1 year ago

Eretz Yisrael Isn’t A Tourism Spot…

Chabadinfo in collaboration with Beis Moshiach Magazine presents: From the Rebbe’s Pen, a series featuring a twice-weekly letter or ma’aneh (response) from the Rebbe MH”M • The Rebbe’s answer (from the lameds, the 1970s) to an individual who asked the Rebbe’s advice concerning the bar mitzva preparations and celebration of his son • Full Article

The Rebbe’s answer (from the lameds, the 1970s) to an individual who asked the Rebbe’s advice concerning the bar mitzva preparations and celebration of his son:

בהתחשב בחשיבות היום (עיין ז”ח בראשית ט”ו, סע”ד: דההוא יומא כו’) – כדאי שבאותו היום יאמר ד”ת [=דברי תורה] במעמד עשרה (עכ”פ) מישראל. ואח”כ יברכוהו כו’ ומתוך לגימה שמקרבת כו’. ואין זה סותר שאח”כ יסדר ג”כ כבאות ב’ [= שבמכתב השואל, אודות קביעות חגיגת הבר-מצוה].

ובודאי (גם?) תניא [בנוסף על לימוד הלכות תפילין]

יש פרטים שלא עניתי – כי לא שמיעא לי (כלומר לא סבירא לי כלל) לא הבחירה ביום א’ לכל דבר שבקדושה וכיו”ב וכן לא הקביעות דפלטרין של מלך – אהקת”ו – כארץ של Tourism ואשר המאדע [=אופנה] לבקר בה [אף שכמובן שמעתי עוד כו”כ טעמים על ב’ הנ”ל].

– לא עניתי גם בשלילה (כי כנראה אין לו בחירה חפשית בהנ”ל וכיו”ב).

ובמילא – יחליט בעצמו בזה וה’ יצליח

Responding to the idea of celebrating the bar mitzva not on the actual birthday, the Rebbe wrote:

(3) Considering the importance of the actual day of turning bar mitzva (see Zohar Chadash on Bereishis 15:d at the end: On that very day it is an obligation upon the tzaddikim to rejoice, etc.) – it is worthwhile that on that day itself the Bar Mitzva boy should say words of Torah in the presence of (at least) ten Jews, who will thereafter bless him, etc, in a setting of “Great is sharing food and drink, for it brings people closer together” etc. This doesn’t contradict later arranging a larger party as you write in the second portion of your letter.

Responding to the plan of studying the laws of teffilin with his son, the Rebbe wrote:

(4) Certainly, you will (also?) learn Tanya

Responding to scheduling the bar mitzva party on a Sunday, as well as visiting Eretz Yisrael in conjunction with it, the Rebbe responded:

(5) There are certain details you had previously written about to which I didn’t respond — because I’m not in agreement with them in any way:

I.e., I don’t approve of the choice of Sunday for all mattes holy and the like, and neither establishing the Holy Land ת”ו – the “King’s Palace” – as a tourism locale that has become fashionable to visit [though I obviously heard many more reasons (=apparently the Rebbe means excuses) for the two aforementioned practices.]

(6) Neither did I voice my disapproval for it (since it appears that you don’t have free choice to decide on these and similar matters). Therefore — make your own decision on this and Hashem should grant success.