The Rebbe and a Man Who Inspired Israeli Outreach Organizations

B"H


Pioneering Rabbi to Israeli Immigrants Passes Away at 83
Rabbi Shalom Ber Lifshitz
By Dovid Zaklikowski
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Rabbi Shalom Ber Lifshitz, whose dedication to the physical and spiritual wellbeing of new Israelis nurtured entire communities of freshly-arrived refugees from locations around the world, passed away last month at the age of 83. The Chabad-Lubavitch activist's approach to social welfare encompassed his entire being, expressing itself in the motto: "We will not give up on the wellbeing of any Jew."

Lifshitz's organization, known today as Yad L'achim – or "Hand to Brothers" – was established in 1949 as a response to the flood of new immigrants from Yemen, who fled Arab persecution to find lives of hardship in several refugee camps across Israel. The newcomers were not offered the option of enrolling their children in traditionally religious schools, and when Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, dean of the Ponovezh Talmudic School, asked his students if anyone would assist the immigrant families in obtaining religious education for their children, Lifshitz enthusiastically volunteered.

Known as the resident chabadnik in the Lithuanian-style Ponovezh school – a nickname given in deference to his full grown beard and energetic demeanor – Lifshitz organized a cadre of fellow students to establish an educational system for the refugees without the permission of Israeli government ministries. In time, they would obtain government approval for their efforts.

Lifshitz's willingness to work with Jewish leaders of all stripes, and his ability to win the support of various religious factions, fueled an entire Jewish outreach movement in the religious community.

When Lifshitz tackled the issue of immigrant education, the initial reaction among rabbinical leaders was one of unease. His work required many volunteers, the support of parents, and a steady stream of funds to provide for children's needs. At one point, several of those who joined Lifshitz were instructed by their own mentors to return to their studies and leave the activism to others.

For the first time, Lifshitz struggled with his own doubts.

Around that time, the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory, passed away and his son-in-law ascended to the leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Lifshitz wrote to the new Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, and asked him what to do about his predicament in Israel.

"Your doubts come from the evil inclination, which comes and asks, 'Why go into other fields when you could be sitting and studying,' " the Rebbe wrote Lifshitz in 1951. But the Talmud instructs that when no one else is available to perform a holy task, it was incumbent upon a scholar to leave his study hall and commit himself to the work at hand.

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>>> THIS WEEK'S FEATURES >>>>

VIDEO
One Sukkah, One Lulav, One People
The Rebbe on the Message of Sukkot

The two central mitzvos of Sukkos—the <i>sukkah</i> and the Four Kinds—have at their core the theme of Jewish unity (an excerpt from a talk on 13 Tishrei, 5741 • September 23, 1980).

WATCH (5:17) >> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=8E655C800778192A835EBEBDDC01182C&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Q&A
Why All the Shaking of the Lulav and Etrog Set? (By Eliezer Shemtov)

What is the shaking of the <i>lulav</i> and <i>etrog</i> set is all about?

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=F39142FCFB02A095DAE76D48AD2797A6&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


INSIGHT
The Energy Through the Cracks of the Sukkah Hut Roof (By Yehuda Shurpin)

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7F7BA7ABC639D0DD125AFEC032C657EA&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


INSPIRED
Hitting the Streets with My Sukkot Holiday Gear (By Yehudis Fishman)

My initial fear to shake the Four Kinds with others

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=72F891A23C644D6A35B59BAA2F780820&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

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