Weekly Story: A Present To The Rebbe
by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
As this week was Chof Zayin Adar, I am sharing some points that were discussed at a farbrengen on Chof Zayin Adar in Empire Shtiebel.
One of the attendees began with a wish that we should speedily be zoche (merit) to be reunited with the Rebbe in a physical body once again. He then shrugged his shoulders in despair.
Seeing that gesture another participant noted what was discussed in a farbrengen on Purim Koton: In 5687 (1927), the Frierdiker Rebbe spoke about having mesiras nefesh and while the Rebbe remained in Russia one can understand how the chassidim had that strength. But a half year later, after the Frierdiker Rebbe left Russia, and he was free, and the chassidim were for all practical purposes stuck in Russia, without any seeable way of joining the Rebbe and being free, how did they have the strength to maintain this level of mesiras nefesh for years to come?
Yes in the sicha on simchas Torah, the day before the Rebbe left Russia he said, “We will see each other, we will definitely see each other,” but could someone question those who shrugged their shoulders in doubt, questioning how is that going to happen. Russia was a sealed box, no one could leave.
But nevertheless their connection to the Rebbe remained firm and solid and they continued the Rebbe’s activities with selfless devotion, and continued doing so even after witnessing the horrific punishment that the government meted out to their fellow chassidim.
And then miracle of miracles, twenty years later, around one thousand chassidim managed to leave Russia, as Polish citizens, as we wrote a few weeks ago, and then after another twenty/thirty years later the Iron curtain opened up and hundreds more were able to come out. so yes, what people thought could never happen, happened.
So too today, my fellow chassidim, now is a moment to strengthen our connection to the Rebbe, and yes what may seem farfetched will happen.
The question only is what is one supposed to do? Some feel that if they are the head of an institution they would have the ability to accomplish something great and powerful, but when one is a simple chossid, what is his two cents worth? Will my actions really give the Rebbe nachas ruach, especially as it pales in the face of others’ tremendous accomplishments?
So let us look back fifty years ago when the Rebbe requested on his seventieth birthday that chassidim present him with Seventy-One new mosdos (organizations).
Yes, some of these new organizations were bold and large initiatives. However, others were not so. In fact, Rabbi Kasriel Kastel once mentioned that he asked the Rebbe if a class he had begun with another two individuals in Tzach can be counted / considered as one of those new institutions and the Rebbe replied yes, ensuring that it remains a permanent activity.
Another participant brought this point home by relating the following anecdote:
Reb Berel Baumgarten was a chossid who would write a detailed letter to the Rebbe of his daily activities. His letters to the Rebbe were always many pages.
One time he went to England and Eretz Yisroel and when he returned to New York, he wrote a letter of only a few lines. Before returning to Argentina, he had a yechidus and the Rebbe asked him, why was this last letter, so short, not detailed as usual.
Reb Berel replied, “When I was in England and Eretz Yisroel, and I saw the beautiful buildings and institutions, I feel that my accomplishments pale in comparison, I am somewhat down in spirits.
The Rebbe replied, Do you think I need buildings, I need nefoshos and Boruch Hashem the nefoshos you are making, are very good. (Some say the Rebbe opened a drawer in his desk and took out test papers from three boys of Argentina, who were learning in 770, and showed him their excellent mark).
That is something each one of us can do. We can reach out to another Jew and inspire him/her to fulfill another mitzvah or a few mitzvos, and uncover the fire in their neshoma, that it shines.
In a farbrengen in Rayim Ahuvim, Rabbi Moshe Klein related some points that happened in the Rebbe’s room. That year Chof Zayin Adar was on Monday. On Friday, while the Rebbe was wearing his Rabbeinu Tam tefillin, he spoke or better yet said a tefilla that Hashem should bless him with a complete recovery. He concluded with the request that he should have nachas from all of his chassidim.
Let us fulfill that request!
P.S. Sometime later that Friday, the Rebbe suffered a second stroke and from then on he no longer communicated verbally.
This week’s post is l’zechus our newborn granddaughter Shaina bas Chana. May she grow up L’chupa, Torah amd maasim tovim.
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
