Weekly Thought: We Sing; What Else Is There to Do?

B’nei Yisrael sang Az Yashir back then, are the details still relevant today? What are the eternal lessons from this song for our Emunah in hashem? How can we as Chassidim be inspired from the messages of this great song? Rabbi Avrohom Brashevitzky, Shliach to Doral, FL, shares his thoughts on this week’s Parsha – Beshalach.

Az Yashir Moshe U’venei Yisrael Es Hashira Hazos…” “Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song…”

In The Torah there are two songs which are written differently than the rest of The Torah; the Az Yashir and Shiras Ha’azinu. About the song of Ha’azinu the Magid of Mezritch says that one should recite it every day. He explains that due to its great importance one should try to recite it at every opportunity. Yet, not too many people are aware of this, let alone recite it. Az Yashir however is recited on a daily basis by all of Klal Yisrael, as it appears in the Sidur as part of the morning Shacharis. This leads to the obvious conclusion that Az Yashir applies to each and everyone, all the time. The fundamental lessons in Emunah and our way of life need to be on our memory constantly, with the objective of implementing them in an actual manner on a daily basis.

The Pasuk preceding the Shira, ends with the words “and they believed in Hashem and in Moshe, His servant”. Part of having faith and Bitzchon in Hashem is believing in and trusting His servants; the Tzadikim and The Rebbe.

Reb Michoel Alush who now lives in Israel serving as a high ranking aeronautical engineer in the Israel Defense Industries. Several years ago when he heard about the passing of the renowned Chosid Rabbi Yosef Weinberg, he contacted the editor of the Kfar Chabad Magazine to relate the following story. “After becoming Frum and a Chosid of The Rebbe I received a great offer in Johannesburg South Africa. With The Rebbe’s direction and blessing I relocated with my family from France in the year 1988. On the 13th of Teves we moved in to a rented home in the community where most Anash live. The landlord gave us a walk through and emphasized the importance to lock all doors, gates and even the gates which divide between the sleeping quarters and the rest of the home. He explained that if G-d forbid we hear a break in – in progress we should remain in our rooms and “remain asleep”, as the robbers in their country don’t only come to steal…”

“Although we came with The Rebbe’s Bracha, such a “welcome” shook us to the core. It gave us a feeling of helplessness and lack of personal safety. I immediately sat down to write a letter to The Rebbe describing our sense of hopelessness and requesting a Bracha for strength to “overcome the sense of lack of safety which gripped us”. Before I had a chance to send the letter, just an hour or so later, we received a call from one of the neighbors inviting us to a Farbrengen with Rabbi Weinberg in his home. Rabbi W, had just arrived in the city and will be Farbrenging with some of the Anash.

Rabbi Weinberg related that the day of 13th of Teves carries a great personal significance for him, as it is the anniversary of his last Yechidus he had by The Frierdiker Rebbe. In this Yechidus The Rebbe told him many things which he did not understand at the time. Only after 20 something years later did he come to realize the meaning of the prophetic words the Rebbe had told him at the time. He related similar episodes he had with our Rebbe, concluding and repeating several times the importance of “and they believed in Hashem and in Moshe, His servant”.

The manner in which Rabbi W, spoke and sang the Nigunim left a tremendous impression on me. Being that I just relocated from France, Rabbi W. checked with me to make sure that I understood what he said in English. Not only did I understand… I was totally infused with the idea of Emunah and Botachon in The Rebbe. In fact, when I came home I decided that I just can’t send the letter I had written earlier that day. I felt that I had already received my answer…I still keep this letter which “was written but never sent”.

Several years later after we were already living in Israel, our daughter called home from seminary to tell us that Rabbi Weinberg will be Farbrenging with the girls. I shared the above details with her and asked that she share the story with Rabbi Weinberg and the impact his words had on the 13th of Teves. After hearing the story Rabbi W. reacted that now he finally understands the seemingly “strange” directive he received from The Rebbe at the time. He had planned to visit SA in Elul, at the last moment The Rebbe instructed him to push off his trip till after the Yamim Tovim. The Rebbe repeated His directive several times. At the time Rabbi W. could not understand the reason for this strange directive. Now it was all clear to him…”

Another verse that stands out is “Zeh Keili V’anveihu, Elokei Ovi Va’aromemenhu” . There are many literal and deep meanings to this Passuk. When The Toldos Aharon Rebbe OBM visited with The Rebbe many years ago, The Rebbe implored him about the importance of his students learning Chassidus before Davening. The Rebbe quated The Holy Shaloh who explains it in the following manner: “If it is ZEH KEILI – I made Him “Zeh” – real – through contemplating His greatness; then, V’ANVEIHU = Ani Vahu (compounded) – I and Him will be together. Through one’s delving in the greatness of Hashem, one becomes closer to Him. However, if it is merely ELOKEI AVI (The G-d of me fathers) – I believe in Him with blind faith, merely because He is the G-d of my fathers; then Va’aromemenhu, Lit. I will elevate him – hold him high, but distant” Through learning in depth about G-dliness one becomes closer to Hashem!” Likewise there’s a famous saying from one of the Gedolei Yisroel: If G-d is IN a person’s life to the extent of being “Zeh” “This” – present and real in his life; then V’anveihu – I’ll beautify Him, I will do the Mitzvot as best and beautiful as possible. However, if it is merely “the G-d of my father” – I’m proud to point out the picture of a Zeide who was a Frun Yid or a Bubbe who was devoted to Judaism, but I myself am removed from it… Then, Va’aromememnhu – I will hold Him high, but distant…”

I believe that the same also applies to our Hiskashrus. Coming from Yud Shvat and getting close to Chof Beis Shvat, it’s important for us to invest more time and energy to become more knowledgeable in the Chassidus and the Sichos of our Rebbe and in the stories and history of His leadership.