The Ushpizin and the Chassidishe Ushpizin – The First Three Days of Sukkos
by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
I was asked to post the correlation That the Rebbe spoke about the Ushpizin and the Chassidishe Ushpizin. So I am taking from my Sefer THE REBBEIM those points.
Bezras Hashem we will divide it into three parts, the first three days the next three days and the final three days.
Enjoy
The Correlation Between The Ushpizin And The Chassidishe Ushpizin
and the
lessons that they teach us
In the Sichos that the Rebbe Shlita spoke about Simchas Beis HaShoevah, he explained many aspects. One of the main themes that the Rebbe dwelled on was about the Ushpizin in general, and each one’s uniqueness in particular.
The Rebbe then said, that although it is not for us to say what are the differences between one of them and another, for all of them are equally great. However, if the purpose is to take a lesson from what we see, then we are not saying that one is different (greater) than another, rather we are saying that Avrahom Avinu taught us this, and Yitzchok Avinu taught us some thing else etc.
In this chapter we will discuss the following three points:
1) What is the connection between the regular Ushpiz and the Chassidishe Ushpiz.
2) Although the regular Ushpiz and the Chassidishe Ushpiz have a common theme, there is a very significant point in which they differ. As we will see this difference does not make a contradiction, but rather it shows how one complements the other.
3) The lesson to be learned from their common theme and from their differences.
This is the order of the Ushpizin:
First Night: Avrahom Avinu and the Baal Shem Tov
Second Night: Yitzchok Avinu and the Maggid of Mezeritch
Third Night: Yaakov Avinu and the Alter Rebbe
Fourth Night: Moshe Rabbeinu and the Mitteler Rebbe
Fifth Night: Aharon HaKohen and the Tzemach Tzedek
Sixth Night: Yosef HaTzaddik and the Rebbe Maharash
Seventh Night: Dovid HaMelech and the Rebbe Rashab
Eighth Night: Shlomo HaMelech and the Frierdiker Rebbe
Simchas Torah: The Rebbe Shlita
Avrahom Avinu and the Baal Shem Tov
The Ushpiz of the first night is Avrahom Avinu. Avrahom Avinu is known for his kindness and hospitality, through which he brought out an awareness of Gdliness into the world. As Rashi writes (Bereishis 24:7), Avrahom Avinu said, “Now He is the Gd of heaven and the Gd of earth, because I have made Him familiar in the mouths of the creations. But when He took me from my fathers house He was the Gd of heaven but not the Gd of earth, for the worlds inhabitants did not recognize him.
The people not only came to realize that Hashem is the creator and Gd of the world; even more so, they understood that the whole essence of the world is Gdliness.
The accomplishments of the Baal Shem Tov, were similar in that during his travels he always asked the Jews about their health and livelihood. They answered Boruch Hashem, blessed is Hashem, for He is taking care of us. With this simple question and answer people realized that not only a Jew’s spiritual life but even his physical and materialistic life is connected to Gdliness.
In an other respect their lives were completely opposite. Avrahom Avinu had a difficult time for many years. He was tested by Hashem ten different times, and until he was told that he would have a son, he was saddened by the thought that he would never have a child at all.
The Baal Shem Tov’s life on the other hand was filled with supernatural occurrences and miracles. Even though he was poor for some years his poverty did not last long.
The lesson we can learn from this is that one is obligated to teach the world about Gdliness, regardless of one’s situation.
The fact that Avrahom Avinu and the Baal Shem Tov are the first guests is quite fitting, for they exemplify the ideals of Hachnosas Orchim, inviting guests, and that the guest could be a source of inspiration to the host.
Not only did the Avrahom Avinu build his house where all travelers could receive free food and lodging but he also did it in a gracious manner. He personally served them, which of course caused his guests to be in a happier mood.
The Baal Shem Tov would come as a guest to different towns and villages in order to gladden the hearts of the Jewish people.
Yitzchok Avinu and the Maggid of Mezeritch
The Ushpiz for the second night is Yitzchok Avinu.
The unique aspect of Yitzchok Avinu is that he is the only one of the Avos [and Ushpizin] who never travelled out of Eretz Yisrael.
The Maggid, similarly, is the only one of the Chassidishe Ushpizin who during his entire time as Nasi remained in his place and did not travel.
There is another aspect in which the Maggid seems to be the exact opposite of Yitzchok. That is, that the Maggid is the only one of the Nesi’im who for many years learned only Nigleh and not Chassidus. In other words for a large period of time he was not connected with the complete Torah (in both dimensions).
This is in contrast to Yitzchok, who is referred to as the “perfect (complete) sacrifice.”
The lesson to be learned from the fact that they did not leave their place is that when a Jew is involved in a holy cause, he should not go away from it, even if he is planning to go to a different holy cause, for everyone has a mission that only he can accomplish. And this applies to everyone whether he was given this mission (as Yitzchok was) or whether he came to choose it (as the Maggid did).
Yaakov Avinu and the Alter Rebbe
Yaakov Avinu is the Ushpiz for the third night. Although all of the Avos studied Torah, the only one that the Torah mentions this fact is by Yaakov. As the Possuk says “he dwelled in the tents” (plural) alluding to the fact that he studied both dimensions of the Torah, Niglah (the revealed dimension) and Nistar (the inner dimension).
The quality of being involved with both aspects of Torah is a clear demonstration of the similarity between him and the Alter Rebbe, who is called the Baal HaTanya v’Shulchan Aruch (author of the Tanya and Code of Jewish Law, major Seforim on both the hidden and revealed dimensions of the Torah). Also his learning was on the highest level as shown by the fact that he brought the learning to its ultimate conclusion, the Halacha in Shulchan Aruch.
An important difference between them is that Yaakov Avinu described his life as one full of sadness, while the Alter Rebbe’s life was one of extreme contentment. First by being chosen by the Maggid to write the Shulchan Aruch, and later by realizing that his Tanya would hasten the Redemption.
This difference is also reflected in their names. We say that tonight’s ushpiz is Yaakov and we do not (use his other name and) say tonight’s ushpiz is Yisrael. The name Yisrael was given when Yaakov conquered Esav’s angel and corresponds to a very high level of being. Whereas the name Yaakov was given because Yaakov was holding onto Esav’s heel. This represents a much lower level.
On the other hand, the Alter Rebbe’s name שניאור (Schnei Ohr) = two lights (or illuminations), shows that he illuminated the entire world with the light of the Torah. This reflects a life of contentment.
The lesson from this is that one is obligated to immerse oneself in Torah study, no matter what his situation is, whether it be a troublesome life, (as Yaakov Avinu’s was) or a contented one, (as the Alter Rebbe’s was).
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
