Some people dream about "striking it rich" by joining what is
known as a "pyramid marketing scheme." Reuven sells a product
to Shimon, and makes a profit on his sale. Shimon then sells
the product to three more people, gaining a profit for
himself and accumulating credit for Reuven as well. In
theory, in a short time Reuven becomes a millionaire, based
on the credit he gains for each succeeding level of sales.
There is another type of "pyramid scheme" in the making,
however, all over Yerushalayim and slowly expanding across
the globe. The goal of its members is not to acquire wealth
for themselves but rather to amass a fortune of merit for all
of Klal Yisroel. If you haven't heard of it yet,
you'll be hearing about it soon: the Mishmeres HaShalom!
The idea is brilliant in its simplicity. The ambitious goal:
to create a peaceful, loshon hora-free environment in
our communities. The powerful tool: a beautiful and inspiring
booklet detailing the project, which entails involving each
family in studying the halochos and assuming regular
Mishmeres hours of exacting Shmiras Haloshon.
The method: getting the booklet into each and every home, in
each family's mother tongue, by an efficient distribution
system.
One representative takes responsibility for a block of
houses, appointing a willing volunteer to give out the
booklet, accompanied by a warm explanation, to one building
only. Along with the booklet, the representative offers a
beautiful laminated placard of the tefilloh of the
Chofetz Chaim to post prominently in the home.
When that building is covered, the task is passed on to the
volunteer of the next building, with the block representative
keeping close tabs of the progress. With time, the base of
the "pyramid" expands to include more and more
participants.
Each family that joins the Mishmeres HaShalom community gains
immense zechus for themselves and for Klal
Yisroel. The volunteers, in turn, get "heavenly
dividends" for each new recruit to the idea of a loshon
hora-free world. It's as simple as that!
Mishmeres HaShalom, run entirely by a dedicated group of
idealistic, yet eminently practical women, is a subsidiary of
the well-known Notzrei Lashon organization. The project is
backed by the strong support of a wide spectrum of rabbonim,
including, among others, HaRav Steinman, HaRav Wosner, HaRav
Mutzafi, and the Eida HaChareidis.
Up until now, 4000 booklets have been printed in Yiddish,
5000 in English, and no less than 20,000 booklets came out in
Hebrew soon after Shavuos. The striking cover of the booklet
depicts a chain with one link hanging askew. The message is
clear.
We can form a chain of ahavas Yisroel and sholom that
will connect us directly to HaKodosh Boruch Hu and
hasten the Geula. We know that just as in
Mitzrayim, now too the women will be the ones from
whom the Geula will come. It is up to the mother of
the house to bring the idea close to the hearts of her
husband and children. Together, we will join to form an
unbroken chain -- family after family, community after
community, country after country. Let's not break the
chain!
In addition to describing the Mishmeres HaShalom program, the
magnificently designed booklets present letters from people
whose lives have been changed by their involvement in
Shmiras Haloshon, and a number of true stories
graphically depicting the enormous protective power of
Shmiras Haloshon.
The booklets in each language are dedicated to memorable
personalities who left a strong mark on Klal Yisroel. The
English one preserves the memory of Rav Zev ben Nachman
Tabak, who had a powerful sense of compassion and
understanding, fueled by his mesirus nefesh for
learning Torah, a man to whom many people turned for
guidance, and also Rav Yosef Yehuda ben Yechezkel Spitzer, a
special baal chesed and machnis orchim.
The Yiddish booklet is dedicated in memory of a remarkable
tzadekes, Moras Sarah Feigel bas Rav Dovid Zelig
Tzeinvort. She was known for her caution to skillfully change
the subject whenever a conversation crept in the direction of
Loshon Hora, as well as her absolute integrity in
keeping information entrusted to her confidential.
A recently niftar and sorely missed personality in
Yerushalayim, the amud hachessed Rabbi Michel Gutfarb,
was the obvious choice for the dedication of the Hebrew
booklet. In addition to his phenomenal chesed
activity, Rabbi Gutfarb was known for his amazing care in
Shmiras Haloshon. Rabbi Gutfarb dealt daily with
dozens of delicate and painful situations in his
tzedokoh work. Not a word was ever shared with his
household; every detail remained with him alone.
The kollel that he established began each day of
learning with ten minutes study of Hilchos Shmiras
Haloshon. The avreichim were tested on these
halochos regularly, and their monthly stipend was
contingent on the successful completion of the tests.
On the checks Rabbi Gutfarb used for his tzedokoh
payments were printed the words "na lehischazek beshemiras
haloshon" -- please strengthen yourself in Shmiras
Haloshon -- not a demand, but a gentle request: "please."
That made a deep impression. The widows and destitute
individuals who benefited from the donations he channeled to
them were asked to write and acknowledge receipt of the
check. In her letter, one poor, uneducated woman, who could
barely write Hebrew, informed him that she had started
learning Hilchos Loshon Hora, thanks to the modest
comment on his check.
"A loshon hora-free environment!" Sounds unrealistic?
Think again! Breindy Brodstein got the ball rolling in the
Yerushalmi community in Beit Shemesh just before Pesach. At
this point, almost every single family in the Kirya there has
enthusiastically embraced the idea. Before long, Beit Shemesh
will be the first loshon hora-free city. Who will be
next?
Stop a moment. Close your eyes and just try to imagine a
world without hurtful words, a world devoid of
machlokes, a world brimming with ahavas Yisroel
and the kli machzik brochoh of sholom. Now open
your eyes, but retain the dream! Yes, we can create the chain
that will make the dream a reality!
To help bring the message of Mishmeres HaShalom to your
community call your neighborhood representative. If you do
not know who it is, phone (02) 538-5389 to grasp at the
opportunity, and "strike it rich" -- in zechuyos for
you and for Klal Yisroel!
