Weekly Letter: A Story from an Achron Shel Pesach Farbrengen

In this weeks letter, presented in honor of final days of Pesach, where the Rebbe refers to the haftoro of Acharon shel Pesach and relates a story which the Frierdiker told at a farbrengen on Arachon shel Pesach. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

By the Grace of G-d

Dr.

Golden Valley, Minn. 55422

Sholom uBrocho:

I was genuinely pleased to see you at the Farbreingen and previously at the davening. In addition to the pleasure of seeing tangible proof of your satisfactory physical health, it is particularly gratifying to be able to share with good friends the joy of Yom Tov, especially Achron- shel –Pesach. For the Farbreingen on this occasion is in many respects an extension of the Haphtorah of the day, which speaks to the blissful days of Moshiach and concludes on the note of true fulfillment, when “the earth will be full of the knowledge of G-d, as the waters cover the sea.”

While the Haphtorah speaks of the Days of Moshiach, G-d, Who is the Essence of Goodness, desires that the Torah which He gave us should be comprehended and enjoyed to the fullest measure also now and here. Needless to say, the joy and appreciation of gaining something through much toil and effort is incomparably greater than something which comes by without trying. Consequently it is also greater when shared with others in the fullest measure, by doing everything possible to spread the light and knowledge of the Torah and mitzvos to the utmost of one’s reach, in close proximity as well as far afield.

The joy is compounded when one has the opportunity to bring the knowledge of G-d to sphere which are inaccessible to others, for which G-d provides a special capacity to accomplish it.

As yo will easily infer, I am referring to your unique zechus in being able to bring the “Emes haShem l’Olom” to a circle where few, if indeed any but you, can penetrate – the Emes haShem embodied in His Toras Emes. Truth is, of course, incompatible with compromise, for even the slightest compromise invalidates the full and real truth.

This reminds me of the story related by my father-in-law of saintly memory during a Farbreingen on Achron shel Pesach:

My grandfather, the Rebbe Maharash, once said to the chosid R’ Elia Abeler, a market trader: “Elia, I    envy you. You travel and go to markets and fairs, which gives you the opportunity to exchange a Jewish word with a fellow Jew and inspire him to learn Nigleh and Chasidus. This creates joy in Heaven and G-d pays the commission in terms of children, life and sustenance. The busier the market and the greater the d=effort, the greater the parnosso.”

Scores of years later, when R’ Elia recounted this to me, he was aglow and aflame with those words and his limbs shook, as though he had just heard them for the first time that day.” (Sefer Hasochos p.111).

The story speaks for itself. I will only add the obvious, that envy in matters of Torah and mitzvos is quite in order.

To reiterate what I wished you during our meeting afterwards, may it be G-d’s Will that for many years to come you should work in the above mentioned direction, in good health and with joy and gladness fo heart and with growing measure of vitality and inspiration and may the above blessings of the Rebbe Maharash be fulfilled for you and yours.

With blessing,

P.S. It was a particular pleasure for me to hear your daughter recite on the reading of the Torah and about the Seder, which she did with naturalness and innocence characteristic of a child, oblivious of compromise. It bespeaks you ability, undoubtedly shared by your wife, to instill such pure faith in her. Have much nachas.

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The above letter is from The Letter and the Spirit by Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP).

These letters were written originally in English and were prepared for publication by Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel, whose responsibility it was the Rebbe’s correspondence in English and several other languages.

We thank Rabbi Shalom Ber Schapiro, who was entrusted by his father-in-law Rabbi Mindel with his archives and who is Director of the Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP), for making the Rebbe’s letters available to the wider public. May the merit of the many stand him in good stead.