Copy
 

On behalf of those who learn from Chitas for Kids, thank you to our sponsors!

 
 

Those who make this year of learning possible:

 
 

לעילוי נשמת ר׳ יוסף בנימין בן ר׳ מנשה קאלטמאנן
~ by Rabbi Aryeh & Esther Kaltmann ~

a7691251-7218-4c6b-b94e-833d5d6032b4.png

לזכות רחל בת ראשא ראזע לרפואה שלימה וקרובה
~ by the Duchman Family ~

a7691251-7218-4c6b-b94e-833d5d6032b4.png

מוקדש לחיזוק ההתקשרות לכ״ק נשיא דורנו
ע"י ולזכות הרה"ת ר' לייביש משה וזוגתו מרת רינה ילדיהם קיילא באשא, בנציון דוד, אליהו איסר, רבקה שיינדל אלטא שיחיו גולדהירש

 
 
 

Those who make Chitas for the month of Adar Sheini possible:

 
 

לעילוי נשמת הרה״ח הרה״ת הר׳ משה פינחס בן הר׳ אברהם מרדכי הכהן כ״ץ
לעילוי נשמת הרה״ח הרה״ת הר׳ מרדכי בן הר׳ פינחס מענטליק
ולזכות הרה״ח זאב יחזקאל הכהן בן מינדל שי׳ לבריאות הנכונה

The Sachs Family
May they have much hatzlacha in all of their endeavors!

The Markowitz Family
In honor of the birthday of Faigy Markowitz

Anonymous
To hasten the coming of Moshiach!

The Andrusier Family
In honor of their Bubby - Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar
for her birthday, L'arichus Yamim Veshanim Tovos!

 
 

Click here to sponsor a day of Chitas!

70dad1ac-d962-49b2-ac0e-d0bafaebb537.png

CHUMASH

Parshas Shemini - Shlishi with Rashi

At the beginning of today’s Chumash, we learn something very happy! Hashem was happy with the korbanos that Aharon brought, and Hashem made a fire come down onto the Mizbeiach to burn the korbanos, and show the Yidden that Hashem WAS “resting” in the Mishkan!

The Yidden were so happy! They sang praises and bowed to Hashem.

Then, we learn a very sad story.

Two of Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, wanted to be very close to Hashem. They knew that one of the most special parts of the avodah in the Mishkan is to burn the ketores. So they took pans of ketores, and went into the Mishkan. They knew that they weren’t supposed to do this without asking, but they wanted so much to be close to Hashem that they did it anyway. Their neshamos got so close to Hashem that they couldn’t stay inside of their bodies anymore, and Nadav and Avihu passed away.

In Chassidus this is called “Ratzo without Shuv.” When a person wants to come very close to Hashem (Ratzo), he needs to remember that Hashem wants Yidden to do mitzvos here in this world (Shuv). Even when we want to be very close to Hashem, we need to remember that Hashem wants us to learn Torah and do mitzvos in the world and make it a Dira BeTachtonim.

Moshe told Aharon that Nadav and Avihu were tzadikim. Aharon was quiet and did not complain to Hashem about the very sad thing that had happened.

Kohanim are not allowed to become tomei, so Moshe sent other relatives, Mishael and Eltzafan, to bury Nadav and Avihu. Moshe also told the kohanim (Aharon’s other sons, Elazar and Isamar) that they couldn’t sit shivah for Nadav and Avihu, because their job of being a kohen couldn’t be stopped.

After this happened, Hashem told Aharon that the kohanim need to remember not to drink wine before they work in the Mishkan.

Rashi tells us that we see from here that Nadav and Avihu went into the Mishkan without permission because they drank wine. That’s why afterwards Hashem told Aharon the mitzvah not to drink wine before going into the Mishkan.

Even though usually Hashem spoke to Moshe, or Moshe and Aharon together, Hashem now spoke ONLY to Aharon! This was a reward for accepting what happened to his children without complaining.

5bafef1b-215f-4cfc-8300-88a68421ae5e.png

TEHILLIM

90 - 96

In today’s Tehillim, we have one of the niggunim made for the Rebbe’s Yom Huledes, for Kapitel Tzadik — the niggunShuva Hashem Ad Mosai.”

We also have Kapitel Tzadik-Beis, the kapitel that the Leviim would sing in the Beis Hamikdash on Shabbos — the Shir Shel Yom for Shabbos.

One of the pesukim in this kapitel speaks about how everybody thanks Hashem on Shabbos. Chassidus explains on the words “Tov Lehodos LaHashem” (it is good to praise Hashem) that it’s the goodness of Hashem that makes people praise him. Of course Hashem is always good, but on Shabbos we can FEEL it, so that’s why especially on Shabbos His goodness makes us want to thank and praise Hashem!

The bracha of the previous Shabbos lasts until Yom Shlishi, and from Yom Revi’i we start preparing for the next Shabbos!

037aa44b-1c33-419d-a277-d7c77f06ce9a.png

TANYA

Likutei Amarim Perek Lamed-Zayin

All of the neshamos of Yidden work together to make the word into a Dira Betachtonim, a place for Hashem. They do this by being careful not to do any aveiros, so that the kelipah won’t get any chayus, and by doing mitzvos which brings Hashem’s light into the world!

This is the only reason why a neshama is born in a body in the world, so it can make the world a comfortable place for Hashem.

A neshama doesn’t need anything to make ITSELF better — for the neshama it’s better to be in Shomayim, closer to Hashem! The reason why the neshama comes into the world is to work with the guf and Nefesh Habehamis, and use them to make the world into a Dira Betachtonim!

b42fcb5b-5fe3-4e74-ab78-350fad9544ae.png

HAYOM YOM

Yud-Tes Adar Sheini

One of the Alter Rebbe’s Chassidim was called R’ Moshe Meisels.

R’ Moshe Meisels told us something that the Alter Rebbe taught:

The “Alef of Chassidus” (the first thing we need to know, just like we need to know the letter “alef” first!) is to use the special kochos Hashem gave us to do our Avodas Hashem. One of the kochos Hashem gave all of us is “Moach Shalit Al Halev.” This means that our mind can control our feelings.

This koach needs to be used for serving Hashem! In Tanya, we learned two ways how we can use this:

1) We can do what we KNOW is the right thing, even if we FEEL like doing something else. Sometimes a person feels like doing something that they know is not what Hashem wants us to do. But their mind is able to decide to behave in the right way, no matter how they feel!

2) We can use our mind to think about the greatness of Hashem, how special a Yid’s neshama is, and how special Torah and mitzvos are. This will get our feelings excited too, so we will WANT to serve Hashem through Torah and mitzvos and Ahavas Yisroel!

There is a famous story of how the chossid R’ Moshe Meisels used his koach of Moach Shalit Al Halev when he was doing the Alter Rebbe’s shlichus, and it saved his life! See today’s Inyana D’Yoma.

781f9885-f711-422d-b86a-13a300028852.png

SEFER HAMITZVOS

Shiur #282 - Mitzvas Asei #245

Today’s mitzvah (Mitzvas Asei #245) is the very same mitzvah again! Do you know it by heart yet? When we buy things or sell things, we need to follow the Torah rules for doing it.

c74a2058-ec63-4c5a-9fa6-ed357d262a3f.png

RAMBAM

Hilchos Shluchim VeShutfim

In today’s Rambam, we are learning more about sending someone else to do something for you (a shliach) and about partners working together (a shutaf).

One of the things we learn in Perek Beis is that someone who is under a certain age can’t be a shliach. If someone sends a kid as a shliach, it’s his own fault if something gets broken or lost!

Of course, even a kid can be a shliach of the Rebbe!

Perek Gimmel teaches us about how a person can send a shliach to argue for him in Beis Din. (That’s like a lawyer.)

In Perek Daled we start learning about how people can become partners in business.

c74a2058-ec63-4c5a-9fa6-ed357d262a3f.png

RAMBAM PEREK ECHOD

Hilchos Tumas Tzoraas - Perek Alef

We are starting to learn a new set of halachos, about Tumas Tzoraas!

First the Rambam explains the colors of the different kinds of Tzoraas.

icon of clock

INYANA D'YOMA

Moach Shalit Al Halev

We learned in today’s Hayom Yom what R’ Moshe Meizlish said, that the “Alef” of Chassidus is to use our kochos to serve Hashem, for example the koach of Moach Shalit Al Halev, that the mind is naturally able to control a person’s feelings. Here is a story of how R’ Moshe used the Alef of Chassidus, and it actually saved his life!

R’ Moshe Meizlish was a chossid of the Alter Rebbe. He was very smart, and knew how to speak many languages.

At that time, a French general, Napoleon, wanted to capture Russia and become the ruler. He promised to make Russia a better place for all of the people who lived there.

The Alter Rebbe knew that Napoleon might make things better in Gashmius, but he would make things worse in Ruchnius! So the Alter Rebbe wanted the Russians to win the war. The Alter Rebbe sent his chossid, R’ Moshe Meizlish, to be a spy for Russia and help them win.

R’ Moshe Meizlish did what the Alter Rebbe told him to. He spent time with the French officers, and they hired him to translate things from one language to another. This way, he learned all about their army’s plans. R’ Moshe later secretly told all of these things to the Russian officers.

Once, many of the highest officers in the French army were having a very important meeting. They were looking at maps and trying to figure out the best way to attack the city of Vilna, since they would need to do it very soon.

Suddenly, Napoleon burst into the room. He looked very angry. “Have you finished planning the battle yet? Did you tell the soldiers what to do?”

Before the officers could answer, Napoleon saw R’ Moshe, who was standing by the side waiting to help translate anything the officers would need.

“And who is this stranger?” Napoleon roared in a loud voice. Coming up to R’ Moshe, he screamed at him, “You are a spy for Russia!” Then Napoleon immediately put his hand over R’ Moshe’s heart. He knew that when a person is scared, his heart will pound very quickly! If he felt that R’ Moshe’s heartbeat was very fast, he would know that R’ Moshe was really a spy.

But R’ Moshe Meizlish at that moment remembered the “alef of Chassidus” — that Moach Shalit Al Halev, the mind rules over the heart! His mind was able to control his feelings, so his heart would not beat fast. In a calm voice, he answered Napoleon: “The generals and officers have hired me to translate for them, since I know all of the languages they need.”

Napoleon nodded and left the room.

R’ Moshe Meizlish continued to spy for the Russian army, and they won the war in the end, as the Alter Rebbe wanted.

▼ Jump to Coloring Books & Downloads ▼

f95ddc3e-2307-48f8-a76f-754d141db332.png

TEFILLAH

Oseh Shalom

During Shemoneh Esrei, we have a private moment with Hashem. We speak to Hashem and ask Him for everything we need so that we will be able to do our shlichus happily. We ask Hashem to bring us Moshiach, which is what all of the Yidden need most!

When our private time with Hashem is finished, we step out of our place. We walk backwards to show respect, like when a person walks away from a king or from a Rebbe.

When a person leaves another person, he gives Shalom, wishing the other person peace when he goes. It is not kavodik for a person to say Shalom to Hashem, so we say the word Shalom in the posuk, “Oseh Shalom Bimromav.” We bow to Hashem on each side.

Finally, we ask Hashem again that He should rebuild the Beis Hamikdash. Then, instead of just davening in place of the korbanos, we can bring the korbanos too! 

Then our davening won’t be instead of korbanos, but will be together with the korbanos, the way Hashem wants it to be!

See the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, siman Kuf-Chof-Gimmel

548e317f-62f8-4b77-a809-78f2f54a6eae.png

HALACHOS HATZRICHOS

Cleaning for Pesach

If you look in Shulchan Aruch, you will see that really, cleaning for Pesach could be very easy and quick. All we need to do is clean up the big pieces of chometz that a person might eat by mistake, and the small pieces that could fall into our food. But because Yidden love Hashem so much, they are extra careful to clean much more than they NEED to. This is one way they show their love for Hashem’s special Yom Tov of Pesach.

This hard work is very much appreciated by Hashem, and it has an amazing koach to help all Yidden!

The Rebbe Maharash once told this story, about R’ Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev:

Every sound of the shofarTeKiyah, SHevarim, TeRuah, TeKiah; “KaShRaK” for short — creates a malach that will beg Hashem to help the Yidden. On Rosh Hashana, after we blow the shofar, we say a “Yehi Ratzon,” asking Hashem that the malochim that come from each sound of the shofar should ask Hashem to give Yidden a good year.

One year, after saying this Yehi Ratzon, R’ Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev added: “Zeese Tatte! Av Rachum! Hashem, I speak to You with Your love for the Yidden as a father to his son. If the malochim that came out of the shofar that Levi Yitzchak ben Sarah blew were too weak, listen to a different set of “KaShRaKmalochim! Listen to the malochim created by the Kratzen (scraping), SHoiben (sanding), Reiben (scrubbing), and Kasheren (kashering the keilim) that were done by the Yidden in honor of Pesach! Let these strong and healthy malochim be the ones to come ask You for a good and sweet year for all of the Yidden!”

See Shevach Hamoadim, introduction to Hilchos Pesach

לעילוי נשמת הרה״ח ר׳ דניאל יצחק ע״ה בן ר׳ אפרים שי׳ מאסקאוויץ
שליח כ"ק אדמו"ר נשיא דורנו למדינת אילינוי

bb1bf02c-b765-412e-987c-1b80a6b4fabb.png

GEULAH U'MOSHIACH

Nunei Yama

The Alter Rebbe explains in this week’s Likutei Torah that there are two types of neshamos of tzadikim:

There are neshamos called “Nunei Yama,” neshamos that are like fish. They are compared to the Leviyasan. Fish don’t live on the ground, they live in a hidden world underground! These tzadikim also seem to live in a different world — they can do mitzvos in Ruchnius ways. One example is R’ Shimon ben Yochai, who spent many years in a cave where he couldn’t do mitzvos because he only had carob and water — so he couldn’t eat matzah, or shake the lulav, or build a sukkah! Still, he was able to bring down the light of Hashem just as if he had actually done these mitzvos. The Arizal was also like this, and was able to do mitzvos in a Ruchnius way.

There are other tzadikim whose main avodah is doing the mitzvos in a Gashmius’dike way. They are compared to the Shor Habor.

The Nunei Yama are a very high madreiga! Just like fish can swim very far with just one swish of their fins, these neshamos that can bring down the light of a mitzvah through Ruchnius can do a lot with their avodah!

When Moshiach comes, the Nunei Yama are going to help all of the other neshamos to also be able to do such a powerful avodah.

See Likutei Torah Parshas Shemini, with the explanation of “The Chassidishe Parsha

Coloring Pages and Text Downloads
Booklet Format
Yiddish | Hebrew (A4) | English | Français (A4)
Individual Page Format
Yiddish | Hebrew (A4) | English | Français (A4)
Printable Chitas Summary Text
English | Hebrew (A4)
Glossary
English

לע"נ התינוק זאב ארי' ע"ה בן יבלט"א הרה"ח ר' שניאור זלמן שי' גליק
נפטר ב' מנחם אב ה'תשע"ג

Give children around the world the gift of Kids Chitas!
KidsChitas.org/sponsor