“At the groundbreaking for a Chabad yeshiva not long ago the dean opened his speech with, ‘Every year, this yeshiva educates 150 students who will eventually move out on Shlichus!’ His words were met with resounding applause. But I must admit that I was saddened. Not only because his statement was false, but because his words embodied a major injustice to the students in his yeshiva…”
Thus begins an article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier in the upcoming Tishrei issue of the N’shei Chabad Newsletter, (nsheichabadnewsletter.com) an article that one staff member called “absolutely right on target!”
As she told COLlive, “Since going out on Shlichus peaked about ten years ago, there is an increasing need to address the needs of those who for whatever reason will not be going on Shlichus. Not only to help them feel better about themselves, but also to allow and encourage them to do the equally valuable work of raising frum children and elevating the world wherever they may find themselves, as appointees of Hashgachah Pratis even if not of Merkos.”
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Read about Dr. Robert S. Mendelsohn (1926-1988) in the Tishrei issue of N’shei Chabad Newsletter. Dr. Mendelsohn was widely known first as one of the country`s leading pediatricians and later as a maverick who said that modern medicine—with its emphasis on intervention and high technology—often does more harm than good. Dr. Mendelsohn is famous for statements like, “My feeling is that somewhere around 90% of surgery is a waste of time, money, and life,” and, “One grandmother is worth two MD’s.” Click here to see him speaking and to read his articles.
What happens to people whose souls leave their bodies for a few seconds or minutes and then return?
Enjoy a ten-page supplement in the upcoming Tishrei issue about NDEs, or near death experiences. Mrs. Nomi Freeman (LA, CA), Rabbi Alon Anava (Crown Hts), Mrs. Liba Weiss (Toronto), Rabbi Yoseph Y. Geisinsky (Great Neck, LI) and others share their thoughts and experiences on this topic. But don’t wait. Meet Natan:
Who is best equipped to help children who have lost a parent, R”L? According to Mrs. Sarah Rivkah Kohn, the answer is: Other orphans. The organization LINKS, founded by Rabbi Shmuel and Mrs. S.R. Kohn, does just that: helps children and teens who have lost a parent to feel less alone, and also to process the loss. Processing the loss prevents delayed grief coming out years later and interfering with function (as detailed by Mindy Blumenfeld, LCSW). LINKS hosts Shabbatons, Chanukah parties, Purim gatherings, teleconferences, a 24-hour hotline that’s updated weekly, and an Erev Shabbos phone call from Rabbi Paysach Krohn. The children and teens who have lost a parent say LINKS has made their lives much easier.
Mrs. Tzippy Clapman, Crown Heights’ favorite nurse and beloved storyteller in her column, “Tzippy Remembers When…”, shares some experiences she had with the Rebbe, including this one that happened as she stood on line waiting for her turn to ask the Rebbe for a brachah:
Whenever the Rebbe would address the women downstairs in 770, the women would line up afterwards by his long table to ask for brachos. I always made sure to join the line. The wait was very long, over three hours, but I was mesmerized watching the Rebbe greet every women and girl with interest and caring.
The Rebbe never rushed anyone and sat there like a father concerned about the wellbeing of each and every one of his children. On one of these occasions, it was almost my turn to go by the Rebbe. I did not mean to eavesdrop but I was within earshot of the people in front of me in line and couldn’t help but see all that transpired. Directly in front of me was an older woman who wore a small covering on her head out of respect for the Rebbe.
She stepped up to the Rebbe’s place, opened her large handbag and took out a huge stack of pictures of her children and grandchildren. This stack looked as thick as two decks of cards. She proudly handed them to the Rebbe, telling him that these are her nachas. The Rebbe, with the biggest, proudest smile on his face, started going through all the pictures, asking the grandmother questions about them all. I could hear him ask, “Who is this, and who is that one?” S
he would proudly answer and I could see the Rebbe smile and comment on each picture. Sometimes the Rebbe would say, “Oh, how cute; how sweet this one is.” This went on until they had gone through the entire stack. The Rebbe was enjoying all the pictures of the grandchildren, as if they were his very own. Which, in truth, they were.
To get the full scoop from Rabbi Lipskier on Shlichus, Dr. Mendelsohn on doctor dangers, Nomi Freeman on NDEs, Sarah Rivkah Kohn on growing up as an orphan, and Tzippy Clapman on her memories of the Rebbe, subscribe now at nsheichabadnewsletter.com or buy it on Kingston Avenue.
–that Dr. Robyn Koslowitz also wrote, in the “Orphans Helping Orphans” feature. her work helping grieving people is famous and i can’t wait to read it!
I’m skeptical about NDEs, but it sounds like a great issue overall. Esther Ettiquette is a fan favorite over here. A little glimpse into people’s lives which shows that we all have pretty much the same issues in our interactions with others.
NCN writer Musia Gurevitch interviewed him by phone. Not sure where he was at the time.
Does he not live in Tsfat?