Radio Kol Mevaser, Kfar Chabad - 27 Marcheshvan (Motza'ei Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah) 5764

00:00 Speaker 1 Nine point three. Daniel Gordon behind the microphone. With us in the studio now is the new chairman of the Kfar Chabad committee. As you know, elections were held on Monday, and the new chairman is Rabbi Binyamin Lipschitz, known as Yimi Lipschitz. He’s here with us in the studio for this special interview. Rabbi Lipschitz, have a good week.

00:24 Speaker 2 A good and blessed week to all the residents and all the listeners.

00:28 Speaker 1 We’ll ask Rabbi Lipschitz to say a few words, and then perhaps we’ll ask some questions.

00:34 Speaker 2 So, boruch Hashem. On Monday, the meetings and elections for the Kfar Chabad committee were held. We were elected, and I was chosen to head the committee. I thank Hakadosh Boruch Hu for giving me this great privilege. We see in all the Rebbe’s letters how the Rebbe strengthens the settlement in Kfar Chabad. “There Hashem commanded the blessing,” and the Rebbe calls for abundant mercy for all who live and settle here, to draw blessing upon them and protect them. With Hashem’s help, we won’t fall short. We’ll do things exactly as they should be done.

01:13 Speaker 1 The current term will last two and a half years, and the public—the residents of the village—are surely eager to know your plans for those two and a half years.

01:28 Speaker 2 First, we need to thank the outgoing chairman, Rabbi Menachem Lerer. During his twenty years in office, the village truly developed, and he raised it higher and higher, as everyone can see. Now our time has come. Boruch Hashem, seven of us were elected, and one of our first decisions was that we would all run the village together. More than once, the Rebbe writes in a letter, “There is success through many advisers.” We’ll divide the responsibilities among us, with each person in charge of a particular area. That way, it will be much easier for people to approach the right person about what they need, and much easier for us to work.

02:15 Speaker 1 There were certainly many promises during the election campaign, including from candidates who were not elected, and many different issues were raised. Some residents have surely heard what you promised beforehand and said you intended to do. But many people, including those who weren’t eligible to vote, now that you’ve been elected, want to hear something concrete. Kfar Chabad was under one leadership, and now it has another. What will change?

02:53 Speaker 2 Kfar Chabad remains under the same leadership. The Rebbe is the true head of Kfar Chabad—that’s clear. Nothing has changed in that respect. We are only the shluchim tasked with doing what needs to be done here. Of course, some things need improvement, and the residents of the new housing developments in Kfar Chabad certainly know that. Boruch Hashem, we went there on Thursday, examined the situation and took a look. We hope things will indeed improve over the next two years. As for education, boruch Hashem, our education is good, but there is always room to do more, and we’ll make a great effort to add to it.

03:33 Speaker 1 There are other issues that were surely discussed. Would you like to say more about them?

03:40 Speaker 2 Such as?

03:43 Speaker 1 The issue of [unclear] is a sensitive one here in Kfar Chabad, and a significant part of your success in the election surely stems from it. What is your view?

03:56 Speaker 2 Well, we stated our position before the election, and we also wrote it explicitly in a letter: when it comes to all the spiritual matters of Kfar Chabad, there is an authority here—the mara d’asra of Kfar Chabad. Everything will be discussed with him, and together we’ll decide exactly what to do. We’ll bring in mashpi’im from Kfar Chabad, people who understand these matters well, and whatever they decide together with the rabbi will be acceptable to us. We’ll follow what the rabbi says. Material matters are our responsibility, and we’ll do what’s needed. On spiritual matters, we’ll sit down with people who understand them—the mashpi’im, with the rabbi at their head—and decide accordingly.

04:36 Speaker 3 Earlier you mentioned dividing the work among the elected members. If I understood correctly, have you already made that division in practice?

04:48 Speaker 2 We’re working out the division of responsibilities now. We have—

04:52 Speaker 3 Perhaps you can give us a general idea, or some kind of...

04:54 Speaker 2 Rabbi Yaakov Koenig is on the committee. He’s well known, a chassidisher Jew, whose main concern is education—that’s what he works on. Rabbi Shmuel Rivkin, whom everyone knows, will deal more with the village’s development and so on.

05:13 Speaker 3 Unity within Kfar Chabad is surely very important, especially after an election like this. I’d like to hear, and I’m sure the listeners would too, how you approach it. Unity certainly doesn’t mean that everyone has the same opinion, but that everyone makes an effort nonetheless.

05:38 Speaker 2 There’s the verse, “Bless us, our Father, all of us as one.” When we are “all as one,” the blessing is a blessing. That’s one of our main principles. We’ll sit down with everyone and decide together. Decisions won’t be made by one person alone. Everyone will decide together, and I hope blessing will rest here in Kfar Chabad and the village will develop as the Rebbe laid out and as the Rebbe wants.

06:02 Speaker 3 We can’t have this special interview without asking a little more about developing Kfar Chabad: homes for young people and newly married couples, new houses, additional land for various purposes, industrial development and the like.

06:28 Speaker 2 Well, the new neighborhood that is due to be built, with Hashem’s help, is well known. We’ll put every effort into making sure it goes ahead properly, so people can buy apartments. I also hope they’ll be able to buy them at affordable prices, so it will be easier for everyone to live in Kfar Chabad. We’ll put a great deal of effort into it, and with Hashem’s help, we’ll succeed. And let’s not forget the 19 Kislev farbrengen that’s coming up. We’re asking all the residents to attend. In recent years, many people haven’t come. We ask everyone to come and take part in the farbrengen, to come in person with their children, so the shul will be full and there won’t, G-d forbid, be a chillul Hashem. In the book about Kfar Chabad that the committee published about six months ago, you can see various letters from the Rebbe expressing his request, and his surprise when not many people came to the farbrengen. Letter after letter shows how important it is to the Rebbe that this farbrengen be treated as important and that many people attend. So we’re asking everyone: even if it’s difficult, please make the effort to come. It will truly be a great kiddush Hashem and bring blessings to Kfar Chabad.

07:40 Speaker 3 Thank you very much, Rabbi Yimi Lipschitz—Rabbi Binyamin Lipschitz. We’re very pleased to have been the first to conduct this special interview. Rabbi Lipschitz, have a good week, and thank you very much.

07:53 Speaker 2 Have a good week, and thank you to the listeners.

07:55 Speaker 3 And of course, we wish you success beyond all expectations.

07:59 Speaker 2 For me and for all the members serving alongside me, of course. May Hashem truly help us save Kfar Chabad.

08:05 Speaker 3 As we approach the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

08:05 Speaker 2 Higher and higher, toward the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, very soon.

08:08 Speaker 3 Have a good week.