The Ushpizin and the Chassidishe Ushpizin – The Second Three Days of Sukkos

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

As noted I now present the correlation between the middle three Ushpizin and their counterparts the middle three Chassidishe Ushpizin.

Moshe Rabbeinu and the Mitteler Rebbe

The ushpiz for the fourth night is Moshe Rabbeinu. Moshe Rabbeinu’s essence is Torah, and even a new explanation or original approach to Torah study that is revealed many generations after matan torah, was taught to Moshe. In other words, everything we learn was part of the Torah that was given to us by Moshe Rabbeinu. Just that these aspects were waiting to be revealed.

This is also the essence of the Mitteler Rebbe, as we can see that he wrote many pages to explain a short saying of the Alter Rebbe. In other words, in his Maamarim one begins to find the depth and breathe of Chassidus, just as Moshe Rabbeinu gave us the depth and breathe in the Torah.

Although we explained yesterday, that Torah study characterizes Yaakov Avinu and the Alter Rebbe, the difference here is, that we are emphasizing not only the importance of learning, but the way and intent of one’s learning, it should be with the goal of understanding it in its depth.

The difference between them is that in the times of Moshe Rabbeinu the Jewish nation did not lack anything. Hashem provided them with all their needs. The times of the Mitteler Rebbe, however, was one of extreme poverty.

The lesson from this is, one should not say, “I understand that one is obligated to learn Torah under all circumstances (see the previous day’s lesson) but perhaps that applies only to gaining general knowledge. Learning in depth, however, requires great concentration, and that is too difficult when one is in extreme straits!”

To this we respond, the Torah that Moshe commanded us is an inheritance to all Jews, and this lesson is applicable to all and possible for all to fulfill.

Furthermore this is the meaning of our sages’ sayings, whoever studies the Torah when he is poor will study it out of richness, and one is to be careful with the children of the poor, for from them the Torah will come forth.
In other words one who studies while being in a poor situation will come to study the Torah out of richness, meaning to the fullest. And the person should remember, although he is presently being crushed, but the olive never released its exceptional oil that can be used for the Menorah, until they are crushed.

Aharon Kohen Gadol and the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek

Aharon is the ushpiz for the fifth night. He was loved by all Jews, since he loved every one and made the special effort to bring people back together. As the Mishna tells us in Avos: “Be the students of Aharon: love peace, chase after peace, love those that were created and bring them close to the Torah.”

This trait also characterized the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek. Before he became Rebbe there was strife and separation amongst Jews; misnagdim versus chassidim. The Tzemach Tzedek travelled extensively in order to create peace and harmony amongst them. He successfully made complete peace to the extent that the different groups now worked together.

The difference between them is that Aharon also worked with regular people while the Tzemach Tzedek put his emphasis on speaking and working with the leaders of the various groups.

The lesson to be learned from this.

One may say, I agree entirely with the concept of loving every Jew and working together with them, however in certain instances it is not possible or not necessary.

a) I am a very great scholar and how could I waste my time working with the complete ignoramus.
b) Although Ahavas Yisrael is very important, it is still only just one of the 613 Mitzvos. And if a great Torah scholar is lacking in activity on behalf of Ahavas Yisrael, as long as they don’t hurt the other Jew, its not so terrible, for they are so close to the Torah.

To this we answer:
a) Be a student of Aharon the high priest who had to be constantly pure since he was the only one allowed to go into the Holy of Holies, yet he befriended these people who are called regular or low and went to them knowingly that there is a possibility that they might make him impure.
b) If leaders are lacking in a small thing it is a great thing, especially if it concerns Ahavas Yisrael. Ahavas Yisrael is that what holds the Jewish nation together. This was demonstrated by the Tzemach Tzedek, that only by all Jews being together they successfully opposed the government intention of forcing changes in the Jewish nation.
Yosef Hatzaddik and the Rebbe Maharash

Tonights ushpiz is Yosef HaTzaddik. Yosef’s uniqueness was that he was able to serve Hashem even when he was the viceroy of Egypt and responsible for everything that went on in that corrupt land. The Avos and Yosef’s brothers felt that if they were involved in worldly matters it would effect their service of Hashem, and so they decided to be shepherds, where nothing from the outside world would disturb them from this service.

Yosef was not only greater then his brothers in that nothing could interfere with his complete service of Hashem; but even more so, he attained this greatness only once he was already in Egypt.

This is the meaning of the Rebbe Maharash’s statement Lechatchila Ariber, that there is no obstacle that a Jew cannot transcend and overcome.

In one respect the lives of Yosef HaTzaddik and the Rebbe Maharash were completely opposite. During Yosef’s lifetime the Jews lived in the best part of Egypt, and they lacked nothing. While the Rebbe Maharash had to travel extensively to cancel the terrible decrees that were proclaimed against the Jews. Although he was successful it was an extremely difficult and hard period.

The lesson from this is that a Jew should not allow outside influences to control him and keep him from serving Hashem. Even if he is presently enduring terrible and hard conditions, as existed in the time of the Rebbe Maharash, he should realize that Hashem gives him the strength to overcome this. On the other hand, if he is successful, as the Jews were during Yosef’s lifetime, he should also realize that his success is not his accomplishment but it is from Hashem. Either way, a person should have set times for learning and not allow anything to make him preoccupied.

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