Weekly Story: I Too, Can Do the Rebbe’s Will
by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
Last Shabbos I heard some inspiring and heartwarming stories at a kiddush farbrengen from various individuals, and I thought that as we are preparing for Yud Shevat and thinking how to strengthen our Hiskashrus (connection) to the Rebbe, they are befitting to be publicized.
As always, your thoughts, feedback, and comments are always appreciated.
Always On Duty
Reb Zev Nelkin related that there are many Lubavitchers who always have a pair of tefillin with them. This way, in case they meet a Jew during the day, who for whatever reason didn’t put on tefillin that day, would have the opportunity to do so.
The following story was related to him by a fellow doctor, who heard it from a Lubavitcher who is one of his patients. That patient said to him, “One day I was traveling to New Jersey to meet one of my acquaintances. Sometimes when we meet, there is an elderly Jew (in his early eighties) at the meeting.
When I was a few minutes before the Verrazano Bridge, I glanced at the seat next to me and was alarmed to see that my tefillin was not there. After a moment of nervousness, I remembered that on the way I had stopped off at Bingos to buy some items. Evidently, I had taken my tefillin into the store, and most probably had left them there.
I called Bingo and they confirmed that they had it and said to me, “You have nothing to worry about. There is a Lubavitcher from Crown Heights by the counter and we will give it to him, and the two of you can make arrangements to meet.” However, I replied, “Please hold it as I will be there in fifteen to twenty minutes.” After retrieving them, I continued on my way to the meeting.
It happened to be that the elderly man was present, so I asked him, if he would put on tefillin.
To my delight, this time the man replied, “While I have not accepted your offer previously, I will do so today.”
I helped him put them on and recited the Shema and was about to begin the meeting. Very shortly afterwards the elderly Yid had a massive heart attack and passed away instantly.
[Zev told me, it sounded as if his doctor friend meant that it happened almost immediately after his patient, who related this story, had removed the tefillin from that Jew, however, perhaps he meant some minutes or hours later.]
I was devastated. However, the only solace I had was that because I had returned to Bingo, this Jew merited to put on tefillin at least once in his lifetime – (perhaps even the final act of his life). I knew for sure he won’t be considered a Jew who had never worn tefillin in his life. Although it is possible that he may have put on Tefillin on other occasions.
How One Mitzva Can Illuminate A Life
Reb Yosef Gajer related that the previous week he was in South Burlington, Vermont visiting his daughter, who together with her husband, are the Shluchim to Northwest, Vermont.
On Shabbos I went with my son-in-law to Rabbi Raskin’s shul , which is an hour’s walk away in Burlington, Vermont, on the campus of the University of Vermont.
One of the regulars who davens there is an individual, to whom Shabbos and the weekdays are similar. He only put on his tallis, but not his tefillin. Reb Yosef continued, “I had gently asked him on weekdays in my previous visits if he would like to put on tefillin, but his answer always was, Thank you, but no.”
This Sunday morning at the conclusion of davening I approached him and said, “Mr. so-and-so, may I ask of you a favor?”
“Of course,” was his reply.
“My son is having an operation this Tuesday, the 26th of December, in New York City. My request is, would you please put on tefillin and say a prayer on his behalf.
“Yes,” was the reply and the man took out his tallis a second time, put it on, and then he donned the pair of tefillin. When he concluded saying his prayer he said, “Please inform me after the operation how your son is doing.”
“With pleasure,” I replied.
Reb Yosef returned home to Brooklyn to be with his son, so he asked his daughter and son-in-law to inform that gentleman in person when the operation is over. [May his recovery continue going well until Hashem grants him a complete refuah.]
On Friday during my conversation with my daughter I asked her how that gentleman received the news and how he is in general.
“Tatty that is interesting that you are asking me that now. Right now, my husband is Kashering his kitchen!”
A Taste of Chassidus
V’eleh Shemos 5733
[This maamar is based on a maamar of the Alter Rebbe which is in Torah Ohr at the beginning of this week’s parsha.] The primary point that the maamar is coming to explain is why it is necessary to repeat the point that Yaakov and his children came to Mitzrayim in Parshas Shemos, when it was already mentioned in Parshas Vayigash (46:8).
Furthermore, we have to understand why there are differences in how the pesukim in the two parshios details it. We will focus on two points: In Vayigash, the possuk notes that the children of Yisroel went down to Mitzrayim, and here it says the children of Yaakov went. Furthermore, there it states that Yaakov and his sons went down, but here it only mentions that the children went down.
The answer is that the pesukim are describing two different levels of descent, and therefore each possuk describes it differently. This is why in another possuk it uses the double expression of Yurad Yuradnu – Descent we descended, as it is referring to two different descents. Similarly, when the possuk describes the exodus from Mitzrayim, it also uses a double expression of Uluh Naaleh – up we will go up. As there too, it is two levels of elevation.
[Author’s note: This is similar to what Rashi writes on the possuk in this week’s parsha, that Moshe became big. Rashi asks, isn’t it mentioned previously that Moshe grew up? Rashi explains that the first one is speaking about his maturity as a person, while the second one is informing us that he was elevated to a higher position.]
Chassidus explains that Yisroel denotes a higher level than Yaakov. The name Yisroel was given after Yaakov won the battle with Esav’s angel. That denotes the level or time when a Jew is not under the influence and control of the nations of the world.
However, the name Yaakov was given when he was born and was under and holding the heel of Esav. That denotes when the nations of the world have the upper hand (example: when we are in exile), and we are under them.
So the first descent was from the level of Yisroel, and therefore the name Yisroel is mentioned in Vayigash. Additionally, the possuk is informing us that we went down from the level of Yisroel to the level of Yaakov and therefore it states that Yaakov and his sons went down. While the second descent is in the level of Yaakov, so Yisroel is not mentioned, and it states that only Yaakov’s children went down to a lower level but not him (as will be explained further on). The Rebbe expresses it in Chassidic terminology, of a descent in thought and a descent in words and action.
[Author’s note: I will try to explain this in a layman’s’ terminology. The Alter Rebbe explains in Tanya that every person has the ability to understand and think about things. When he begins using that power and ability, its first descent is that he begins thinking about it his power of thought. There, there can be opposing thoughts, but after thinking about it, the person then expresses some of his thoughts in words. So we see that words are lower than thought, as it comes after the thought and doesn’t reveal all of his thoughts.
I mentioned to a Chassidic scholar the following parable and he replied that it brings out the point properly. When a person knows that they will have to undergo a procedure, their thoughts are constantly on it. However, often they are able to mask their feelings and emotions, especially when they are in public or at work. But the day and especially the moment that one is in the hospital to undergo the procedure, it is very hard not to express some or a lot of emotions.
So when Yaakov came to Mitzrayim, since he was no longer in Eretz Yisroel, it was definitely a descent for him and his entire family. [As we see that when Yitzchok was considering going to Mitzrayim, Hashem instructed him not to make this descent, even though he wouldn’t have been subjected to any work or servitude.] However, at the same time, the Egyptians showed Yaakov, and consequently his entire family, tremendous respect since his coming and blessing to Pharoh, caused the famine to end five years early and his son Yosef was the viceroy.
But Parshas Shemos comes after the Torah informs us the Yosef also passed away. At that point, the Egyptians began expressing negative sentiments against the Jews. Therefore, the possuk uses the name Yaakov and not Yisroel, as it is a further and deeper descent to his sons [Yaakov was no longer in Mitzrayim].
The same thing is by the two elevations. The second elevation will be a much higher and greater one than the first elevation.
Chassidus explains that the exile of Egypt is compared to a kiln. In order to extract gold from the veins of the stone/ore in which it is embedded, they are placed in a fiery kiln, whose heat causes the gold to separate from the rock it is embedded in. Similarly, only after the Jews endured the tremendous suffering in Egypt, were we cleanse from the residue upon us and capable to receive the Torah. No question that it is an elevation from our former state. At that point, we became Hashem’s nation!
However, while we received the Torah and Hashem’s six hundred and thirteen mitzvos, we were not granted or given the knowledge to truly comprehend the tremendous secrets and reasons for each mitzva. Only by enduring the trials and tribulations of this present exile (kiln), will we merit that higher elevation when Hashem reveals to us, the profound meaning and concepts of each Mitzvah.
That will happen with the coming and revelation of Moshiach, may it be speedily in our days.
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their Chassidim. His newest publication, The Shpoler Zeide is now available. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com
