Weekly Story: Coming on Time

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon 

As is well known during the saga of the Seforim, the Rebbe spoke about the importance of preparing for Yud Shevat especially during the thirty days from the tenth of Teves. Among the points he mentioned, was the instruction that a test should be given following every ten days. Therefore, I am posting a story that is relevant mainly to the students of our schools.

As always, your comments and feedback are appreciated.

Until 5720 (1960), the Rebbe personally gave Chanukah gelt to the students of the Yeshiva in 770.

One year during the weeks just prior to Chanukah, the Rebbe changed his schedule; instead of routinely coming from his house at ten or later, on some days he arrived at 770 at 7:45, 8:15, or 8:45.

On those days before going to his room he would walk down the hallway and look through the open doors to see which students were present and learning, He then instructed his secretariat to request from the hanhala (administration) a list of the students who came to the seder Chassidus (which was from 7:30 to 9:00)  

They gave a list of all the students in the Yeshiva to Rabbi Groner who presented it to the Rebbe. The Rebbe looked at it and said, “If the Hanhala is interested that all the students receive the Chanukah gelt because of Ahavas Yisroel, they should present this list to the Berditchover Rov (who is known for his tremendous Ahavas Yisroel.)

“The reason I was [personally] giving Chanukah gelt to the students, is because I want to strengthen their resolve to come to learn on time. Yet some of the students whose names were on this list, I didn’t see when I entered the the study hall at 7:45 (shortly after the session began), nor at 8:15 and not even at 8:45 (shortly before the session ends). Return the list to them.”

Receiving the list back and hearing the message that the Rebbe said, the Hanhala wrote a new list, obviously a shorter one. This time it included only the names of the students who were coming to the session.

On Chanukah, these students were allowed to enter the Rebbe’s room to receive the Chanukah gelt, while the other students were not given this opportunity. 

This is just one of the stories that brings out how important it was for the Rebbe that each student be in seder every day.

So as we are now in the thirty days before Yud Shevat and trying g to strengthen our hiskashrus to the Rebbe, let us do something that was extremely important to the Rebbe and come to seder on time.

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

15 Comments

  • Mushkie

    Respectfully, to me the story shows how the Rebbe knew each bochur by name – both the names of the ones he saw in seder and the names of the ones on the list!

    How many people do we see in shul, in stores or on the street, that we know them by face but not by name?

    The Rebbe knew each bochur’s name! To me, that’s amazing!

  • Mushkie

    Think about it. The Rebbe was never “introduced” to each bochur and told his name. The bochurim were never in yechidus to present their name to the Rebbe. Yet he knew each name!

  • Mushkie

    Some may think this story shows ruach hakodesh. I see it differently. The story demonstrates the deep connection and hiskashrus that the Rebbe has with each bochur and chosid. He makes it his business to know his “customers” by name (and probably everything else about them too!).

  • BMG

    Sorry Mushkie. I think you are reading too much into the story. Here is how I read it:

    The Rebbe walked by the learning bochurim. He observed a small number in attendance – let’s say he noticed 10 bochurim.

    He asked the Hanholah for a list of those in attendance.

    They supplied, let’s say, 40 names of bochurim.

    The Rebbe rejected that list because he knew that there were only let’s say 10.

  • Tomim

    How was the Hanhala able to lie to the Rebbe by giving a false report of attendance? They weren’t fluffing attendance for the government Lunch Program?! We are talking about chassidishe yidden appointed leaders of yeshiva bochurim! If they lack honesty to the Rebbe – that’s terrible! Before I lose all faith, Rabbi Avtzon, please explain!

  • Yanky

    Fellow Tomim, The guys were discussing this and there were two opinions explaining the actions: 1/ that the Hanhala is so dedicated to the bochurim, they will cover for them even to the Rebbe. 2/ that the Hanhala felt it is ok to bluff a bit to prevent the Rebbe from having agmas nefesh (by giving a better attendance record – not knowing that the Rebbe already observed a lack of full attendance).

  • MMS

    Chevra, Wat’s going on here? The girls see the greatness of the story and are inspired about the Rebbe MHM while all you see in the story is a reason to kvetch and pilpil about the hanhala if they did bad or they did well. Chevra, The hanhala is not your business. Fuhgeddaboudit. Take the lesson. Eat the story’s fruit and throw away the pit. Instead you let the pit get stuck in your throat.

  • To Tomim

    Hey Tomim, if think u r losing faith from a story then I promise u that u never had faith to lose in the first place. Alef basis gimmel, emuna bitochon geulah. Speak to Sholem Mordichai.

  • Mushkie

    My teachers told me, “On a story you don”t ask questions.”

    Besides, every question has an answer, it’s just that you need to find it.

    Why lose faith just because you didn’t find the answer?

    It might be just around the corner.

    Don’t lose faith. It is part of you.

    If you don’t understand something, that doesn’t change anything.

  • Fishel

    Did The Rebbe MHM actually check the zal three times, every half hour, all in one day (at 7:45, 8:15 and 8:45)? Because there is a stira in the story. Earlier it said: on some days he arrived at 770 at 7:45, 8:15, or 8:45 (clearly different days). Later it said: I didn’t see when I entered the the study hall at 7:45 (shortly after the session began), nor at 8:15 and not even at 8:45??????????????

  • Fishel

    Also if the whole point and tachlis was: I want to strengthen their resolve to come to learn on time. Then why did he check at later times? The point was to honor those who came on time. Why check again at 8:15 or 8:45?????? Something doesn’t add up.

  • Chosid

    I never comment here but this discussion is interesting! Good points!

    I think it is hashgocha pratis that the story was posted on a shabbos that at mincha we begin to read “Shmos”!

    A parsha and a Sefer named “NAMES”, when every name of the yidden is listed, accounted, examined, valued.

    Every chosid is on the Rebbe’s list of names. Each is accounted, examined, valued.

  • Terror 770

    the rebbe MHM has ruach hakodesh ur getting stuck at the distractions the main point is that the rebbe is moshiach

    • BMG

      When I learn a gemarah, maamor or sicha – I get stuck in these so called “distractions” to understand it.

      It’s not enough to just say this is Chochmas Hashem and parrot the words without understanding them, questioning and figuring them out, pilpul…

      IYour entire maamor or sicha is one long – “the Rebbe is Moshiach”, but that’s not the correct way.

      Besides, the Rebbe is Atzmus melubash bguf.

  • Hershel

    I heard about this online farby of comments, each person speaking emesdik, hartzik, and with chochma. I looked thru all the comments, all the points each one raises and I hear all the perspectives. I raise a kalishkeh of mashke to say L’chaim. You are all an inspiration to me. Stay emes, stay hartzik and stay chassidish by being mekushar, each in your own way. Rabbi Avtzon, zog l’chaim!