observed this, I told the people, Leave it be. Maybe it is a reincarnation of a Jewish neshamah, seeking its tikkun. As soon as we finished our tefillot, it disappeared from the place. As we alighted the bus to reach the grave of the holy Rabbi Nachman MiBreslov, zy a, we encountered a strange phenomenon. A humongous dog made its way over to me, as if to injure me, chalilah. It shot me frightening looks. When I tried to chase it away, it didn t show any signs of fear. On the contrary, he began rubbing himself against my leg At this, I proclaimed the pasuk (Shemot 11:7), Against the Children of Israel, no dog shall whet its tongue. Suddenly, the dog shot into the street, and was immediately killed by an oncoming motorcycle. That very day, I was asked to serve as sandek in a brit milah in Kiev for an older boy who wished to have a Jewish circumcision. I thought these two incidents might be related. Maybe this dog was a reincarnation of a Jew, who had defiled his brit kodesh. Since I was serving as sandek, this neshamah desired to stand near me, finding its tikkun. Only Hashem knows the truth, as the Torah states (Devarim 29:28), The hidden are for Hashem, our G-d. A similar incident took place when I was in Argentina. I was walking with two of my disciples, may they be well, to deliver words of Torah and chizuk to hundreds of listeners. A massive, frightening dog began escorting us, resisting all our attempts to get rid of him. The dog stopped outside the Beit Hakeneset, and waited there the entire time I delivered the lecture. When I ended, he stood up and went off on his way. I told my disciples that this dog probably contains a Jewish soul, which, in its previous life, mocked words of Torah, or scorned talmidei chachamim. Therefore, he was sent to rectify this by listening to my shiur in Torah. Would that it did what it was meant to do! We must know that neshamot that return to this world in the form of animals, suffer excruciatingly. If it, indeed, rectifies what it should have, how happy it becomes to be able to rest in peace in its place on High. In the Ukraine, we also merited visiting the gravesite of Rabbi Natan, zy a, the very close disciple of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, zy a. We had to do some mountainclimbing to reach his tombstone. There, we lit candles for his holy neshamah, praying for Am Yisrael. It was late at night, and darkness enveloped us. The entire place was desolate, save for our group. Suddenly, I began trembling as I noticed, before my very eyes, a figure sleeping in a corner of the cemetery. How in the world did this person get here? I started panicking, thinking that maybe he wasn t of this world If that wasn t enough, he suddenly awoke, and looking me squarely in the eye, he asked, Are you Rabbi David Pinto? Full of fear and suspicion, I replied, And who are you? Are you a Jew? And what are you doing here? I am waiting, he responded, for someone to take me to the grave of the Ba al Shem Tov. The obvious question came from my mouth. Aren t you afraid to wait all alone in such a forsaken place? Just last year, a Jew was murdered in Uman by the hostile locals, all for want of a miserable watch! This Jew s answer still rings in my ears. His innocence and simplicity, together with his shining eyes, touched my heart, Afraid? he asked, What is there to be afraid of; the tzaddik is nearby? His zechut protects me from all harm. To the contrary, I feel that this place is the safest place in the world, for I am under the wings of the tzaddik. His simple, piercing words are still with me. How ashamed I felt when he spoke! I felt so 34

36 Rabbi Moshe Aaron Pinto Zatzal inadequate next to him, full of simple, boundless emunah as he was. As we continued on our trip in Poland, the natives couldn t help hiding their astonishment. They knew every fork in the road, so to speak. They couldn t understand how we made our way there in perfect timing, with no traffic slowing us down. The ride was quick, relative to what the primitive roads afforded. When we arrived at the airport, we discovered that the time was 5:15 a.m., just as I had predicted that we might be, at most, fifteen minutes late. We returned home, supplied with stores of spirituality. We gained inspiration in Torah and yirat Shamayim. Before the ink dried on our memoir of this holy expedition, we travelled to Morocco, for the great hilula of my master and grandfather, the miracle worker, Rabbeinu Chaim Pinto Hagadol, zt l. This hilula takes place annually, amid much fanfare. Thousands of Jews, from all corners of the globe, participate. Baruch Hashem, a great kiddush Hashem results, in light of the amazing miracles that are performed on behalf of those who visit his grave. This is how we prepare ourselves for the day of judgment, Rosh Hashanah. Baruch Hashem, we are surrounded by defense attorneys. These are the tzaddikim, by whose graves we prayed, advocating on our behalf before the Creator, praying for our benefit that we be inscribed and sealed for good life and peace, amidst all of Beit Yisrael, Amen. Thoughts in the Wake of the Expedition Let not the reader wonder from where I draw my faith in the tzaddikim. This faith is rooted in my soul, from the days of my youth, from my father s home. We absorbed perfect faith in Hashem and His servants, together with our mother s milk. At every opportunity, Father, zy a, would mention the power of the kedushah of tzaddikim. He would recount narratives of their selfsacrifice for ahavat Hashem and His Torah. This faith was planted deep in our hearts, and soaked into our blood. But Father didn t suffice with that alone. He demanded of us to put theory into action, to learn from their pure ways and follow in their footsteps. When I was about eleven years old, my father sent me off to the Novhardok yeshiva in France, far from family and home. He wanted me, too, to grow into a true servant of Hashem and a true ben Torah. Thus I found myself fulfilling the dictum of Chazal (Avot 4:18), Exile yourself to a place of Torah. I didn t see my parents for two years straight. In honor of my Bar Mitzvah, my mother travelled to celebrate the occasion with me. When I think about it, I can t imagine a boy in this day and age, who would agree to make do with the type of Bar Mitzvah that I had. It was held in a Beit Hakeneset in Paris, with the most simple fare, and less than a minyan of people in attendance. Today, Bar Mitzvah boys are presented with gifts galore; I didn t receive anything at all. This was my father s way: to accustom us to simplicity and detachment from the luxuries and pleasures of this world. He wanted all of our aspirations to revolve around Torah and mitzvot, ignoring all symbols of materialism. After I turned thirteen, I went to learn in the yeshiva in Sunderland, England, under the tutelage of the great Rabbis, Hagaon Rabbi Shammai Zahn, zt l, and Hagaon Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Lopian, zt l. Only when I was already eighteen years old, seven years after we parted, did I merit seeing my father, who visited France on his return from Eretz Yisrael, two 35

37 years before the Six Day War. This meeting took only a few minutes, as he was waiting in the airport for his flight to Morocco. During all those long years away from home, I was terribly homesick. Especially during the Yom Tov seasons, I was overcome with longing for my family, to feel the sense of belonging. They were in faraway Morocco, whereas I was in England, with no connection between us. Father taught us an important principle for the life of an aspiring Jew. In order to merit wearing the crown of Torah, one must undergo privation. It must be earned. Exile to a far-off land is worthwhile, for it fashions a person into a true servant of Hashem. Father always hammered into our hearts the concept of sufficing with little. This trait demands of a person to distance himself as much as possible from materialism, investing all of his strengths in Torah study. Indeed, in yeshiva we were divorced from all forms of frivolity. Nothing existed in our world except for the four ells of halachah. We merited basking in the pure atmosphere of our rabbis all day long. Rabbi Zahn and Rabbi Lopian were our guiding lights, paving for us the path that ascends to Hashem. Chazal have told us (Avot 6:4), This is the way of Torah: Eat bread with salt, drink water in small measures but toil in the Torah! Sufficing with the bare minimum and exerting oneself in Torah study, is the only way to truly acquire Torah. The Gemara states (Berachot 63b), Torah is acquired only by one who kills himself over it, as the pasuk says (Bamidbar 19:14), This is the teaching regarding a man who would die in a tent. I have tremendous gratitude toward Mr. David Eckstein, and Mr. Posner, z l, and their dear families, who hosted me on the holidays during my stay in England. They accepted me warmly and made me feel like family. With pleasantness and generosity, they gave me the best feeling possible, as though I were a child of theirs. May these words stand as advocates on behalf of their neshamot. May my fathers merits protect their families forever, Amen. After I was reunited with my father, zy a, I remained for another couple of months in France. Then I returned to the bosom of my family in Morocco. Hand in hand with the pleasant feeling of being once again with my family, difficult nisyonot began cropping up. The place had changed since I had last been there. I suddenly saw my old friends, dressed in modern styles. They seemed like different people in my eyes. They invested a lot in their outward appearance, and they rode motorcycles. As I was immersing myself in the sea of Torah, they were drowning in the world of materialism and physical pleasures. I felt so distant, as though the fingers of time had not touched me. To my shame, I began imitating them, and learning from their ways. Peers play a strong role in a person s character, I discovered as I mastered the motorcycle. I rode around to all types of places, and I once even came to Essaouira, to the grave of my holy grandfather, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zt l. Throughout the ride, I had encountered life-threatening dangers, and was saved only with Hashem s kindness. There is no doubt that it was the zechut of this tzaddik that stood by me. Otherwise, who knows how my joyride would have ended? In this manner, I got a taste for this world of materialism, drawn after this unsavory crowd surrounding me. Father took it all in with his pure eyes. He was displeased by what he saw. You are a ben Torah, he repeated, time and again. His words still echo in my ears. From your youth, you were nurtured in the ways of Torah. Please, my son, don t allow yourself to be influenced by the wrong people. When I look back at those days, I realize I was at a crossroads in my life. Both the Yetzer Hatov and the Yetzer Hara were pulling me from opposite sides. I didn t know which way to go. On the one hand, all the years I had sacrificed for the sake of Torah, far from family and materialism, stood before me. Yet, my friends, who put 36 The Sunderland Yeshiva in England

38 On the grave of Rav Shammai Zahn in Sunderland all their energies into the latest pleasures, tugged at me from the other side. I was still pondering the matter, when Hashem took pity on me, sending me my salavation in the streets of Casablanca, in the form of my former teacher, Rabbi Shammai Zahn, zt l. He had come to collect funds for the yeshiva in England. When I saw his shining face, I was filled with tremendous joy. His heartwarming words restored my spirit; his pleasant speech was like lifegiving dew. Out of gratitude for all he had done for me, I assisted him in reaching donors and philanthropists in the area, who opened their hearts to contribute toward the yeshiva most generously. During Rabbi Zahn s stay in Morocco, Father invited him to eat at our house. For hours on end, these two righteous men sat and spoke words of Torah, spiced with stories of the faith of the tzaddikim. Of course, my father asked Rabbi Zahn to take me back with him to the yeshiva. This was how, after just a short stint at home, I found myself, once again in the holy yeshiva in England. I was greeted with warmth, and offered my previous room. I once again immersed myself in the words of Abaye and Rava, removed from Olam Hazeh. I felt a certain sense of sanctified sweetness, which is hard to describe in words. I took upon myself an added responsibility. Each evening, I had a special seder, in which I delved into the holy works of Chassidut, established by Rabbeinu Yisrael the Ba al Shem Tov, zy a. I covered the subject of emunah u bitachon, full of mussar in how to serve Hashem. This session provided me with special strengths, which have not grown weaker with the passage of time. I can safely state that till today, I draw inspiration from those hours of mussar regarding simple faith that I had studied then. Everything is attributed to the zechut of my mentor, Rabbi Shammai Zahn, zt l. With his pleasantness and comforting manner, he succeeded in returning me to the halls of the holy yeshiva, to the ways of the purity of Torah, binding me to it with bonds of love. Years passed. Before I married, I entered the business world. But before I became steeped in deals, I made a resolution. Not one day would go by without fixed times for Torah study. Baruch Hashem, I managed to keep this pledge. But my father, zt l, did not approve of this setup. At every opportunity, he tried to convince me to leave the world of business, and devote myself completely to the holy Torah. He hoped I would continue in the path he had outlined for me from childhood. It was clear that Hashem agreed with Father. Whenever I gained a profit in a business deal, there was no blessing in it. I fell in with unscrupulous characters, who succeeded, with deceit, in seizing my hard-earned income. Nothing remained with me. I finally understood that my place was in the world of Torah. I began dedicating myself to bring zechut to the public. At first, I did this privately, among those nearest to me. Slowly but surely, the circle widened. I clearly felt the hand of Hashem with me, every step of the way. I was destined for kedushah; and this was my purpose in the world. B chasdei Shamayim, I arrived where I am today. I try, with all my might, not to leave any place on the map, farflung as it may be, without Torah and yirat Shamayim. Hashem helps me tremendously every step of the way. My only objective is to raise the banner of Torah and glorify Hashem s Name throughout the world. Oftentimes, sharp pain fills my heart, at the thought that there are many who mistakenly assume that I lead an easy life. They believe I am wealthy and rest peacefully with not a care in the world. These erroneous notions lead them to feel envy, hate, and competition toward me. Who knows where these can lead? All of their ideas are empty nonsense. They should know that my life is not a life. I have no honor or status. I am totally at the service of the people, who have many demands. My meals are never organized, and I cannot sleep 37

39 at night. I frequently have to fly abroad in order to support our institutions. Jetlag and weariness, coupled with the dangers of the road, are my daily fare. My heart is sick at the anonymous letters that reach me by mail. They are filled with animosity and abuse, words of blasphemy and belittling. Is this the definition of respect and honor?! They are driven by jealousy and resentment, presuming I am a rich, honorary figure. This is very far from the actual truth. Would that they take my burden upon their shoulders for one week. It is very doubtful they would hold out that long, with the yoke of the public weighing heavily upon them. The phone does not stop ringing throughout the day and night, regardless of the hour. My heart breaks anew at the account of another Jew in distress. The suffering of our nation cannot leave anyone impassive, and I join in their sorrow, my heart aching with them. I try my best to help them, either with a berachah or advice, in the merit of my holy ancestors, as well as offering them financial assistance. This heavy burden resting on my shoulders obligates me to travel overseas very often. How would we manage to support the holy institutions spread across the globe without the generous support of our patrons? If there is no flour, there is no Torah. It is my responsibility to ensure that the hundreds of young Torah scholars, supported on the ship of our Torah institutions, do not sink. During the weekdays, I do not see my family. The taste of home is a far-off memory. I am constantly on the move, delivering lectures of Torah and yirat Shamayim to those thirsting. In spite of the burden I bear, I strengthen myself with mesirut nefesh. I know that I mustn t slacken in my work, as I am involved in sanctifying Hashem s Name in the world and strengthening Torah. Hashem is my witness that I don t seek honor or fame, for all glory belongs to Him alone. All of the admiration I receive is only in merit of my holy fathers, zy a. They are deserving of respect. My goal is only to bring pleasure to Hashem, bringing His word to everyone. Because this is my sole purpose, I merit Hashem s help in all I do. Chazal inform us (Makkot 10b) that in the way man wishes to go, he is led. Also (Shabbat 104a), He who comes to purify himself, is assisted. If, chas v shalom, I ever received personal pleasure from honor which I do not deserve, I beg Hashem to forgive me. How much personal accounting should be made by those who think my life is paved with pleasure and happiness! Would they be prepared to dedicate themselves completely to the public, abandoning their former lifestyle? Would they be willing to endanger themselves, time and again, with long flights? Would they like to travel far from family for long stretches, and in the end, receive hate letters, full of shame and insult?! How, indeed, do I endure all this? How do I not fall apart? It is only due to the fact that I fulfill the statement of the Sages (Shabbat 88b), Those who are insulted, but don t insult, they hear their shame, but do not respond, they do out of love and are happy with tribulation. About them the pasuk states, His loved ones are as the brilliance of the sun in midday. Taking insult without returning it is the secret of success for any person. May Hashem bring us success wherever we turn. Let us always remember that our ultimate purpose in this world is to sanctify Hashem s Name, with no ulterior motives. May Hashem grant us long, good life, with kindness and compassion, and may we find favor in the eyes of Hashem and man, Amen. 38

40 Tzafun Bareich Many Jews gathered and came to Morocco, the North African country, in order (צפון) to receive the countless blessings (ברך) on the day of the tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto s hilula. They prayed at the gravesite of the holy tzaddik and basked in spirituality for three uplifting days. By: Rabbi Yosef Sofer This is the second year that I have been privileged to participate in the hilula of the holy Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy a, in Mogador, Morocco. A very familiar-looking man sat down next to me at tefillat Shacharit. I tried not to think about him, concentrating on my prayers. The cantors lifted their voices in song, and I was swept up in this special atmosphere, which I hadn t felt since the last time, one year ago. Every so often, my eyes glanced over at this man. I noted his heartfelt prayer and heard the pleading in his voice. And I continued wondering where I knew him from. Suddenly, just before Kriyat HaTorah, it hit me. This man had stood near me last year, as well. A year ago, he had looked completely different. He was disheveled and in complete disarray, not fitting in with everyone else. He didn t even know which way to hold the siddur, and had a hard time keeping up with the chazzan and the congregation. It was obvious that he was a newcomer to Torah and mitzvot. His outward appearance, too, bespoke a different lifestyle. I came to his rescue then, showing him the place in the prayer book, and explaining how to pray. He was extremely emotional then. It was self-evident that this was one of the first times he ever held a siddur in his hands. Now, a mere year later, he prayed fluently. He connected to the tefillot and knew the tunes. I met him again on Motza ei Shabbat, at the recitation of Selichot which was held in the cemetery, near the graves of the Pinto dynasty. I learned a lesson from him in pouring out one s soul. I watched him cleanse himself of sin as he uttered the words, We have sinned; have mercy upon us. Later on, we talked together. The tzaddik, Rabbi David Pinto, shlita, brought me back, he said. His eyes clouded over. This sentence, enunciated countless times in various versions during the days of the hilula, spoke for itself. So many Jews gathered here, from all corners of the world. They left their businesses, and traveled all the way here, to Mogador, Morocco. What drew them? They came to take part in the hilula of the tzaddik, praying at his grave in honor of the upcoming year. But they came for something else also. They wished to spend the Shabbat of the hilula weekend in the shadow of their esteemed teacher and rabbi, the Gaon and tzaddik, Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita. This is the man who brought them to Judaism, who nurtured them and elevated them. This is the tzaddik whose blessings and sound advice guide them in all they do. The fire of his warmth reaches them wherever they may be, in Eretz Yisrael, France, Argentina, the U.S.A., or wherever. They warm themselves by his flame in the days of coldness, and eat of the fruits of his blessing in their days of joy. A Holiday in the Picturesque City Mogador is called Essaouira, which literally means a picture postcard or beautiful scenery. The city is, indeed, charming. On the days of the hilula, the entire town is festooned in festivity. Posters are hung up, announcing the great event. There are also warnings posted to maintain the security and honor of those who arrive for the hilula. Even in the daily paper, the Jewish date is noted in French. The local rulers go out of their way, year after year, to express the great respect they have toward the Pinto family in general, and to Rabbi David, the tzaddik, in particular. The locals are warned, in no uncertain terms, not to touch a hair of any of the visitors. Even merely spitting at a Jew carries a prison sentence. In a conversation with a higher authority, I was informed that approximately two thousand policemen were employed, throughout the city, to ensure security for those arriving especially for the hilula. The government is not willing to take any risks. We received instructions not to take rides with unidentified taxi services. It was recommended that we travel only with the taxis stationed outside the hotel, approved by security. 39

41 Everything is ready for the hilula celebration. But nothing could prepare one for the electricity that psses through the hall like a bolt of lightning, as the Rav, shlita, makes his appearance. The audience, as one, rises from their seats, excited and enflamed, to greet the man who takes center stage in the city of Mogador today. The Rav enters, accompanied by his sons, more precious to him than anything else. These are the sons who, in recent years, have also become involved in reaching out to all strata of society, young and old alike. They are a family dedicated to bringing Hashem s children back to Him, with unsurpassed love. I saw, firsthand, a sample of the work of the Rav s sons in the old community of Lyon. This community was founded by the Rav himself, many years ago. The Rav himself resides with his family in Paris, and the community of Lyon is headed by his son Harav Hagaon Refael Pinto, shlita. The hachnassat orchim displayed toward our group from Eretz Yisrael, including sleeping at the home of one of the members of the community, the concern for every little detail, from travel to food, even phone calls home, demonstrated how close-knit this community is. It showed how much each person strives to grow and flourish, in ruchniut and in gashmiut, with love and brotherliness unmatched in other places I had visited throughout the world. This solidarity is grounded in the constant striving for spiritual growth, through shiurei Torah and various communal projects. For the Sake of Sanctity After an early Minchah prayer, words are written in the Sefer Torah which will be inaugurated in memory of the tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zt l, whose hilula is today. The Rav reminds all participants to recite For the sake of the kedushah of the Sefer Torah. In an auspicious moment, the writing is completed, and a beautiful Sefer Torah is produced, to the delight of everyone gathered. After the Simchat Torah, we return to the somber tones of the Yamim Noraim. The Rav takes the pulpit, and leads tefillat Arvit. He begins with the well-known strains of the Kaddish of the Yamim Noraim. The Kriyat Shema afterward shakes the rafters. It is reminiscent of tefillat Ne ilah, charged with emotion. Immediately after the evening prayers, everyone enters the adjoining room, where the hachnasat Sefer Torah will take place. Well-dressed waiters carry in gourmet dishes, while an authentic Moroccan band strikes up to accompany the well-known liturgical singer, Binyamin Buzaglo. This is just the backdrop for the spiritual experience which they will undergo. As every year, at some point in the magnificent event, the local ruler comes to pay homage, dressed in traditional garb. He is escorted by a large entourage of government and army officials, along with ministers and other dignitaries. Chazal teach us to show gratitude to one s hosts. The local ruler begins his words with praise of Lala Isha, aunt of the present king, may he live long, and sister of the previous king. She passed away during this time of year. This is the reason for the signs of mourning throughout the country. He continues with words of blessing for the Rav, for the strength needed to plan a hilula of this magnitude. Incisive Words The Shabbat of the hilula takes place at the end of the year It occurs in the thick of various Arab revolutions. The audience is shocked to hear candid assertions regarding the occurrences in the Arab world. Lately, the Arabs were in upheaval, their lives completely overturned. Morocco, though, remained apart, for its king, may he live long, is close to the people and has their best interests at heart. The king, may he live long, rules his nation with respect, as has been the case all the years in which the Jews have resided here. 40

42 Whoever knows even a small amount of what goes on in countries like Morocco, knows that such speeches are not usually delivered in such a forum, by government officials. It is strictly forbidden to discuss such matters in public if they are not completely accurate. Therefore, the people, many of whom were involved in the upper echelons of economics in Europe, paid special attention to the words. The ruler continued, In order to protect the citizens rights, the king, may he live long, and his regimen support faith in G-d and unity among all religions. He continued astounding his audience, We constantly encourage all groups to preserve their traditions, religions, and customs. The ruler directed his words specifically to the Jews. All those assembled stood up and applauded him for his bold words. No one had expected to hear such talk from the representative of a Muslim country. Clinging to the Past The president of the Marseilles community, Mr. Tzvi Amar began his words with praise of the king, may he live long, his kingdom, the local ruler, and the entire holy assemblage gathered there from all corners of the world. He lauded the country that hosted the event, for the religion freedom it offers its citizens. He thanked them for the exceptional honor they granted those who attended the hilula in Mogador. He specified that Mogador is the most unique city in the entire region. It has a place of pride in Jewish history for being the home to the tzaddikim of the Pinto dynasty, zt l. This is reflected in the honor the inhabitants bestow upon the Rav, Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita, who continues in their ways. The band bursts forth in a lively tune, in honor of the Torah. It nearly competes with the loud singing of the audience as the Rav is called up to deliver his speech. The Rav relates to the words of the ruler, and the security situation in Arab countries. He recounts that some people asked him if it was worthwhile to conduct the traditional hilula in Morocco this year. We also felt that maybe it wouldn t be a good idea to conduct the hilula this year, due to various hints and signs, The Rav reveals to the shocked audience. But we ourselves were born in Morocco. We grew up here. No one is ever ashamed or afraid to return home. Even today, when we live in France, we are proud to say that our family began in Morocco. To prove his ties with his motherland, the Rav states, My son, Refael learned to speak Moroccan, even though he grew up in France. He continued, A Canadian Jew who had come to participate in the hilula in Mogador this past year, approached me afterward, with tears in his eyes, and said, Thank you so much! You have evoked memories of my childhood, over forty years ago, when I grew up in Morocco. You brought back wonderful memories of the sweetness of my youth. Throughout the year, we are estranged from Hashem. We now have the opportunity to strengthen ourselves and come closer to Him, displaying our love to Him. We can show that we wish to come under His wing, and it is only the Yetzer Hara who pulls us away. The tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zt l, whose hilula we were celebrating, united Am Yisrael. We came together, from across the globe, to celebrate the annual event held in his memory. At the conclusion of his words, the Rav turns to those assembled, with warm words, and a clear message for the wide range of people gathered: We have come here for three days of coming closer to Hashem. We are standing before Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Judgment. I request that during these three days, everyone be especially careful in matters of tzeniut. Let us ensure an atmosphere of sanctity, providing kedushah and taharah and spiritual elevation. Whoever guards kedushah will have his prayers accepted! 41

43 Prayers Answered Kedushah and taharah. These words describe the feeling of elevation I sensed the next day, at the tombstone of the tzaddik in the old cemetery of Mogador. It was a feeling I would not exchange for any price. It was for me, as it was for many of the hundreds who came from around the world, the best form of preparation for the Days of Judgment. Amidst copious tears, the people unloaded their burdens at the tzaddik s grave. Nearly everyone held a list names for which to pray. More than one person confided that their prayers of the previous year were answered most miraculously during this past year. One related an account of someone in need of a shidduch, and received a yeshuah one-and-a-half months after he had prayed here. Another told of a family member who had been sick and recovered after prayers were offered here. And the stories continue, each more compelling than the previous one. Another account was quite humorous, told by the devoted attendant of the Rav, Rabbi Moshe Mirali, sheyichyeh (one of the sweetest men I have ever met). He introduced me to a wonderful family from Tzefat. This was a couple who arrived here the previous year, in supplication for a child. They approached the Rav, shlita, asking for his blessing. The Rav immediately responded, B ezrat Hashem, you will have a son this year, in the zechut of Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zt l. The Rav added, Call your son Chaim Matan. A year has gone by since then. Among the voices of the celebrants, the cry of a newborn baby, named Chaim Matan, can be heard. He was brought here from Eretz Yisrael, together with his parents. They came in order to thank Hashem for accepting their prayers in the merit of the tzaddikim. It is impossible to describe the radiance on the Rav s face when this newborn, Chaim Matan, was brought before him, on the eve of the hilula. Many of the onlookers had tears in their eyes, as they witnessed Jews with pure faith, who had their greatest desires granted in the zechut of this faith. Shabbat Kodesh Shabbat arrives. It is full of the beauty of holy song, sung by wonderful liturgical singers, as well as delicious dishes served at stunningly arranged tables. But the highlight of the day is the shiurim delivered in a variety of languages, to all the different people there, by the Rav, shlita, and his esteemed sons, throughout the day. Everyone was able to find a lecture that spoke to him. The halls were filled to capacity for those thirsting for Hashem s word. Highlighted Section In a lecture delivered by one of the Rav s sons in English, he related a story with a strong message. Later, I heard different groups discussing it, and I understood that it was well-received. A wealthy couple in Johannesburg had everything except for children. They spent loads of money in Switzerland and all across Europe, seeking all types of treatment. Finally, after fifteen years of waiting, they had a baby. This child grew up pampered and spoiled. He was granted whatever he could wish for, and more, with an over-abundance of love. As he grew older, this indulgence began to influence him in the wrong way. He began drifting away, joining the street kids, and ultimately surrendering to drugs. His loving parents were approached only in order to get the money to feed his addiction. When he was finally admitted to the hospital on account of his condition, his parents tried to talk some sense into him. They tried to convince him to wean himself off of drugs. But he rebuffed them, demanding that they leave, for he had no need for them. His mother couldn t take the pain any 42

44 longer, and died of heartache. On the way from the funeral, the father turned to his son, See what you did, he told him. But the obstinate son brazenly countered, Leave me be, or else you ll find yourself in her state. Very soon after, the father, too, died of a broken heart. This boy was orphaned of both his parents, but he was full of joy. I am finally my own boss, he told himself. My parents were fabulously wealthy. Now that they are gone, I have instantly become a wealthy man. He even refused to participate in his father s funeral. As the funeral procession was escorting his father s bier, he made his way to the notary s office, where his father s lawyer worked. Hurry! he called out boldly, and bring me my father s will! The lawyer understood whom he was dealing with, and didn t even bother reminding the son that his father s body was being interred in those very moments. He presented the lad with a closed envelope. The boy ripped it open to find one page. Attached to it was a bill of currency. It was a letter from his father, which read, In light of your attitude of ingratitude, I have decided to leave you nothing at all. All of our wealth will be donated to charity, to yeshivot and chessed organizations. I bequeath to you the fifty dollars attached here. Good luck on the path you choose in life. The disa p - pointed son took the fifty dollars and went to his favorite spot the casino. At first, he managed to double and even triple his money, reaching three hundred dollars. But then his luck took a turn, and he lost everything. He approached the manager, asking for credit. The manager had not yet heard of the father s passing, and gave him credit. By the end of the night, he had accumulated a debt to the tune of nine million euro! The manager told him, That ll be it for tonight. Just make sure to pay up. The boy remembered that his parents house contained expensive furnishings and works of art. He could surely sell those and earn a nice profit. Two days later, he received a phone call from the casino manager. He had, in the meantime, been informed that he was not dealing with a spoiled brat with wealthy parents, but with a hopeless orphan. You have two weeks to settle your account, he warned. The boy took it all in stride, and replied that everything would be alright. Exactly two weeks later, a black car stopped in front of his house. Four henchmen emerged with the message, If you don t pay up by nightfall, we ll kill you. There are some places where life is cheaper than money. He waited for their return that evening, and told them to take him to his parents home, where he would pay them what he owed. They accompanied him to the house, only to find it completely empty! The boy understood that the game was over. He asked for a few minutes to check out his parents room. There he found only one thing. It was a letter to him from his father. This is what he read: If you are reading this letter, it is a sign that you have reached the end of your rope. You have no recourse but to commit suicide! That is what you deserve. In the basement, you will find the necessary supplies. The boy went down to the basement, brokenhearted. There he found a rope and a chair, with detailed instructions. He followed the instructions, while the voices of the strongmen were coming closer. The rope was attached to the ceiling and tied around his neck. He kicked aside the chair Everything happened so fast. The chair was cast aside, but the rope snapped. The boy fell into a hidden pit under the floor. There he found another letter. My dear son! If you are reading this, I am sure you have finally come to complete teshuvah. I fully believe that you learned from your 43

45 mistakes and will not return to your wayward ways. Here are all my bank account numbers where our fortune is located. From the Fear of Judgment to Simchat Torah The night of the hilula has finally arrived. This evening is full of joy. It is the joy of the tzaddik who ascended to his fitting place on High. It is the day in which our joy in the joy of the tzaddik brings us abundance of blessing and yeshuah. Throughout the days of the hilula, I interviewed several people who have fascinating life stories. Many of them are inextricably interwoven with the Pinto family. Others have become acquainted with Rabbi David Chananyah, shlita, only recently. It is likely that I missed out on various parts of the stories, since I was listening to accounts in different languages, some of which I am not fluent in. Different words were reiterated in three or more languages, in order to explain and transmit the power of the stories. But it is clear that the main messages, that which the mouths could not form, the hearts conveyed. The heart speaks a universal language, as does the light in the eyes. The common thread which was woven through all their tales, which they nearly shouted, was the closeness they felt to their Creator, in the merit of the tzaddik, Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita. Everyone pointed to him as the one responsible for their return, for their strengthened faith in the words of Chazal, that the tzaddik decrees and Hashem fulfills. The fulfillment of the tzaddik s blessings fortified their faith in Hashem and brought them and their families ever closer. In attempting to comprehend the comprehensive activities of the Rav, shlita, throughout the world, I was aided by wonderful people, with whom I had made this journey. I cannot mention all their names, but I cannot continue without stating some of them. Rabbi Moshe Mirali, may Hashem protect him, is the loyal attendant of Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, who tends to all important aspects of the institutions in Eretz Hakodesh. Rabbi Aryeh Mussabi, shlita, heads the Machon Peninei David in Yerushalayim and takes care of all of the Rav s projects in Eretz Hakodesh. Together with him, we must mention Rabbi Yaakov Ezra, shlita, without whom the entire picture would look different. The story of Caroline and David Tweti of Miami was told to me in a mixture of English, Hebrew, and French: We came here because we are coming closer to authentic Judaism. We gain so much from the Rav, shlita. I merited being one of the first hundred who joined in the first hilula in Mogador, when the Rav s sons were yet young boys. This is our opportunity to show the Rav how much we appreciate his hard work, running all over the globe to France, the United States, and others. He does this for our sake, for the sake of those who, like us, draw from his words the strength to continue onward, to develop ourselves in spirituality and in physicality. He encourages us to take meaningful steps in life, steps which we would never have the inner courage to take without his wisdom and sage advice. Gilbert Ben- Ami is also f r o m Miami. H e was born in Casablanca. His mother was from Mogador. He lived in France and then, approximately twenty years ago, immigrated to the States. I left Morocco at the age of eleven. Coming back now is returning to the scenes of my youth which have long disappeared. I come here, for my father, z l, was a close friend of the Rav, shlita, as well as of his father, and grandfather, zt l. What is the main thing you got from the Rav? I ask. Gilbor answers immediately, The Rav, shlita, taught 44

46 me to believe wholeheartedly. This is the thirteenth time I am participating in the hilula of the tzaddik, but I have the privilege of seeing the Rav more often than that. Whenever he visits Miami (twice a year-y.s.), I have the honor of hosting him in my home. Gilbor points to a group of people, explaining that from his hometown alone, eighteen people have made the pilgrimage. I feel that he is hesitant about sharing something with me. Finally, I have the merit (the merit of the public, of course) to hear this amazing story, first-hand. When my father, z l, was about thirtynine years old, he experienced serious heart problems. He thought he was going to die. He turned to the father of the Rav, the tzaddik, Rabbi Moshe Aharon Pinto, zy a, asking him for advice. Rabbi Moshe smiled at him reassuringly, Amram, there is no need to worry. You will yet live another twenty years! Father was pleased with this blessing. He marked down his expiration date. But he was constantly worried about his health. Twenty years came and went and my father lived through them. Then, in the month in which he had received the blessing, he stated, in a tired voice, This month, I will pass away. I was frightened. I called up Rabbi David, shlita, and asked what to do. He answered, with characteristic humility, You must pray well. What kept your father alive all these years was his faith. He has true, genuine faith. A Lesson that Bore Fruit Many people from all across Morocco arrive at the Motza ei Shabbat hilula. The hall is filled to capacity, but there is boundless room for the joy that erupts, similar to the state of Yerushalayim when the people went to the Beit Hamikdash on the festivals. A moment before the festivities begin, the Rav, shlita, asks everyone to stand up in respect of the occasion. This is the hilula of the tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zt l. The sefarim state that the neshamah of the tzaddik descends to the location where a hilula celebration is taking place in his memory. The true joy is the joy we experience, together with his neshamah, greeting it appropriately. Silence fills the room as all focus on the Rav s softspoken words, asking them to greet the neshamah with due respect. As at every opportunity, and at each occasion, the Rav asks the public to respect its host city, and pray for the well-being of the king, Muhammed VI, and bless his prestigious family. When we are hosted by royalty, we are obliged to honor the king, and bless him that he live long and Hashem grant him the wisdom to rule his nation wisely. Wrapped in his tallit, the Rav recites the appropriate blessing, as Chazal have established. The media is running around with microphones, cameras, and video machines, with which they will capture the event for the pleasure of those who stayed home. The Rav expounds on the faith in the chachamim which has characterized our nation throughout the generations. He told the following story. A man was owed a sizeable amount of money, but he had nothing to prove it. His wife suggested he ask the Rav for a blessing, but he refused. One day, his wife informed him, Tomorrow, Rabbi Pinto is delivering a shiur. Go to the shiur, and get a berachah from him. He agreed to this. The night before the shiur, Rabbi Chaim Pinto came to him in a dream, telling him, He will pay up. The man told over his dream to his wife, who just said, You were probably thinking about it a lot today. He went to the shiur. In the middle of the shiur, he got a text message on his cell phone, which read, So-andso told gave me the money that he owes you. Your wife 45

47 told me you are at a shiur. The money was delivered. As every year, at the close of the hilula, everyone says Selichot together in the cemetery. The hearts are opened, after three days which comprised both a Yom Kippur and a Simchat Torah. This proved an excellent preparation for the Yamim Noraim in the new year. They were strengthened in emunah in Hashem and His tzaddikim. I meet more and more Jews who are teary-eyed from emotion, with hearts wide open, as the people share amazing stories, first-hand. Rabbi Yisrael Ingber from Toronto, Canada, has been acquainted with the Rav for thirteen years. Prosper Lugasi, an old friend, suggested I receive a berachah from the Rav. I had been extremely close with a prominent tzaddik, who passed away. I had been a very devoted disciple of his, and now I sought another Rav, who would guide me. Although Rabbi Yisrael is Ashkenazic, he wished to connect with Sephardic Rabbanim. He has numerous tales of faith, mostly private. He believes that the Torah giants are the ones who can give a person direction in life, based on pure da at Torah. He cites the following as an example. We have a very gifted daughter, who is having a hard time finding her life partner. When the Rav, shlita, came to Montreal, we presented our difficulty to him. He thought for a moment, and then said, This is definitely a challenging situation. But life is full of challenges. Better they should take place now, rather than later! His words were like a burst of fresh water on a hot day. His message was massive. Upon contemplation, we succeeded in finding the berachah in his words, that the continuation would prove easier. The continuation, obviously, did not take long in coming, b sha ah tovah u mutzlachat. Mystery at Sea On our last night in Mogador, I finally managed to speak with the man whom I had met last year. Juliano Winkel is a businessman from Argentina, who seems to be very close with Rabbi David, shlita. He accords the Rav exceptional honor, above the norm. At tefillat Shacharit of Shabbat, he bought an aliyah for a steep price, in honor of Rabbi Chaim, zy a, and lehavdil bein chaim l chaim, Rabbi David, shlita. He is a humble man, and at first, tried to decline, telling me to speak with his son, Mordechai Malech, sitting nearby, who evidently had some stories to tell. I recorded one of Mordechai s stories, but the wonderful story of the father himself, during his first stages of familiarity with the Rav, I finally merited hearing. Mordechai Malech is full of first-hand stories, so we will begin with his accounts. This is the fourth year he is participating in the hilula. He makes it a point to tell me emotionally, I have become transformed in the zechut of Rabbi David, shlita. I will retell the last story that happened. The last time that Rabbi David came to Buenos Aires, I came to visit him, as was my custom. But this time, I brought along my non-jewish friend, a fellow Argentinean. He wished to receive a blessing from the man whom he had heard so much about. We went in together to the Rav s room, this man not speaking a word of English. I told the Rav that this man is a gentile with a family member in need of a blessing. The Rav took a paper and pen and wrote out an amulet for him. I thought the Rav had not heard me correctly, so I repeated, But he is a non-jew. It is well-known that the Rav does not write out amulets for gentiles (since they contain pesukim which demand respect). Yes, replied the Rav, thoughtfully, But I feel he needs an amulet. My friend felt that something was going on, and asked what it was. I told him the truth, 46

48 You are a non-jew, and the Rav never writes out amulets for non-jews, yet here he is, writing one out for you! I think I know why the Rav sees fit to write out an amulet for me, he said, It must be because my mother is Jewish! Juliano, the father, told us another fascinating story (which we heard in short, due to lack of time). The first time I met Rabbi David, shlita, was three years ago. I approached him and he immediately said, I think you have a big worry on your heart. I agreed, and he asked what it was. I told him the following account. I had a large ship in my possession, which was lost at sea. It was a real mystery, as it was a big boat that just went under with no trace. Divers and search boats were dispatched to scan the area where it sank, but they could not find a hint to the ship s location. No one could explain where it disappeared to. Rabbi David Chananya, shlita, thought a moment, and then stated clearly, In thirty-six days, you will find your ship! I asked if the Rav was sure of that. Yes! And all your money will be returned to you! B ezrat Hashem, you will not be missing anything. The Rav added a few words of encouragement, which were full of deep meaning, and I left with mixed feelings. The days passed as I sank my money into different options of finding the very expensive ship. Exactly thirty-six days from the day I had visited the Rav, I sat by my computer before leaving for tefillat Minchah. I glanced at the clock which indicated that the day was about to end. Various thoughts flitted through my mind. Maybe the Rav erred, Maybe I should give him a call, Maybe I didn t understand him. As I was sitting there, I received an . I read it and was filled with shock. This message, which arrived very shortly before sundown of the thirty-sixth day, informed me that the boat had been found. It was exactly where it had been presumed to be twelve meters underwater. And not a thing was missing! Juliano takes my hand, and raises his voice a decibel, for emphasis, This story, among others that I witnessed first-hand, is not meant to relate an incident with a boat and a very large amount of money. It is not a narrative about a tremendous loss which was subsequently returned. It is a tale that tells of the greatness of Rabbi David, who was able to tell with utmost precision the date when my boat would be found. This happened exactly how he predicted, truly astounding. A Cheer for the One who Returns In a conversation with the Rav, shlita, and according to the previous issue of Bechatzrot HaChaim, the Rav s entire objective is to bring people back to their source, to their Heavenly Father. Many of his wonders leave his flock astonished and open-mouthed. He pours into them the living waters. These are the waters of Torah, the elixir of life. On my last morning in Mogador, the Rav, shlita, tells me, It would be worth your while to speak with Mr. Abargel of the United States. It sounds like this man has amazing stories regarding the Rav s kiruv methods. After hearing some stories, I have chosen to relay those which superficially seem incredible. But those who know the Rav (and even those who don t) realize that this is all part of his loving approach, drawing fellow Jews closer at all cost. Mr. Abargel tells about a New York family (which was also at the hilula), in whose home the Rav stayed about two years ago. One of their married daughters arrived 47

49 there dressed most inappropriately, and it was obvious that her entire lifestyle contradicted Torah standards. She appreciated the greatness of the esteemed guest in their home, and asked for a berachah. The Rav spoke with her about tzeniut, stating that the Torah demands behavior befitting the Bat Yisrael and her pure inner essence. She suddenly made an announcement which at first seemed like a joke. But afterward, the people realized she meant every word she said. Her words were, I am prepared to change my dress, but on one condition. In my dining room, I have a most expensive table, and a set of five chairs. These chairs match the pink décor of the room exactly. But I am missing one chair. At first, I checked out all the stores for the sixth matching chair. When I couldn t find it, I became obsessed over it. It is constantly on top of my mind, and allows me no rest. With time, I became more consumed with this thought. It eats me up completely. I run from store to store, and in each place, they tell me that these chairs are not being produced anymore. If the Rav blesses me that I will find the last chair, I will do teshuvah! She was so involved in materialism, that it had become the ticket to her life transformation. She added some words, which attested to her genuine intentions, I believe that in the zechut of the tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, the Rav will be able to bless me. The Rav thought to himself, For the sake of a chair, I should ask for intervention from my holy grandfather, Rabbi Chaim? After a brief pause, he decided he would bless her, Go home now. We will see what will be. This woman has a big business in New York. She prefers travelling by train in order to get to work quickly and avoid parking problems. The next day, she had an important business meeting. But she awoke late, and missed her train. She decided, therefore, to take her car. After a few moments, she regretted this decision, as she found herself stuck in traffic. This is very typical of the workday rush-hour in New York. A humongous truck blocked off the road, bringing traffic to a standstill. She used these precious minutes to make important phone calls, and was already dreading what the day would bring. As she came toward the end of the street, she noticed that workers had been removing various pieces of furniture from the truck, and discarding them in the nearby garbage cans. Suddenly her phone rang, and a friend from Canada was on the line. This friend knew about her obsession with the chairs. She related to her the incident with the Rav. Then she abruptly ended the call, I ll get back to you, she promised and hung up. She had noticed, that among the furniture that the men were taking off, was an exact replica of her dining room chairs, which she had been looking for all this time! She got out of her car excitedly and called out to the men, Can I take this chair? Certainly! they replied, You re saving us room in the dumpster. The chair was in perfect condition and matched the others precisely. This was an amazing and speedy realization of the Rav s berachah, above and beyond her expectations. As a businesswoman, she understood that she would have to fulfill her end of the deal. And fulfill it she did. She is here at the hilula. She wears a head covering and is dressed with tzeniut, part of her campaign to return to her roots, which were neglected until now, due to lack of knowledge. Her life has been changed from one extreme to the other. She switched her children to Torah institutions, and if you visit her in New York, you can see them with their tzitzit flying in the wind, like all the other religious children of the area. Mr. Abergel ends with a footnote, What astounded me about this story is how even simple requests can bring people to make such drastic changes in their lives. This is the way of the Rav, the tzaddik, Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita. It makes no difference whether it is a sunken ship or a missing chair. His goal is always the same. When the issue will be resolved, a Jew will be stronger in his Judaism, having come closer to his Father in Heaven. The loving and merciful heart of the Rav serves as a compass to guide one on the right road, to the ultimate destination of Torah and mitzvot. 48

50 The Days of Mercy and Forgiveness Judges and officers shall you appoint in all your cities which Hashem, your G-d, gives you for your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment (Devarim 16:18) Parashat Shoftim is read on the first Shabbat of Chodesh Elul. Let us explore the intrinsic connection between this parashah and the essence of these days. Chazal tell us that the initials of the phrase I am my.אלול Beloved s and my Beloved is mine, spell the word The days of Elul act as preparation for the Yamim Nora im. Man is enjoined to return in complete teshuvah then, to truly belong to Hashem. When Hashem sees how a person strives to reach Him (as suggested by the words I am my Beloved s ), He in return reaches out to him, and becomes his (as suggested by the words And my Beloved is mine ). A person is measured with his own yardstick. The more one tries to come close to Hashem, the more Hashem will come close to him. Revving up the engine is the first step in driving a vehicle. In order to ensure that we merit a positive verdict, standing before Hashem in sanctity and purity, we must first start up the engine. We do this by arousing ourselves in teshuvah during the days of Elul. When a person has a court case coming up, he is filled with fear and trepidation. Hearing one s verdict via telephone cannot be compared to hearing it firsthand from the judge s mouth. Hashem, as we know, has no physical form. Therefore, it is difficult for us to feel true fear and awe, when we cannot see Him. Furthermore, we cannot hear our verdict for the upcoming year. We must therefore conjure up His presence in our minds, during the forty days of teshuvah, when He is closer to us than ever. The Ba al HaTanya, zy a, compares Hashem in these days to a king who leaves his palace and goes to the fields, in order to meet with his subjects. Only through the preparation afforded by teshuvah can we feel His Presence, feeling as though we see Him with our own eyes, and hear our judgment with our own ears. But when a person receives a court order, and never appears in court, he is demonstrating mockery and distrust toward the entire judicial system. The judges, therefore, dispense a much more severe ruling from what they had originally intended. For example, if he originally deserved a three-year prison sentence, his sentence might be upped to five years. Conversely, if one admits his guilt, and displays regret, his punishment is likely to be less severe. L havdil, when the King of kings judges us on Rosh Hashanah, we are enjoined to stand before Him, confessing our sins. Let us not, chalilah, ignore the gravity of this holy day, involving ourselves in mundane matters. This only indicates contempt of court, adding strength to the power of prosecution. On the other hand, when a person stands before Hashem in teshuvah, feeling true regret and asking for forgiveness, Hashem will pity him, and tilt the scales of his decree in his favor. A baby does not learn to run before he has learned to walk. One doesn t sit behind the wheel before taking driving lessons. So, too, does standing before Hashem in judgment demand prior preparation in the days of mercy and forgiveness of Chodesh Elul. This will ensure that we arrive at the Yamim Nora im clean and pure of sin. All Jewish communities have the custom to blow the shofar during the month of Elul and on Rosh Hashanah. One reason for this is in order to confuse the Satan, who seeks to prosecute against Am Yisrael as Hashem is inscribing them for a good year. He knows good and well that throughout the days of mercy and forgiveness, Am Yisrael are especially close to Hashem. He attempts to find fault with them, to distance them from each other. During these days, he is driven by pressure and fear, as he watches the nation forsake him, drawing closer to Hashem. Throughout the year, the Yetzer Hara feels he has a person in his pocket, so to speak. He is sure of his success. But come the days of Elul, when the nation strives to fulfill the dictum I am my Beloved s and my Beloved is mine, The Satan/Yetzer Hara gets into a panic, trying with all his might to nullify the connection between Hashem and Am Yisrael. He does this through his prosecutions. Therefore, we blow the shofar to confuse him and get him off our case. In the tefillah Unetaneh Tokef of Rabbi Amnon MiMagentza (recited on the Yamim Nora im), we state, Angels quake. What do the angels fear on the Day of Judgment they are not the ones being judged? In Heaven, there are advocating angels, as well as prosecuting angels. On the Day of Judgment, Hashem has us pass before Him like sheep, desiring to inscribe us for a year of life. Just then, a war erupts on High. The advocating angels and the prosecuting angels wage a battle, each desiring to tip the scales in his favor. Angels quake refers to this war. Each group hurries to bring its evidence before Hashem, hoping the verdict will be according to its desire. 49

51 We can explain this from another angle. The angels are well aware that their entire existence, as well as the existence of the entire world, depends on Am Yisrael s Torah study. Yirmeyahu Hanavi proclaims (33:25), If My covenant with the night and with the day [Torah] would not be; had I not set up the laws of heaven and earth. The very first pasuk of the Torah states, In the beginning (בראשית) of G-d s creating. Bnei Yisrael and the Torah are called, the beginning This means to say, then, that the entire world was.(ראשית) created only for the sake of Bnei Yisrael and the Torah. On the Day of Judgment, the angels are alarmed, for they fear for the future of the world. Will Bnei Yisrael merit a good verdict, upholding the world, or not, chas v shalom? Parashat Shoftim opens with the command to appoint judges and policemen. Isn t it common sense to do this; why do we need an official order from the Torah for this? It is unfathomable to imagine a city without a court system and watchmen maintaining law and order. This command is like ordering a person to remember to eat and drink. It is most natural for a person to do this on his own, for his life depends on it. Why, then, does the Torah command us to institute a judicial system? This command includes appointing personal watchmen over oneself, for man is a microcosm of a city [as Shlomo Hamelech writes]. Appointing watchmen will avert sin and stumbling, chalilah. The Yetzer Hara is man s number one enemy, constantly seeking to break into his heart. Providing protection for all parts of one s body will fend off the Yetzer Hara and prove a means of staying clear of his trap. The author of the sefer Mesillat Yesharim writes that when we sleep, the Yetzer Hara sleeps with us and within us, attempting to inject improper thoughts into our minds. We are asleep, but our Evil Inclination is hard at work. And when we pray, the Yetzer Hara tries to insert inappropriate thoughts into our minds. There is a sad joke that goes along these lines: If you misplaced something, hurry to pray, for it is known that during tefillah, you are bound to remember where you put it. This is all the doing of the Yetzer Hara. Whatever he can do to push a person off the proper path, he will do. If are painfully honest with ourselves, we will admit that often during prayer, we are only mouthing the words. Our hearts are far removed from what we are saying. When a person doesn t focus on what he is praying, standing before the King of kings, the Yetzer Hara exploits the situation for his own end. He confuses the person, introducing into him foreign and often completely unfitting thoughts. We are therefore enjoined to provide ourselves with protection for our bodies and minds, so that we don t inadvertently fall into the open ditch that is the Yetzer Hara s trap. In parashat Shoftim, we read (Devarim 20:10), When you draw near to a city to wage war against it, you shall call out to it for peace. When a person truly desires to vanquish his Yetzer Hara, he must first call out to it for peace. He must attain a state of total peace within himself. This is done by calling out. The word וקראת (you shall call out) refers to מקרא תורה (Torah reading). Torah protects one from sin. It builds a fortress around a person, together with security personnel. These are the merits of his mitzvot, which prevent the Yetzer Hara from approaching him. The sefer Chochmat Hamatzpun quotes the statement that on the Day of Judgment, Hashem Himself, so to speak, does teshuvah. Hashem is perfection; He never sins. How can we understand this statement that He does teshuvah?! Oftentimes, Hashem brings retribution for the fathers sins upon the sons, even though the sons are clean of all sin. He therefore asks forgiveness for these punishments, meted out to the innocent. Why is it that He holds back punishment from the sinners? He knows that since they are so far removed from Him, they will never associate their punishment with Him. He therefore decides to punish them in the Next World. Additionally, Hashem strikes them by that which is most dear to them their children. When they observe their offspring suffering for their sins, they are aroused to repent. Bringing penalty upon the children atones for sins of the parents. For this, Hashem asks forgiveness on the Day of Judgment. The last letters of the phrase אני לדודי ודודי לי are numerically equivalent to forty. This alludes to the forty days of the fashioning of a fetus. Only after these forty days is the embryo considered viable. After forty days, beginning Rosh Chodesh Elul and culminating with Yom Kippur, in which person does teshuvan, he is considered a new person. Just as a fetus is not considered living until after forty days, so, too, does one who neglects to do teshuvah during the days of mercy and forgiveness lose his status of living. Even if he remains alive, this is not real living, as we are told, Resha im are considered dead even in life. Blow the shofar at the moon s renewal, at the time ap- שופר pointed for our festive day (Tehillim 81:4). The word has the same root as the word שיפור (improvement). It is not enough for a person to say that he wishes to do teshuvah. He must do physical acts. These will transform his entire mode of behavior. When a person s hands are sullied with layers of filth, it is not enough to simply rinse them. They must be scrubbed with soap. A person to whom aveirot adhere, cannot suffice with saying, I want to do teshuvah. Rather, he must rub and scrub his body and neshamah, by means of the four steps of teshuvah, which include abandoning the sin, regret, confession, and the resolution to never repeat the sin. This will effect true improvement of man s character and conduct. When a person improves his deeds, he merits reaching our festive day. This is the joy of cleansing oneself and becoming pure to Hashem. 50

52 Orot Chaim U Moshe in Ashdod Beyond a residential neighborhood, where the green gardens grow in pastoral peacefulness, a winding road wends its way between the northern and southern sections of the city. And in the midst of it all, one cannot miss the majestic building exuding holiness and sanctity This is the miniature Mikdash for Torah learning, the place where the Shechinah finds its sanctuary. Ashdod. The third largest chareidi city in Eretz Hakodesh, where the mundane merges with the mountains of spirituality. Batei Kenesiot, Batei Midrashot, Talmudei Torah, yeshivot and kollelim, as well as Beit Yaakov schools for the girls, abound. Chareidi Jews of all stripes have established themselves in Ashdod. Amidst the sand dunes, they all strive to ascend to the heights. But there is one place that shines out among all the rest. It is the lighthouse which illuminates its surroundings. This is the magnificent edifice called Mosdot Orot Chaim U Moshe in Ashdod, under the auspices of Moreinu V Rabbeinu, crown of our head, Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita. The grandeur of Torah rests here in a grand casing. It is a world of sanctity, a world of pure Torah study, sweeter than honey. This is the world of those who have abandoned all things material and come to earn eternity. Every person has arrived here from his own starting point in life. There are those who tasted the heady taste of Torah together with their mother s milk. And there are those who merited tasting Torah only later on in life. But their common bond is that here they dedicate themselves solely to Torah. They abandon ephemeral life in favor of eternity. Moreinu Harav, shlita, a link in the glorious chain of brilliant talmidei chachamim and true servants of Hashem, strives to increase and glorify Torah in every corner of the globe. He yearned to establish a yeshiva by the grave of his father, the holy tzaddik, Rabbeinu Moshe Aharon Pinto, zt l, who is interred in the cemetery of Ashdod. It is impossible to describe the miracles that happened with those who visited his grave. Merely praying at this holy site is known to be a segulah for those in need of salvation. Indeed, this desire of Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, has been fulfilled above and beyond anyone s dreams. An entire empire of Torah and tefillah has been built here, a veritable kingdom of powerful Torah teachings. The sound of Torah wafts through the streets, reaching to the very heavens. The flame of kedushah rises daily. One hundred and fifty avrechim, ken yirbu, have established this as their place of study. The benches are filled with those striving ever higher. The Gemara is opened on the stender, and true joy fills the room. The halls are filled with a sense of magic, enthralling all ears. The words of Torah are as enlightening as they were at Har Sinai. In paying attention to every detail, the tremendous kollel is divided into six groups of avrechim. Every group is headed by a Rosh Kollel who is responsible for its members. He is intimately involved with each member s learning, ensuring just the right match between the style of the student and the style of the study. We would like, at this point, to record our impressions of our visit to each study group. Let us learn what we can from this Torah stronghold. First, we visited the kollel headed by Harav Shmuel Ezriel, shlita. With his signature humility, he described this fortress of Torah. B siyata Di Shemaya, we have merited sitting in the tent of Torah now approximately fifteen years, in the kollel Orot Chaim U Moshe, under the guidance of Moreinu V Rabbeinu Harav Hatzaddik, Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita. The schedule is arranged as in all yeshivot. Morning seder opens for the avrechim with in-depth Gemara study, with the main commentaries of Rishonim and Acharonim. We are, at present, learning hilchot Shabbat in all its nuances. We touch on the relevant explanations of the Tur and the Beit Yosef. We also study the teachings of the Shulchan Aruch and the Taz, as well as the Magen Avraham, the Mishnah Berurah, and contemporary commentaries. The afternoon session is devoted to gaining mastery over the same masechtot that we learn in the morning, from the beginning. Every two weeks, comprehensive exams are held, which summarize all of the material studied. The avrechim take them only after extensive review. We asked Rav Ezriel to share with us insights into the unique exams, which are held by famed Torah scholars, 51

53 who arrive especially to test the avrechim on their level of knowledge. He becomes excited at the prospect of sharing this with us. Last year, we hosted the Gaon, the Av Beit Din of Ashdod, Rabbi Yisrael Bunim Schreiber, shlita, son of the Mara D Atra, Harav Pinchas Schreiber, zt l. As he entered the kollel, he was most impressed by the multitude of avrechim and their extraordinary level of knowledge. He was effusive in his praise of Moreinu Hatzaddik, Harav Pinto, shlita, who sacrifices himself to raise the banner of Torah, and strengthen the citadels of Torah. He added that Moreinu s efforts to recruit soldiers in the army of Torah is most evident here. The wonderful avrechim displayed amazing proficiency in the sugyot of masechet Shabbat. They received his warm blessings, that they see berachah and success in their work, truly a labor of love. We merited, this year, to implement these examinations, with Harav Ophir Malka, shlita, as well. He arranged an all-encompassing test for the avrechim on the next section of hilchot Shabbat that they had covered. He, too, lauded their remarkable erudition. He commented that this is a tribute to the vast efforts invested by Moreinu Harav, shlita, into each and every student in the kollel. He is dedicated to ensuring their undiluted Torah study, with complete peace of mind. We might add here that Moreinu Harav, shlita, has exerted himself to add a special stipend for those who pass the tests successfully, in order to encourage them in this area. All of them, without exception, passed with flying colors. We wrapped up our interview with one last question for Rav Ezriel, As Rosh Kollel of more than a decade, which impressions have lasted with you? The strongest impression, without a doubt, is the utter dedication of these Torah students. B siyata di Shemaya, we have merited having a group of wonderful avrechim. They have no interest in life other than the dalet amot of halachah. They strive and they succeed in seeing the fruits of their labor. I am certain that this is all in the merit of Moreinu Harav, shlita, who stands at the helm of the institutions, sacrificing his life, day and night, to uphold the kollel most magnanimously. On a weekly basis, we merit hearing his words of inspiration in emunah and bitachon in Torah exertion. When the Rav, shlita, delivers a general shiur to the avrechim, he most skillfully weaves threads of the parashah and topics related to the times, in his inimitable way. The message is clear: to strengthen one s emunah, diligence in Torah study, and pure yirat Shamayim, as well as improving one s character. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all he has invested in the kollel. We pray that Hashem allow him to actualize all of his holy aspirations for Torah, through perfect health, and Divine sanction. 52

54 In the hallowed halls of this spiritual sanctuary, we made our way to the second kollel group of Orot Chaim U Moshe, led by the extraordinary Dayan, Harav Hagaon, Rabbi Nissim Yaakov Attia, shlita. We asked what distinguishes this kollel from the others in the area. All of Rav Attia s mannerisms and conduct of speech illustrate his broad knowledge of Torah. He returns, together with us, to the founding days of the kollel he heads, and describes the background upon which it was established. Approximately five years ago, a group of diligent kollel avrechim was formed. Their common bond was their desire to learn practical halachah. These avrechim wanted to continue learning where they were until now, and earn a certificate enabling them to teach halachah and officiate in a Jewish court. To date, Baruch Hashem, after years of continuous exertion in comprehensive study, they have nearly finished the requisite study to earn semichah in the field of Yoreh De ah. Nearly all of them have successfully passed the comprehensive exams. This is a true case of siyata di Shemaya. Who prepares these tests? They are prepared by well-known, distinguished dayanim. They are very capable and experienced in testing those who desire to become Torah arbitrators. Every so often, an organized group of avrechim is formed, to visit the Beit Hora ah (courthouse) of the Rabbanut Harashit, Heichal Shlomo, in Yerushalayim. There, they are tested on the material they studied, and the examiners assess their achievements, which, as we said before, is high, Baruch Hashem. Did these avrechim study for many years in the framework of ordinary kollelim before becoming eligible to teach halachah? Most definitely. These men filled themselves with Shas and Poskim for a long time before beginning their learning of dayanut. Recently, though, very young avrechim approached us, wishing to study Torah law. They felt ready to learn in our kollel, despite its rigorous schedule. Their request was brought before Moreinu Harav, shlita. With his unlimited love for Torah, he felt it was commendable for even such young men to wish to earn semichah. Knowing that these were their first steps in such study, he arranged for one of the senior talmidei chachamim of the kollel to learn with them. After much thought, Harav Yigal Itach, shlita, was chosen for the position. Not long after they began their studies, in the winter of 5772, this kollel of young men was thriving. Baruch Hashem, they find fulfillment in their studies, investing untold time and boundless energy in order to progress in the field of hora ah and dayanut. The Rav mentioned the examinations in Heichal Shlomo in Yerushalayim. Are there additional tests in the framework of the kollel itself? Certainly. And every test is met with enthusiasm, truly a source of spiritual elevation. Every time, I witness how the sincere aspirations of Moreinu, shlita, are actualized. Once a month, an internal exam is arranged, on all the material studied that month. Baruch Hashem, all of the avrechim pass with flying colors. Regarding external tests, one cannot forget to mention an all-encompassing exam regarding hilchot chuppah v kiddushin, arranged by Harav Hagaon Rav Paniri, shita, one of the most esteemed dayanim in Eretz Hakodesh, author of the important sefer Beit Chatanim. The Rav was most impressed by the broad knowledge of our students, and blessed them that they merit to become Torah teachers in Yisrael. What is the feeling that accompanies the Rosh Kollel on a day-to-day basis? Hand-in-hand with the assignment I received on High, to bestow the tools of Torah law to the next generation, I am filled with gratitude toward Moreinu V Rabbeinu, Hagaon Hatzaddik Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita, whose love of Torah is unlimited. The Rav, shlita, is blessed with boundless resources of giving. His love of Torah lishmah, and his fervent wish to bring others close to Torah, are undying. This is his motivating factor here, as well. Our kollel is designated to increase Torah teachers in Yisrael, to bring merit to the public in pure halachah, as handed down to us, from generation to generation. I would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere berachah that Hashem should give him the zechut to continue his exalted work, and grant him physical and spiritual strength in his holy mission of raising the banner of Torah. We merited visiting three of the kollelim, overflowing with Torah. What is unique about the next three? we wondered. Our question didn t linger long in the air, for just as soon as Harav Mordechai Ochayun, shlita, entered the study hall, we felt the warmth he exuded. We asked the Rosh Kollel, What is the foundation upon which your kollel is built? 53

55 Rav Ochayun answers, with a smile, Some years ago, Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, expressed his desire to open a kollel for those who need a different track. In contrast to the avrechim, who are products of yeshivot, and spent all their lives in the framework of Torah, these are ba alei teshuvah who embraced Judaism not long ago. They are obviously not on the same level of learning as the regular avrechim. Little by little, our kollel for ba alei teshuvah evolved, until it became an intrinsic part of Orot Chaim U Moshe. Can you share come of the challenges you faced in the early days? As with everything holy, many difficulties faced us in the beginning. The kollel began with only three men! Understandably, it was hard to work in a framework of only three students. A large group makes a vibrant atmosphere. Today, b chasdei Shamayim, our kollel numbers thirty members, and we hope the numbers will increase. This is very encouraging. Also, when we first founded the kollel, our intention was to mainstream the ba alei teshuvah into a regular yeshivah framework. But they were late bloomers, and found difficulties in certain areas. One who absorbed these aspects of Judaism from his youth cannot fathom how hard it was for them. In which areas were these difficulties manifest? Ba alei teshuvah, in general, need help in strengthening their emunah and yirat Shamayim. How praiseworthy they are for leaving behind their entire past and devoting themselves completely to Avodat Hashem, in every sense of the word. Some of them are grappling with personal problems. These are problems that arise from their quick transition to a Torah lifestyle. Additionally, it is difficult to accustom themselves to the method of study prevalent in the yeshiva world today, as I explained previously. Do you feel that the difficulties of the road are behind you? B siyata Di Shemaya, we can proudly say that these avrechim, who made the long journey, are Baruch Hashem flourishing in the Torah world. We thank Hashem, and bless Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, who devotes his life to their success. What is the daily learning schedule? The avrechim learn in regular study sessions, just as in every other kollel. The hours are exactly the same as in other places. Morning is devoted to in-depth study. The men learn halachic subjects thoroughly, based on sources of the Gemara, Rishonim, Tur, Beit Yosef, up until the Mishnah Berurah and the Yalkut Yosef. Hashem helped us to finish hilchot berachot, hilchot Chanukah, hilchot Purim and Kriyat Hamegillah, and hilchot arba at haminim. Moreover, at the culmination of the halachot of the 39 melachot of Shabbat, we began learning hilchot Kiddush. In the afternoon, there is a session in bekiut, in which the avrechim learn Gemara. This gets them accustomed to Gemara study, granting them the tools needed to understand the give-and-take. We have merited covering much ground in the afternoon classes, as well. We completed many masechtot, among them: Beitzah, Sukkah, Bava 54

56 Kama, and Megillah. We are now in the midst of learning masechet Yoma. Every two weeks, tests are given on the study matter. These gauge the students level of progress, both in depth and in scope. Apart from the regular learning sessions, is there a special something that characterizes the study in your kollel? Indeed, there is. Every morning and every afternoon, a daily shiur is delivered in which all of the material covered is reviewed, word for word. This is in order that the members get a grasp on the method of Gemara study, combined with Rashi and the commentaries. This is with the objective of enabling the students to acquire the skills necessary to master Gemara. How do new members of the kollel integrate with the older ones? This question brings me to explain the division made in our kollel a few months ago. The older members were progressing at a much quicker rate than the new ba alei teshuvah who had arrived recently, both in learning as well as in other areas, in which they need encouragement. At first, we tried to balance the learning level. But it didn t work out. Therefore, we decided to divide the kollel into two groups, beginners and advanced ba alei teshuvah. We put a lot of thought into who would stand at the helm of the advanced group. On one hand, they had grown greatly in Gemara study and hashkafah, yet, on the other hand, they still needed guidance in other areas. We all agreed that the man most suited for the job was one of the members himself, Harav Hagaon, Zion Shammah, shlita. Is there a marked difference in the study methods of both groups? Naturally, the level of the advanced group is higher. This group studies in-depth all day long. In order to give a broader knowledge of the Gemara, one hour in the afternoon is devoted to this type of study, on an independent basis, each avrech according to what he wants to learn. B siyata Di Shemaya, in this manner, the avrechim succeeded in concluding, in a relatively short time, the study of hilchot arba at haminim. Today, they are studying hilchot berachot. The level of their exams is also higher, and they demand more work. How do the Roshei Kollel keep the two groups united? Maintaining a warm atmosphere of unity and support between the two groups is important to us. Every Thursday, both groups get together to learn parashat hashavu ah with the commentary of the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh, together with different ideas and thoughts on the parashah. Words of mussar and Torah outlook are interlaced in the lessons. It is not necessary to mention how much inspiration and encouragement these shiurim impart to the groups in general, and each avrech in particular. In order to further encourage closeness between them, light refreshments are served, as per the dictum, Great is a sip, for it brings the hearts closer. As we continued on our Torah tour, after visiting the previous five kollelim, we had the feeling that this is a place where everyone finds a listening ear. This is where the staff toils ceaselessly, for each and every individual, without exception. The sixth group, as well, serves the avrechim to full capacity. We turned our steps to the yeshivah gedolah, Torat David, established, as well, by Moreinu V Rabbeinu, Hagaon Hatzaddik, Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita. 55

57 Visiting the yeshivah is a spiritual experience. In contrast to the numerous kollelim in Ashdod, there are not many yeshivot there. Moreinu Harav saw the benefits of opening a yeshivah gedolah for the youth. This yeshiva is the solution for the quality young men of the eidot hamizrach, who desire to sit and learn. In addition to the strong learning atmosphere which the kollelim give to the place, the bachurim can truly rise in yirat Shamayim and study without any distractions. One can tell, just by looking at them, that they are boys on the rise, true bnei Torah. Harav Hagaon, Rabbi Shlomo Rebibo, shlita, an alumnus from Ponovezh, heads the yeshiva. He had merited serving Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, Rav Shach, zt l. After Rabbi Shlomo s marriage, he continued in the kollel of yeshivat Ponovezh, where he became very close with Hagaon, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita. Rabbi Rebibo merited authoring a series of wonderful sefarim, titled Mishnat Shlomo, wherein shiurim on masechtot Avodah Zarah and Kritut are arranged most pleasantly. These are lectures he delivered to the young boys in Ponovezh and Beit Matityhayu. The yeshiva is only about two and one-half years old. But its name has spread so far, that it would seem to have been in existence at least twenty years. There is a great demand to get accepted to this yeshiva. In the month of Tammuz of this past year (5771), the number of applicants reached four hundred and fifty! They apply from across the country, in order to merit being among the student body. Despite the large number of applicants only about thirty were accepted. They were chosen according to the high standards set by the administration, in order to preserve the quality and uniqueness of this institution. We wanted to hear more about the yeshiva, to soak in the special atmosphere with which the walls are saturated. Rabbi Rebibo acquiesced with our request for a short interview despite his busy schedule. All of the Rosh Yeshiva s actions bespeak respect. Despite his young years, it is evident that he is a vessel brimming with Torah and yirah. His smile is inviting, drawing us to dive into the sweet waters of the yeshiva, as they merge with the pleasant singsong of the Torah students. Who is on the staff of the yeshiva today? Harav Hagaon, Rabbi Eliezer Shteinman, shlita, grandson of Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, is the ram of the yeshiva. His shiurim are known for their clarity, delivered with great depth. Rabbi Refael Baruch Toledano, shlita, presides over the yeshiva with him. He is the Ram of the yeshiva for the first level of students. They boys drink in his words thirstily. The mashgiach ruchani is Rav Terem, shlita. Whoever needs advice or guidance, finds he has a listening ear and a warm heart. What would you say is the strong point of your yeshiva? First of all, one cannot ignore the special atmosphere prevalent here. Everyone is concerned for each other. There is a strong sense of unity among the boys, as well as a strong learning environment. The older bachurim help out the newer ones, supporting them on their first steps in the world of yeshiva gedolah. Furthermore, Moreinu V Rabbeinu, Hagaon Hatzaddik, Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita, invests all his energies into upholding the yeshiva. Apart from the spiritual aspect, which includes his riveting weekly shiurim (which we will expound on later), he worries about the bachurim like a father for his son, in fulfillment of the dictum If there is no flour, there is no Torah. In order to grant the boys the means to grow, their physical conditions are met in the best way possible. Meals are always served on time. Heating in the winter and cooling in the summer are always provided. His sole purpose is that they learn Torah maximally. The Rosh Yeshiva mentioned the shiurim of the Rav, shlita. When exactly, are these shiurim delivered? 56

58 These wonderful lectures are delivered weekly. And where you find his greatness, there you will find his humbleness. Rabbi Pinto s shiurim are full of content and mussar. He interlaces his Torah insights with pure, firm faith and spiritual inspiration which are impossible to describe in words. Everyday occurrences suddenly take on new meaning. The bachurim connect strongly to the parashiot hashavuah as well as to the divrei Torah, which lift their spirits. The yirat Shamayim they attain is tangible. Furthermore, in this manner, the warm relationship between Moreinu V Rabbeinu and the bachurim is maintained. The Rav is kept informed of all the goings-on in the yeshiva, and everyone merits his pure blessing, in the merit of his holy ancestors, zt l. Do other Rabbanim also deliver shiurim of inspiration to the students? Every so often, prominent Rabbis visit. Rabbi Reuven Karelenstein, shlita, arrived on Erev Rosh Hashanah and delivered inspiring, uplifting words to the bachurim. He explained the meaning of the Day of Judgment in depth, and how we can utilize it to gain a good year, through true teshuvah. Similarly, every two weeks, Rabbi Chizkiyahu Yosef Mishkovsky, shlita, delivers a mussar speech. The study hall fills to capacity, as masses of bnei Torah arrive from all parts of town, to gain inspiration from his unique shiurim. Frequently, there is standing room only. What has left a strong impression upon the Rosh Yeshiva, out of all the experiences here? I cannot forget Erev Chag HaShavuot. This is when we merit greeting Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita. In spite of his advanced years, and the difficulties of travel, he arrives to strengthen the bachurim in spiritual matters, preparing them for Matan Torah, delivering words of arousal and mussar, which remain etched on their hearts. How many boys are there in the yeshiva gedolah? To date, approximately eighty boys learn here, kein yirbu. With siyata di Shemaya, we merited expanding the framework of study. There are now three separate levels of shiurim. Can you describe the relationship between the yeshiva and the residents of the neighborhood Be er Moshe in particular, as well as the residents of all Ashdod in general? It is clear that the light of Torah emanating from the yeshiva halls and the surrounding kollelim reach far and wide, spreading kedushah upon the entire region. It is known that Torah shields and protects, as the residents of Ashdod can attest. Sadly, sirens are sounded often, due to missile attacks on the city, Hashem yirachem. Every time, it is heartening to observe the revealed miracles that occur. There is no doubt that the zechut of Torah protects the city like a fortress. This tremendous zechut is attributed to Moreinu V Rabbeinu Harav, shlita, who sacrifices his life so that the voice of Yaakov can be heard loud and clear, and Eisav s hand be stilled. In connection with this, I would like to add an interesting note. In the study halls of our yeshiva, the lights hardly ever go out. The diligent bachurim learn here throughout the night! They continue their Torah studies past the official learning hours. This is due to the fact that the hakafot sold on Simchat Torah were bought for the price of thousands of pages of Gemara Those who offered the highest bid, received the honor of holding the Sefer Torah during the hakafot. They now pay up by putting in extra hours of learning during the nighttime, apart from their daily study regimen. Additionally, the Shema of tefillat Shacharit resonates far and wide. Pesukei DiZimra and Amen resound throughout the town. Here, they accept the yoke of Torah with fear and trembling, just as at Har Sinai. Tefillat Shemoneh Esrei is recited slowly, with concentration on each word. Also, esteemed avrechim of the community come 57

59 to pray here, in order to be part of the yeshiva experience. When they conclude tefillat Shacharit, in the unique yeshiva tune, one can perceive the pleasure and satisfaction upon their faces. A short visit to the sanctified study halls of yeshivat Torat David uplifts anyone s spirits. As Shabbat Hamalka spreads her wings over the city, a holy atmosphere descends. Together with the neshamah yeteirah, one can sense the Shechinah resting here. Rabbi Rebibo, shlita, describes the most honored day of the week, here in Torat David. The learning schedule continues on Shabbat. Every moment is sanctified for Avodat Hashem. Every Shabbat, another member of the staff remains with the bachurim. He eats the seudot together with them and contributes to the flourishing fiber of the yeshiva, with ongoing strength. The spirited song can be heard for miles around and all of the residents feel the kedushah of Shabbat. During the long winter Friday nights, the large study hall fills as soon as the Friday night seudah ends. The satisfying sounds of Torah learning, as well as the sweetness which spills over from the Gemara pages are something to experience. On Motzaei Shabbat, the bnei yeshiva have a seudat Melaveh Malka, accompanies by soul songs. Immediately afterward, they go back to their learning for a long stretch. Was there any innovation implemented as of late? Whoever knows Moreinu V Rabbeinu, shlita, is aware of the fact that his life is devoted completely to Torah. No effort is too much in his eyes, in order to promote Torah learning. With this objective in mind, he executed his idea to broaden the scope of the existing yeshiva. With the advent of the summer session of 5771, a kollel for young married men was established in the yeshiva, where they can learn, after leaving their original yeshiva upon marriage. This kollel lends a serious atmosphere to the yeshiva. At the same time, it sharpens the knowledge of the avrechim in the masechtot studied in the yeshiva since they are also studying Nashim and Nezikin, as in all yeshivot. Now we have finally arrived at the sixth kollel of avrechim. This kollel, as mentioned, is housed in the building of the yeshiva gedolah, yet maintains its distinct style. Harav Hagaon Avner Revach, shlita, stands at the helm. He is a tremendous talmid chacham and yirei Shamayim. He describes his unique kollel. Only a short time after the kollel was founded, we see how learning in a yeshiva framework contributes to the young married men, sharpening their minds in understanding the sugya studied. The atmosphere of learning in the yeshiva is so strong that the avrechim seamlessly become a part of it. Once a week, one avrech delivers a chaburah to the others. This affords them the self-esteem required to prepare and deliver a speech. It gives them the necessary tools, in case they will one day become ramim or maggidei shiur. They will have learned to speak clearly and to the point. Every week, the avrechim summarize the sugya they were studying, in depth, with the commentaries of the Rishonim and Acharonim. They give their summary to the Rosh Kollel to review. Every two weeks, there is a test in bekiut on the material studied previously. At the end of the zman, there is a comprehensive test, summarizing all of the material studied during the zman. Every week, we merit joining the bachurim of this prestigious yeshiva, drinking in thirstily of the shiur of Moreinu, shlita. We rise a little higher each time, as we soak in his pure, penetrating words. 58

60 Additionally, a weekly shiur is delivered by the Rosh Kollel, with the intention of honing the sugya so that all understand it in depth. Is there a standard yeshiva custom that you adopted for yourselves in the framework of the kollel? Yes. After the second study session of the day, there is a mussar seder for about twenty minutes. With the opening of the sefarim Mesilat Yesharim, Chovot Halevavot, and Sha arei Teshuvah, the hearts are opened, as well. It is superfluous to state the benefits of this study session, which, though short in time, is great in quality. We thank Rav Revach, shlita, and go on our way. Together with the pages which we filled with tiny, crowded words, our hearts became filled with ethereal joy. The words of the tefillah of Rabbi Nechuniah ben Hakaneh play themselves in our heads, How fortunate are we, that You placed our lot with those who sit in the Beit Hamidrash. A complete kingdom of Torah and yirah is sustained here, in strength and splendor. It upholds and influences, shining its light upon others, with charm, pleasantness, and sweetness. We have merited. We have merited that this house has become great, a true haven for Hashem. It has become a palace of Torah nobility. We have merited having Moreinu V Rabbeinu, scion of holiness, the great disseminator of Torah, Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita, reign over it. His tremendous love for Torah overflows in the community Be er Moshe, for, from that well, all of the flocks drink. We pray that Hashem should grant him success, to increase Torah and glorify it, together with his distinguished Rabbanit, tichyeh. She supports him in his holy endeavors for the dissemination of Torah, and takes upon herself this yoke with joy, all for the sake of Torah. May they reap much nachat from their dear children, sheyichyu, who continue the chain of the true ben Torah, handed down from generation to generation. Here is the place to give credit to Rabbi Yitzchak Saban, shlita, son-in-law of Moreinu, who devotes himself to upholding the institutions in Ashdod which are under Moreinu s auspices, so that they continually flourish. His constant concern for the spiritual and physical aspects are most evident. His investments into the institutions allow them to function maximally. His helper in holiness, Rabbi Yospel Zephrani, shlita, dedicates all his energies to be of assistance. At the conclusion of these lines, we were notified of a good tiding. It is actually a simchah for the entire Torah world. In honor of the upcoming Pesach, a new sefer kodesh from the Beit Hamidrash of the six kollelim is slated to be published. The sugyot which were studied in the kollel in-depth are described here clearly. Each of the avrechim learned the matter thoroughly, in order to understand the relevant halachot. This is not simply a compilation of chaburot which the avrechim delivered. It is a halachah sefer, written in a way that everyone can understand. Moreinu Hatzaddik Rabbi David Chananyah Pinto, shlita, delivered shiurim on every subject studied, to each and every study group. This has fashioned it into a real Torah creation. B ezrat Hashem, it will gain a place of prominence among the Torah scholars. As we leave this bastion of Torah, we turn to He Who dwells on High, with the prayer of Shlomo Hamelech when he built the Beit Hamikdash (Divrei Hayamim II 6): That Your eyes be open toward this Temple day and night, to the place of which You said may You hear from Heaven for Your Name is called upon this Temple. 59

61 It s Pointless to Fight Against the Darkness. Instead, Create Light! by Laurent Gahnassia Dedicated to the memory of my venerated father, Emile- Haïm Gahnassia, Ben Sadia Zatzal When we think about the numerous deeds of our venerated teacher, Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Shlita, how can this eloquent passage from the Talmud not come to mind? The lights that he creates around the world emanate from a source of eternal radiance: The Torah. From Buenos Aires to Sao Paulo, New York City to Villeurbanne, Paris to Toronto, Mexico to Guadeloupe, for decades Rabbi David has never stopped or spared any effort in putting himself at the service of the Jewish community and the words of the Talmud, thus contributing on a daily basis to this mitzvah of creating light. Without a doubt, the high point of the year 5772 was the great Hevrat Pinto celebration that took place last December 10th at the Concord Lafayette Hotel in Paris. Almost a thousand participants from all over France, as well as a few from abroad, came and shared their enthusiasm and spirit with our venerated teacher Rabbi David. A video presentation allowed the participants to better understand the work done by Rabbi David s network of organizations, including their effectiveness, operation, and obviously the financial needs which result from such work. Bathed in an atmosphere of kedusha [holiness] around our teacher, the enthusiasm of the convinced audience doubled, uniting to support the activities aimed at a single and essential goal: The realization that the Torah, the light of the Jewish people, must be at the center of each person s daily life. Hence priority was given to education, the education of children by parents of course: Hear, my child, the disciple of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother, the Torah advises. This is what Rabbi David Pinto did not stop mentioning on that night. How many celebrations, community gatherings, and various conferences are organized each year in France? People from all over seek Rabbi David s help, asking him to sponsor, supervise, or contribute to all these initiatives. Rav Hamou, Rav Shapira, Rav Schontal, Rav Frankforter everyone appreciates the effort and generosity of our teacher Rabbi David Hanania Pinto, who never hesitates to give his all, and more, in order to assure the success of each of these events. But that s not all. Unbounded Generosity A large number of organizations around the world, including those belonging to Rabbi David Pinto, often call upon his generosity and great rachmanut. Among them (we obviously cannot cite them all) are Chesed Haim in Villeurbanne, Orach Haim yeshiva in Jerusalem, Beer Yaakov near Bnei Brak, and Haveh Daat in Jerusalem. There are still others, including charity organizations for the most impoverished among us, such as Mazon in France or Toldot Aharon Israel in Mea Shearim, Manchester Kollel in Great Britain, which is 99% financed by Rabbi David Pinto, as well as the activities of Rav Kaufman, who personally comes to help the poor of the country. The 11 rue du Plateau 60

62 Rabbi David Pinto s generosity does not limit itself to the Jewish community. Thus each year, our teacher demonstrates a great Kiddush Hashem by giving a large donation to the dialysis center of Essaouira in Morocco. Finally, always on the lookout for others, be it in Paris or while traveling to the four corners of the globe, our venerated teacher Rabbi David Hanania Pinto meets with the simplest of individuals, just as he does with crowned The 32 rue du Plateau Ohr Meir VeRaphael 11 Plateau Street: This building houses the main kollel of Hevrat Pinto, including a mikveh and yeshiva. It also has a synagogue for daily prayer services at 8:10 in the morning, and on Sunday mornings at 9:10. Ohr Tzion 9 Plateau Street: This is where Rabbi David regularly meets with visitors who have come to ask for advice and blessings. The Rav sometimes gives a few classes here as well. Finally, it is with great satisfaction and tremendous gratitude to Hashem, G-d Almighty, that we would like to announce the acquisition of a building in the middle of the 17th district of Paris, on Rue Laugier. It is named Ohr Shlomo, in honor of Rabbi Shlomo Pinto Zatzal, the father of the venerated Rabbi Haim Pinto Hagadol Zatzal. Paying Homage Rabbi David Pinto recalls just how great was the contribution of Rav David Messas Zatzal and Rav Schontal Zatzal to the teaching of Torah, as well as how respected they were by their colleagues. heads and international businessmen, Jewish or not! For obvious reasons of discretion, we cannot mention any names here. Yet know that there is a veritable who s who list of those who come to ask for advice and blessings from our dear and venerated Rabbi David Shlita. The Hevrat Pinto Organizations At the heart of Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th district of Paris, overlooking the City of Lights, we find three addresses belonging to organizations established by our venerated teacher, Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Shlita. As soon as they arrive in Paris, rabbis from around the world regardless of origin or custom will often head straight to Plateau Street in order to meet with Rabbi David Pinto or one of his associates. This destination cannot be ignored, for it almost akin to Jerusalem, transposed in space and time to the heights of Paris! Ohr Haim VeMoshe 32 Plateau Street: This building is where a Beit Knesset (synagogue) took root, allowing dozens of the faithful to pray each day, as well as on Shabbat and the holidays. Each night beginning at 8:45, numerous participants meet with rabbis in order to hear words of Torah and the vital teachings of our teachers. The Kollel of la rue du Plateau The Hilloula Every year, more and more people come to Essaouira (Mogador) in Morocco just prior to Rosh Hashanah for the Hilloula of Rabbi Haim Pinto Hagadol. It is an atmosphere where kedusha and a keen desire for the blessings of our tzaddikim are equaled only by the solemn and impressive homage that our venerated teacher Rabbi Da- 61

63 The 9 rue du Plateau vid Pinto pays to his forefather! Three chartered flights arrive from France, with more than a thousand faithful from around the world participating in a festive atmosphere that cannot be described to anyone who has never experienced it. This year, a date for the Hilloula has already been set: September 6 to 9, Our venerated teacher Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Shlita will go to the grave of his grandfather s own grandfather: Rabbi Haim Pinto Hagadol. (To reserve your place, please contact Mr. William Marciano at ) The Merit of the Rabbi David Pinto and His Four Sons Rabbi David Pinto and his four sons, Rabbi Raphael, Rabbi Moshe, Rabbi Yoel, and Rabbi Michael, regularly attend events sponsored by various rabbis, which can sometimes number up four a week. Rabbi David gives classes over the phone, spend hours on flights, endures jet lag without end, and participates in numerous meetings that are increasingly more frequent. However he demonstrates compassion and an ability to listen, to understand, and to analyze problems that are sometimes insurmountable, even unbearable, from dozens and dozens of faithful Jews on several continents. Rabbi David forsakes nothing, despite his physical and sometimes emotional exhaustion during these meetings, ones that can actually change lives, as hard as that may be for some of us to believe! Yet Rabbi David, he knows! Despite their countless trials, since the light of the Torah fills the Jewish people with hope, will a single ray of light borne by Rabbi David along with his blessings and the merit of his holy and venerated forefathers not also be an immense help to anyone who asks him? Our Rav s firstborn son, Rabbi Raphael, also does not spare any effort to spread the Torah s message to hundreds among the faithful of every generation who gather together in Lyon-Villeurbanne. What can we say about the constant and boundless energy of his sons Rabbi Moshe and Rabbi Yoel? You have to see them, always enthusiastic and joyful, gathering 150 young men between the ages of 14 to 20 several times a week to spread words of Torah and the teachings of their teacher and father, Rabbi David. As for Rabbi Michael, with modesty and tact he imbues words of Torah with infinite refinement, words that he is ready to transmit to others, and always with exemplary patience and forethought. A Dynamic Team Plateau Street has a dynamic team centered around William Marciano. It consists of Rav Yoel, Rav Berdah, Hanania, Ary, Simon, Arik, David, Franck, and Jacky, along with a good number of others who are constantly devoted and attentive to our teacher Rabbi David Pinto. Indeed, what would Plateau Street be without the meticulousness and enthusiasm of William Marciano, who with strength and conviction never spares any effort to ensure that this address stands out until the coming, speedily and in our days, of Mashiach. Amen! The New Beith Ha-Midrach at 13 rue Laugier in Paris 17 ème 62

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