Weekly Story: Yaakov Avinu Lo Meis

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

As we are coming closer to Yud Shevat, and each chossid is preparing himself for this day, I decided to post the following anecdotes which may bring some clarity to the saying of Yaakov Avinu Lo Meis – Our Father Yaakov Did Not Pass On. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated.

One of the main points that the Rebbe spoke and wrote repeatedly after Yud Shevat is that Yaakov Avinu lo meis. His intention was clear, that although there was a histalkus, his father-in-law, the Rebbe, is still very much involved and connected to his chassidim.

A faithful shepherd does not forsake his flock, and the Rebbe did not forsake his chassidim. Although we can’t see him physically, he is continuing interceding and beseeching Hashem on our behalf.

In my research for the biography of the Frierdiker Rebbe I found out about the following anecdotes that may illuminate this thought:

A few months after Yud Shevat 5710 (1950), Agudas Chassidei Chabad hired an architect who was also an engineer to build the Ohel that is there. For some reason, the Rebbe was not satisfied with the plans he submitted and had another architect modify it to his satisfaction and specifations.

Someone who had the original blueprints mistakenly left them in a telephone booth and it was found by an individual. Trying to do the proper thing, that individual called up the number which was printed on the bottom of the page informing the architect that he found his blueprints.

The problem was that he was speaking to the first architect who realized that he was not going to be the engineer to build the Ohel and he took Agu”ch to court. (I am not aware of his exact claims).

The defendants in the case were; Agudas Chassidei Chabad, Rabbi Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky who was the secretary of Agu”ch, and our Rebbe.

I heard from Rabbi Kazarnovsky’s grandson, Rabbi Sholom Ber Stock (who heard it from his grandfather), that in a deposition the architect’s lawyer asked, “Now that Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneerson is no longer alive, who is the president of Agu”ch?”

Without answering verbally the Rebbe pointed to himself, and Rabbi Kazarnovsky realized at that moment that it is only a matter of time that the Rebbe will accept the Nesius.

I mentioned this story to Rabbi Krinsky and he replied that he doesn’t know of these details (as at that time he wasn’t working for the Rebbe). Additionally, he noted, that the case was settled out of court. However, he mentioned, that he read the Rebbe’s lengthy reply to that lawyer. One of the points the Rebbe took issue with was the premise that the Frierdiker Rebbe was no longer alive.

The Rebbe wrote that we can’t say that, as in certain aspects, especially in a spiritual sense, he is very much alive.

When I heard this I said to myself; Now, this wasn’t said in a farbrengen where one may think to say that the Rebbe said it to lift up the spirits of the chassidim, but he wrote it as a response in a legal dispute that was taking place in a secular court. In other words he was stating it as a fact.

In other words, this saying is factual and the reality, not just inspirational.

Once we are speaking about the Ohel, I would mention what I heard from Rabbi Yosef Borenstein a”h, who is a Kohen.

He was one of the students of Otwock who successfully escaped via Shanghai and went to Montreal, Canada.

Shortly after the Ohel was built he had a Yechidus with the Rebbe. In addition to answering his questions, the Rebbe began saying to him a pilpul in Halacha explaining why he had the Ohel designed and built, as he did. Basically, this way a Kohen is allowed to enter it, without any question.

Rabbi Borenstein who was a talmid chocham told me, I was able to understand the Rebbe for the first few minutes, but then it was beyond me.

Author’s note: When I heard the story about changing architects I thought that perhaps it was done to make certain changes so that the kohanim can enter it without a question, (but obviously it could have been done for other reasons).

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com