Weekly Story: Being Connected

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

We are a month before Yud Aleph Nissan and many of the Rebbe’s Chassidim, followers, and friends are doing something in honor of his 121st birthday. At the same time some of our friends ask, “Why do you put so much emphasis on a person’s connection, or as Chassidim call it Hiskashrus, to the Rebbe?”

Last Shabbos I was in Toronto and heard the following story which illuminates its purpose from Rabbi Michoel Akiva Gershon ben Rochel Basya Wagner, may Hashem send him a complete healing together with all who are in need.

As always, your feedback and comments are appreciated and welcomed. 

A Jew once came to the Heilike Ruzhiner. The tzaddik asked him if he came for a brocha? 

“No,” was the reply.

“How is your family?” asked the tzaddik.

“Boruch Hashem we are all healthy,” the man answered.

“And how is your livelihood?” inquired the tzaddik?

“Boruch Hashem,” replied the person.

“Since Boruch Hashem everything is in order, may I ask, why did you come here?”

“I came because I want to become your chossid and be connected to you,” the individual answered.

“May I know what prompted you to make this decision?” asked the Ruzhiner.

“With pleasure,” the man said, and he began relating the following story.

As I mentioned I am Boruch Hashem quite successful and some years ago I hired a manager. After a short time, I realized that he is very talented and capable and I began giving him additional responsibilities. My business thrived and he ran the store, while I was able to learn almost the entire day. The only exception was that I would go to the fairs and buy the merchandise.  But as the tzaddik knows, that takes a lot of time. In addition to the many days I spend at the fair, there are a few weeks of traveling back and forth. 

So I was thinking that since I rely on my manager for everything else, I should rely on him for this responsibility as well. When I mentioned this to my friends, they all tried to convince me otherwise.  They argued, that although he is reliable and honest, the amount of money you will be giving him to purchase all the merchandise is more than his yearly salary! That may be too great of a temptation, and we fear that he may never return. 

However, I knew in my heart that he is as honest as they come, and I followed my intuition.

The trip normally takes between three and four weeks, but when five weeks passed and he didn’t return, my friends began telling me, “We warned you and you brought this misfortune upon yourself!”

The store ran out of merchandise, and I didn’t have the money to purchase new items and replenish the shelves. Very quickly I went from being wealthy to a poor person. 

Yet in my heart I felt that something happened to him, as he definitely is as honest as can be.

Last week the manager came to me in a dream.  He informed me that on the way to the fair he began feeling ill. Knowing that he has a relative nearby, he went to his town to recuperate. However, as the days passed, he realized that his end is coming near, so he thought on how can he return the money to me.

After some thought he decided to give it to the Rov of that town and request of him to return it. I gave the Rov your name and your other information, but evidently he didn’t try very hard to find you.

One day a malach began pulling people out from Gehenim, and I too was pulled out. I asked the malach what was happening and he replied, “Today is Yud Tes Kislev, the Yahrzeit of the Maggid of Mezeritch. On such an auspicious day it was decided that all those who are connected to him are to enter Gan Eden and can continue their connection with him.”

I said to the malach, “I am thrilled that you are taking me out but I have no connection with the Maggid; I never met him.”

“That is true,” responded the malach, “However before you were born your mother went to him for a brocha, and as a result of his brocha you were born. That is your connection. 

However, when I arrived at the gates of Gan eden they didn’t allow me to enter. They said, while you didn’t do anything intentional against your employer, yet nevertheless because of you his life was turned upside down.

I argued that I didn’t want to die, you decreed it, so why am I being punished because of your decision?!

The heavenly court convened, and they gave me permission to inform you of how you can obtain your money.

Before he left I asked him, “Can you please inform me which tzaddik I should become connected to?”

He said, the only thing I am allowed to say is that whatever the tzaddik of Ruzhin says makes a tremendous impression in heaven.

“Rebbe, now you know why I desire to become connected to you.”

Rabbi Wagner concluded, as Chassidim we know that through being committed to the Rebbe we are able to elevate ourselves higher than the challenges of this world and fulfill the will of Hashem. We should learn better and fulfill the mitzvos b’hiddur.

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