The 28th of Sivan (1) - Safe Arrival in the US

00:01 In the upcoming week, we will, im yirtza Hashem, be approaching the day of Chof Ches Sivan, the twenty-eighth of Sivan. On this day, in the year Taf Shin Alef, nineteen forty-one, the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin arrived safely in the United States. This day is commemorated and celebrated by Chassidim universally, as this signifies two points. One, the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin's arrival in the middle of World War II from a burning Europe to safe shores in the United States. Number two, the beginning of a new era, the Rebbe's tireless work and launching of endless initiatives benefiting the Jewish nation and the world at large. Hence, this year, Taf Shin Pey Alef, twenty twenty-one, the eightieth anniversary, it is noted in particular as a unique milestone in history. In a sicha that the Rebbe gave on the twelfth of Tammuz, Taf Shin Yud, nineteen fifty, which noted the geulah liberation of the previous Rebbe from his incarceration in a Russian prison in nineteen twenty-seven, the Rebbe elaborated on commemorating a miracle. The Rebbe said as follows, "There are various sorts of miracle. Number one, a miracle which took place with the individual person himself." A personal miracle. Number two, a lower level than this is a miracle which took place with a person's father. It is considered as it took place with the person himself since he is part of his father. Number three, a lower level than this is a miracle which took place with a person's Rav or mentor. And the Rebbe explains the difference

02:09 between a miracle that took place with a mentor of the person or the father of a person. A father brings his child to Olam Hazeh, to this world, and partially to Olam Haba, to the world to come. But a mentor, when he gives his student Olam Haba, it is doubtful because the study may not be lashmah, may not be sincere, and therefore he might be lacking the reward in the world to come. The Rebbe cites the sources for this in the sicha as he edited the sicha after that. Number four, a miracle which took place with a specific person and his connection with this person is very remote since in reality he may not have any relationship to this person, but he believes in the person because he is a public figure and therefore assumes that he has a connection and could relate to the person. The highest level is a miracle which took place with the Rebbe. This sort of a miracle is not like a miracle which took place with a specific person or one's mentor or one's father, but with himself mamash. Because this tachrus, the connection of the Rebbe, the Nassi, with his generation is not as two separate entities, but as one body. The generation are the organs which receive the chayis, the energy from the Nassi, the head. In commemorating this event, we will, im yirtza Hashem, begin a series of numerous installments relating to the history of this special day. First, we will relate to the background of

04:14 the day, historically speaking, as written by a popular author, Rabbi Solon Ber Aftson, in his book, A Day to Recall, A Day to Remember. Rabbi Aftson writes the following, "The Rebbe's daring escape from war-torn Europe was a miracle worthy of its place in the annals of Chabad history. Our appreciation is only deepened when we learn that the Rebbe was actually fleeing from the Germans, yimach shmam, who were actively pursuing him specifically. Always one step ahead of them, the miracles continued even after they had made the desperate journey across Europe and embarked on a boat to head towards America. America had been known as the land that swallows its inhabitants." The expression in Parshas Shelach, this week's Parsha. "The majority of Jewish families that moved to the United States to escape the persecutions of Europe were affected by their new surroundings. This caused them to become lax in their observance of Jewish law and a loss of pride in their heritage. The Rebbe fought to turn this tide of assimilation. Due to his efforts, Taharah, Yiddishkeit, and even the Hassidic way of life is flourishing in America and throughout the world. And it all began that summer day on the twenty-eighth of Sivan Taf Shin Alef, nineteen forty-one, when the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin arrived in America."