Weekly Story: Ein Od Milvado

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

Being that this Shabbos, Tes Kislev, is the 245th year since the birth of the Mitteler Rebbe, [and his new capital is 96], as well 191 years since his histalkus at age 54, it is appropriate to focus on an important aspect of his life. He stated, “It is my wish that when two chassidim meet, their [everyday] discussion should be about yichuda ilaah and yichuda tataah, [two concepts that are discussed at length in Chassidus].”

In essence, his desire was that we should focus on the truth, that everything that happens in this world is merely a manifestation of Hashem’s greatness, as He constantly recreates the world, and not allow ourselves to be swayed and then consider worldly things as the priority.

With that in mind I am posting two stories from my upcoming book, Early Chassidic Personalities, vol. 6: Reb Binyomin Kletzker, who was one of his chassidim, as well as a chossid of the Alter Rebbe and the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek.

If any of the readers are interested in helping defray some of the costs of that book, and sponsoring a dedication, it would be greatly appreciated. It is 260 pages, and ready for print.

The Grand Total : Ein Od Milvado

The purpose of every business is to earn a profit, and, therefore, a businessperson periodically makes a detailed accounting of all the expenses (both direct and consequential) to see the bottom line. Once, Reb Binyomin was studying his expense-income sheet, marking down the cost of the lumber, labor, shipping, etc., and he meticulously recorded each item with the exact number and value. However, when he came to the bottom of the sheet where he was supposed to write the grand total, instead of writing down a number, he simply wrote “Ein od milvado – there is nothing besides Hashem!”

The obvious question is: Since this sentiment – that Hashem is everything and everything is Hashem – permeated his entire being, even when he was involved in his business dealings and transactions, why did he spend so much of his precious time filling out all the details of the costs and values?

Although everything comes from Hashem, one must make a proper keli (vessel) to receive that blessing. Fundamentally that means that one must ensure that their business is completely honest.

So when Reb Binyomin needed to note the price of each individual item, he did so to a tee. If not, he might unwittingly make a mistake in the pricing and unfairly overcharge someone, etc.

However, when it came time for him to note the grand total, he automatically declared, “Ein od milvado! My entire purpose and the reason for the creation of the entire world is to come to the realization that everything is from Hashem and besides Him, there is nothing.”

Likkutei Sichos vol. 34, pp.112-113.

Hashem Echad

One of Reb Binyomin’s main business endeavors involved selling lumber. The lumber merchants would lease parcels of the forest from the noblemen, cut the trees and ship the lumber to the market. In those days the most convenient way of transporting the lumber was tying the logs together to create a raft, loading additional logs on the raft and floating them down the river.

One of the places where Reb Binyomin dealt in lumber was at the Daugava River near Riga, Latvia. His operation was a large one, so he hired a foreman to oversee the production, (from marking the trees that were to be cut, cutting them down, and transporting them). From time to time, the foreman would come to him for instructions or answers to his questions, such as how much lumber should go on the next raft, if any special markings should be made, and so on.

After answering the foreman’s questions, Reb Binyomin would return to what was foremost on his mind, contemplating on what he had learned. This aloofness often irritated the foreman, because each time he would come for guidance or instructions, Reb Binyomin would be in another world, and it took time and patience to bring him out of his trance-like state. He was so immersed in his chassidic thoughts that it was as if he was being  awakened from a deep sleep, and initially he would not remember where he was.

However, the foreman placated himself because Reb Binyomin compensated him fairly and was unlike the other owners, who were overbearing and would pressure the workers every minute to work harder and faster. So, all in all, this arrangement worked for everyone.

On one occasion, Reb Binyomin was in such deep contemplation on a concept in Chassidus that his workers had to wait for five hours until they could get him to focus on the business at hand. To their dismay, all they could do was to wait and wait, as calling his name and making a ruckus didn’t succeed in awakening him from his thoughts.

Finally, after five long hours, Reb Binyomin noticed them and asked, “What do you want to know?” “We need to get back to work,” they replied, “but we don’t know what you want us to do next.”

Reb Binyomin replied, “I will be available to answer you in a few minutes,” and returned once again to his thoughts. The workers were flabbergasted; almost an entire day had been wasted!

When Reb Binyomin finally focused on the assembled workers, he couldn’t help but notice their bewilderment. “How can this be the reality?” wondered his employees. The foreman expressed his exasperation by asking, “Reb Binyomin, is it possible, or even appropriate, to contemplate Chassidus in the midst of dealing with such large contracts and shipments of wood?”

“Why are you surprised [by my conduct]? Reb Binyomin replied. “When one is in midst of saying Hashem Echad in davening, [and at that very moment the person is declaring that the entire universe is merely a creation of Hashem and is in essence nothing without Hashem. Nevertheless,] does it sometimes happen that his mind wanders off and he begins to think about the wood he wants to buy or sell [and forgets that he is wearing tefillin and saying Shema Yisroel]? When that happens, you are not surprised or amazed at all. [In fact, some may think this is normal, especially if that person’s financial future is dependent upon this transaction!]

“But when one is in the middle of his business dealings of lumber and his mind wanders off and he thinks about Hashem Echad, [that the lumber and river and indeed the entire world are only a manifestation of Hashem’s greatness, but in essence is nothing on their own], this is something you can’t understand, and you are totally shocked! With me it is just the opposite; I can’t fathom how a person’s mind can wander off in middle of saying Hashem Echad and think about wood on the riverbanks of Riga.”

After relating this incident, the Rebbe Rashab said, “Regarding him the Alter Rebbe said, ‘He fulfills the mitzvah of b’chol dirachecha da’eihu’”.

The Rebbe Rashab then explained: “The reason Reb Binyomin was able to do this is because the truth is that business in and of itself does not conceal G-dliness. This is a [fundamental] difference between mussar seforim and Chassidus. Mussar directs a person to separate himself from worldly occupations, [for when one is occupied with business matters, he cannot retain at that moment his strong connection to Hashem]. Chassidus implores one to demonstrate through their business dealings that materialistic success is not a contradiction to G-dliness.”

Toras Sholom pp. 6-7

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mecahnech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He is available to farbreng and inspire the members of your community and can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com