Purim at Ft. Dix 5773/2013

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BS"D 24 Adar 5773 (3/6/13)
"Purim 5773/2013"
by: Yaakov Alter ben Shifra Tsharna

Dear Rabbis and friends,

I would like to share with you our Purim holiday experiences be"H.

At the beginning of this month of Adar, we began a daily Halacha Shiur, which was given by Yaakov Mertz.
We began to learn the halachos of this month as well as of Purim.  In result of learning these halachos, we
discussed the laws and obligations of this great holiday of Purim.  The merit of the Torah brought a joy for
the members of our community.

Before Shabbos Zachor, we made a big sign advertising the Schedule of Times for the holiday of Purim.  Of
course the sign increased the joy and expectation for the holiday, and kept people in uplifted spirits.

Although the Chaplaincy tried to disturb the holiday in many ways, I shall not go into all the issues, as I wish
to only speak positively of our experiences.  B'chasdei Hashem, we sought to overcome all challenges and
fulfill the mitzvos in joy.  We thank Hashem greatly for His help in fulfilling the mitzvos in such a difficult
environment.

Saturday night at about 7pm, the whole community gathered in the Chapel to daven Maariv and read the
"Megilla".  Everyone was ready for the time, and we davened Maariv at 7pm.  Yaakov Mertz was the Baal
Tefilla for Maariv.

After Maariv we read "Megillas Esther".  RABBI SAMET did a wonderful job in leining for us, baruch Hashem.

After the Megilla Reading, we made a l'chaim.  After this, regretfully we had to go back to our Units, and
couldn't make the Seudas Purim as we had been able to all past years.  But, we went back to our Units and
sought to make a Seudas Purim individually, along with a Melava Malka.

After Melava Malka, late that night, we prepared very nice Shalach Manos packages for each member of
the community.  They were made in a very professional manner and we knew that people would be very
pleased with them.  These packages are in the merit of great help from different individuals, including
RABBI TABAK.  We, by the way, wish him a great mazel tov on the wedding of his grandchild!  MAZEL TOV!

Sunday morning at 7:30am, it was the scheduled time for Tefillas Shachris.  With great surprise, we had
guests come to join us.  We wish to mention RABBI WEISS from L'Asurim.  And also the Chussen, YOELY
WEIZER, was another guest who came.  In addition, we extend a warm MAZEL TOV to him on his becoming
engaged!  We extend special thanks to them both for taking time from their Purim to come daven with us.

The Baal Tefilla was again YAAKOV MERTZ for Shachris.  The Krias HaTorah was also by YAAKOV MERTZ.
Our guest, the Chussen YOELY WEIZER was given the kibbud of P'sicha.  AVRAHAM HAKOHEN ALKHABBAZ
had the aliya of the Kohen.  The aliya for the Levi was given to HARRY LEVY.  And Yisroel was given for
one of our guests: RABBI WEISS.  The Megilla was again read by RABBI SAMET.

After the Megilla reading, the community fulfilled amongst ourselves the mitzvah of Matanos L'evyonim.
Since we could not fulfill the mitzvah of Seudas Purim in the Chapel due to new decrees which have changed
establishments of prior years, we gave for everyone, besides Matanos L'evyonim, a "book" to ensure that
they'd be able to buy for themselves a good meal be"H.

Unfortunately, we had to make everything in a rush, as another new decree was that we would have no "out-
count" and had to be finished with everything in the Chapel by 9:30am.

After the 10am Institutional Count, we distributed to each person a Shalach Manos package.  With Hashem's
help, everyone on the Compound received this package and it brought much joy.

At this time, I would like to mention that MALKIEL AMOS along with his friend EZZY SCHER arranged that we
would be able to send Shalach Manos to our families outside.  And this was a great deed that they did.  This
is the true mitzvah and root of the mitzvah of Shalach Manos.  When our families get Shalach Manos, they
appreciate it so greatly and are so excited.  It's gevaldig!  Both of them should be blessed with all blessings.

In Building 5812, RABBI SAMET prepared a Seudas Purim.  He invited as many people as possible.  Again,
unfortunately we couldn't make the seuda as we used to in the Chapel.  But it was a nice seuda.  YOSSI sat at
the head of the table and said beautiful Divrei Torah.  We made a simchas Purim the best we could, although
there was some sorrow that not everyone could come since we didn't have it in the Chapel.

I close my words saying that Purim gave us great encouragement.  The same things in those days will happen
for us as well.  We all await the yeshias Hashem.  On one hand, it's very painful that we aren't with our
families, and the same for our families towards us.  But on the other hand, we have faith and trust that this
is the Will of Hashem.  We see that in those days Hashem provided such miracles - we were sentenced to
death!  And not only were we rescued from a death sentence, but those who plotted against us received the
punishment they wished to mete out against us!

[בילד – נישט אפגעהיט]

 

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BS"D Erev Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Va'yakhel/Pekudei, Shabbos Chazak, Parshas HaChodesh,
Shabbos Mevorachim Nissan (HaChodesh HaYeshios), 26 Adar 5773, March 8, 2013

                     MI SHE'NICHNAS B'ADAR, MARBIN B'SIMCHA!
           AS WE ENTER THE MONTH OF ADAR, WE INCREASE IN JOY!

Shabbos Shalom u'Mevorach,

A git Shabbos, a lechtigen Shabbos!  This Shabbos is a great, great Shabbos.  It's Shabbos Parshas Vayak'hel/
Pekudei, Shabbos Chazak, Shabbos Parshas HaChodesh, Shabbos Mevorachim Nissan.  This coming week is
the divide between the 2 months of Adar and Nissan which is bein geulah l'geulah (between redemption and
redemption).  Hashem should help that this time should bring a geulah for us as well - everyone individually
and all together, with all good influences, in great measure, for us and all around us, and for gantz Klal
Yisroel!

The Verse says in the Parsha, "va'yak'hel Moshe es kol Adas Bnei Yisroel, va'yomer aleihem, eileh ha'dvarim
asher tzivah Hashem, la'asos osam" (And Moshe gathered the entire Congregation of the Children of Yisroel,
and he said to them, these are the words which Hashem commanded, to do them).  According to the
Commentators, "eileh ha'dvarim asher tzivah Hashem" - "eileh ha'dvarim" means Anochi Hashem (which is
the mitvah of emunah/faith).  These are all the mitzvos; faith is the foundation of everything.

It happens to be that a goy asked me today what the definition of faith is.  I answered him that the definition
of faith is to believe.  When you believe something, automatically as a result of believing, you feel and have
it.  And I told him, when you believe and know that you have money in your account, you're happy because you
can spend it.  If you believe the police are behind you, you believe and you're scared and take it into
consideration.  When you believe and live with something, the result is a fact in your life.  He asked me if
belief is fear.  And I said no, whatever you believe is a reflection - it is what happens.  If you believe that
there is an Elokim and that He gave the Torah, and you believe that there is s'char ha'mitzvos (reward for the commandments), and the opposite - punishment for misdeeds, the more you believe, the more mitzvos you
will do.  As you truly believe that for every mitzvah you will get a reward.  And you live with this fact.  The
more you believe in punishment, the more you will fear Hashem.

So if this is the case, "eileh ha'dvarim... la'asos osam" - which means you have to do, then what do you have
to do to believe?  The Torah teaches us to get emunah/faith, you have to do something.  You have to
exercise and implant within yourself the faith.  You have to learn the Torah and do the mitzvos and observe
and see that Hashem exists and controls everything.

The Passuk says further regarding the mitzvah of Shabbos.  Shabbos declares faith.  Observing the Shabbos is
only with faith.  The root of the mitzvah of Shabbos is to show that "my work means nothing and is nothing;
only Hashem does".  Not by working does it give me sustenance; only Hashem gives us sustenance.  This is
why it says in last week's Parsha that Shabbos is a covenant and sign between us and Hashem.  Observing the
Shabbos, not doing work on Shabbos, this is what brings us success and blessings.

Faith is not an easy thing.  It's very difficult to achieve it.  But when you achieve it, it is very, exceedingly
valuable.  It is difficult to achieve true emunah, and Hashem forbid, it's easy to lose it.  We have to keep
studying and observing it to achieve it.  And whoever achieves emunah achieves the greatest thing.  As a
result of faith, you gain trust, and as a result of trust, you gain simcha (joy).  So when you have emunah,
you're the most joyful and happy always with whatever happens.

When you have emunah/faith, then we can gather together and be united.  Because there's no jealousy when
you have faith.  No one can take what belongs to another.  Each person receives what is meant for him.
Therefore we can have unity, and unity brings further faith.  All mitzvos are like a domino-effect.  This is
what the Passuk says "la'asos osam".  As when you have the faith, it leads to do more mitzvos, and you have
joy, and so on.  Emunah/faith is the entire Torah, from beginning to middle to the end.

As we stand now and go out from the month of Adar and enter the month of Nissan, which Nissan is the Month
of Salvations, as we say, "HaChodesh ha'zeh she'yeshios, makifos bo" (this month that salvations surround it).
Makifos also means to borrow as the Apter Ruv zy"a said.  So this month we can borrow salvations, even if a
person doesn't have merit.  So let's all observe this time and encourage ourselves with faith, and to take the
opportunity of these days to achieve the right emunah and the salvations with all good influences.  Therefore
this Shabbos is Chazak - we encourage each other to take the opportunity and use these days to benefit from
this time of great influences and achieve our goals to bring the ultimate salvation.

I will close my words, I spoke to my father today to say "a git Shabbos".  I told him that the connection between
Va'yak'hel Moshe and Eileh Ha'Pekudei, that if we will fulfill the "va'yak'hel Moshe", if we are united with the
right emunah and trust in Hashem, then comes "eileh ha'pekudei" - we can count our money and see the
results of all good influences.  He told me that "eileh ha'pekudei" is not only this, but also a language of "pakad
pakadti" (I will surely redeem) - it's a time of salvations.

I can say one more thing, before we say "chazak, chazak" and the Chumash closes itself, it says "Anan Hashem
al ha'Mishkan yomam, v'Eish tihyeh lailah bo, l'einei chol Beis Yisroel, b'chol mas'eihem" (the Cloud of Hashem
was upon the Tabernacle by day, and the Fire was by night, in the eyes of all the House of Yisroel, in all their
journeys).  Laila means a time of darkness, and b'chol mas'eihem - in all challenges and things which occur.
V'Eish means emunah shleima (perfect faith).  We must always be chazak, chazak with emunah.  Then we can
survive all darkness and everything which surrounds the darkness.  With emunah we can overcome all
challenges.  And the emunah has to be chazak, chazak v'nis'chazeik - we must study the emunah over and over,
and with this we can overcome everything and anything.

May Hashem help that we should have the merit to take the opportunity of these great days, as we said before,
and we should benefit from these days, and merit to have all salvations individually and communally, with the
salvation of all Klal Yisroel - Umein!

Please remember to keep us in mind in these great days.  A git Shabbos!

[בילד – נישט אפגעהיט]

 

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