TRANSFORMING A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT ON SHLICHUS

How would you react if you visited a home to distribute matzos, and the person demurs politely saying, “Thanks, but I eat bread on Pesach.”? What would you do if you came to a community council meeting, and instead of welcoming you they hissed at you, “You can come in, but leave your religion outside.”? * That was the exact welcome that awaited R’ Avrohom Yitzchok Prodanshetsky, shliach of the Rebbe to Ganei Yochanan. According to him, those statements only spurred his desire to crack the wall of coldness with “brazenness of holiness” and lots of love and caring. * A fascinating glimpse into a huge shlichus in a small modest settlement.

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THE COUPLE WHO BUILT AN EMPIRE FROM SCRATCH

Rabbi Sholom Mendel Kalmanson, who arrived in France as a refugee, was a model of a true Chassid. With great fortitude he undertook the founding of a Chassidic school for Jewish children who did not even know the alef-beis. * With bittul and kabbalas ol, Rabbi and Mrs. Kalmanson founded “Shneor.” They did whatever it took to realize their educational vision, and were constantly guided by the Rebbe. * A moving saga of a Chassidishe couple, based on the book written by R’ Sholom Dovber Friedland. * Part 2 of 2

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THE FEMALE CHASSIDISHE BUS DRIVER

The Shneor School in Aubervilliers, a suburb of Paris, is known among tens of thousands of French Jews as the school that conveys Jewish-Chassidic values in a professional, sensitive way. This spirit in the school is thanks to the founders, Rabbi Sholom Mendel Kalmanson a”h and his wife, ybl”c, Mrs. Basia Kalmanson.

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WHEN CHASSIDIC ADMURIM ENCOUNTER THE REBBE’S SHLUCHIM

Every year, dozens of Admurim visit cities and countries far from their headquarters. They need logistical and spiritual assistance, which they get from the Rebbe’s shluchim. These are opportunities for direct encounters between Admurim and the work of the shluchim in preparing the world to greet Moshiach. * Beis Moshiach set out on an intercontinental journey to cover this phenomenon. We heard what goes on behind the scenes, about the impressions made on these Admurim, about private audiences with the Rebbe that they had, and about their high regard for the shluchim

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JEWISH SOULS AT WINGATE

The Wingate Institute, located at the Poleg Interchange between Netanya and Hertzliya, is the largest professional learning institution in Eretz Yisroel for physical education. Thousands of students pass through its gates each day. Waiting for them there are Rabbi Asaf Shaked and his wife Noa, Chabad chassidim who made their own long and winding journey until they discovered the light of Torah and Chassidus. In this profile, the shluchim at Wingate tell their life story for the first time, as they provide a fascinating account of their growing outreach activities.

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SHABBOS WITH CHABAD IN AMSTERDAM

Every Shabbos, in countless areas of the world, the Rebbe’s shluchim host the members of their communities as well as tourists. This happens week in and week out, which is why you won’t read about it anywhere; it’s routine, so it’s not exciting. * A Beis Moshiach columnist visited the Chabad House for travelers in Amsterdam for Shabbos, and tells us of an “ordinary” Shabbos, one full of warmth and fire which melted the surrounding cold European environment.

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UNLIKELY CHABAD HOUSE FOR ISRAELI BACKPACKERS

Rabbi Ariel Antebi and his wife, Rivka, devotedly run a Chabad House in Santana, a district of S Paulo, Brazil. * Their Chabad House serves as the headquarters for numerous Jewish tourists who pass through the area.

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THE TRAGEDY DIDN’T BREAK US – ON THE CONTRARY!

A few weeks ago, a very special and most unusual event took place in the remote Indian village of Hampi. Numerous shluchim and tourists attended a most impressive and moving ceremony to dedicate an elegant new mikveh, recently completed after two and a half years of tireless work and determination. Rabbi Mordechai (Motti) Grumach and his wife, Libby, the Rebbe MH”M’s shluchim in Hampi, spared no effort. They endured many difficulties and pitfalls until they were privileged to complete this blessed and extraordinary building project.

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SHLICHUS IN A NATURE WONDERLAND

A large picturesque town with one story wooden houses and red tiled roofs, surrounded by seventy clear lakes and dozens of islands. The mountains with their primeval purity, and vegetation as far as the eye can see. Frady Klein of Bariloche, Argentina lives in the midst of this magnificent scenery. She opens the doors of her Chabad House to us and brings us into the life of a young couple on shlichus, who chose to live in a place where murderers who killed Jews al kiddush Hashem found safe haven.

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A TRAILBLAZING SHLIACH

Ever since R’ Chaim Rivkin and his family came to serve on the Rebbe’s shlichus in Rishon L’Tzion, the activities in the ‘Abramovitch’ neighborhood and the city’s center have received a tremendous boost. Rabbi Rivkin points to his red beard and says that its color is the reason for the increased activity and vitality he invests in his shlichus work. “Rishon L’Tzion, behold, behold them.”

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TO BE A SHLIACH IS TO REJECT THE NOTION THAT ANYTHING HAS CHANGED

Forty years have passed since the first group of shluchim was sent by the Rebbe to Eretz Yisroel, so we spoke with Rabbi Shmuel Greisman who was in that group. * He describes that unique shlichus and their influence on the residents of Eretz Yisroel. * He told us about being appointed director of the committee to write a Torah scroll for Jewish children and calls upon every Chassid to join the efforts to complete the sixth such Torah. * He spoke about hiskashrus and warns against the phenomenon of disconnecting the wellspring from its source, i.e., spreading Chassidus without a Rebbe, and urged preparing the world to greet Moshiach whose identity is known – the Rebbe, Nasi Doreinu.

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MOSHIACH: THE CHERRY ON TOP IN SHLICHUS

Rabbi Dovid Chaviv came to Sarcelles, France six years ago, and today “with songs of joy,” he is reaping the many successes of his activities with the city’s Jewish community. Working with great dedication, he has reached countless Jewish souls, touching them, and leading them to the path of Torah, mitzvos, and Chassidus. This is the story of a young avreich and the spiritual revolution taking place near the City of Lights.

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GEULA IN BARBADOS

Mrs. Ilana Benyaminson uses her talent for writing to spread the Rebbe’s message of Geula to various audiences. She also spreads the Besuras HaGeula and the Seven Noachide Laws in Barbados. * Have you ever wondered who translated the D’var Malchus into English? Who were the first Jewish settlers in Barbados? What do you do when your shlichus blows up in your face?

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