Weekly Story: The Powerful Blessings of Chitas

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

During the farnrengens of Shavuos the Rebbe always reminds us that Shavuos is the day Hashem gave us the Torah, it is also the yahrzeit of Dovid Hamelech, the composer of Tehillim as well as the yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov, who began revealing Chassidus to the world. This brings out the connection of Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya to Shavuos. The Rebbe also notes the importance of learning Chitas, not just saying its words.

I am posting something a few of our Rebbeim related about the power of saying, learning and knowing Chitas.

As always, your feedback is always welcomed.

In 5616 (תרט”ז-1856), the Haskalah (Enlightenment Movement) succeeded in convincing the Russian government to publish their textbooks on Jewish studies and mandate that all Jewish educational systems use them. In essence they were trying to force the religious chadorim to use the curriculum that they prepared, which omitted many vital mitzvos and the concept of faith etc.

At that time the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek asked his son, the [Rebbe] Maharash, if he was proficient in the words of the Tanya. After receiving an affirmative answer, he asked him if he knew the words of Tanya as well as he knew the words of the Torah, in which he excelled. The [Rebbe] Maharash again answered in the affirmative.

The following year, 5617 (תרי”ז-1857), the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek sent his son the [Rebbe] Maharash to Petersburg, the capital, to discuss certain communal affairs with the authorities. Before he left, the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzeddek told him: 

“In 5603 (תר”ג-1843) the government called me to the conference of Jewish leaders. [They were hoping to implement some of their restrictions on Torah study and observance—especially on the study of Chassidus. However, the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek’s steadfast defiance of their authority—to the extent that he was imprisoned 22 times during those few months—prevailed and they backed off of their intentions.] Before going to the conference, I first went to daven at the gravesite of my righteous mother [Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, in Liadi]. She related to me that since she had had mesiras nefesh for the sake of chassidim and Chassidus, she merited to ascend to the heavenly chamber of the Baal Shem Tov where she requested that he intercede on my behalf.

“She also asked him to inform her of any spiritual remedy with which, with Gd’s help, I would be victorious against those who oppose the teaching of Chassidus [and authentic Judaism].

“She informed me that the Baal Shem Tov answered: ‘Your son has mastered the words of Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya by heart. It says in the Torah,* “Vayehi chitas Elokim…” (“And the fear of Gd was upon …”). חת”ת (ChiTaS) is an acronym for Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya. Whoever is proficient in the letters [of all three] can overcome all obstacles.’” [And is noted in the course of the lengthy conference, the Tzemach Tzedek successfully thwarted their plans.]

The Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek continued: “Therefore, whenever you are in a government building or meeting with an official, say a parshah of the Torah and a chapter of Tehillim and Tanya.”

Years later, when the Rebbe Maharash related this to his son the [Rebbe] Rashab he said: “This was a most wonderful prescription for me as well, for with the first three parshios of the Torah, and three chapters of Tehillim and Tanya, the plans of the Haskalah Movement became unraveled to the extent that their leader had to flee the country in shame and in fear of the Russian government, for there was a great monetary loss incurred by the government in the printing of the Enlightenment Movement’s books which were never used.

Years later, when the Rebbe Rashab repeated this incident to his son the Frierdiker Rebbe, he concluded, “[If someone knows and repeats] a chapter of Tanya by heart, not only does it conquer the opposition, but it will bring him an abundance of blessings and success in both spiritual and materialistic matters.” 

So now that we have just concluded the Yom Tov of Shavuos, let us strengthen our resolve to learn Chitas daily, as well as the other Torah classes of study that we have.

Taste of Chassidus 

      B’Shuah Shehikdimoo 5733

Chassidus explains that while the Avos fulfilled all of the mitzvos, notwithstanding their greatness, the physical items they used to fulfill those mitzvos, remained mundane. However, now that we are after mattan Torah, when any Jew fulfills a mitzvah, the material used in that mitzvah becomes holy, and can no longer be used for mundane things. The wool that is made into tzitzis, the hide that is made to be a retzuah (strap) for tefillin and especially if it is transformed into parchment to write the parshios on them, they are now holy. If they cannot be used anymore, they must be buried. This even applies to the wood that was used to house the sefer Torah. 

The question is why is this so? Or as others express it, how can we accomplish something that our Avos (forefathers) couldn’t?

When someone wants to use a metal or precious metal, it is not enough that they obtain the raw material, but they must also place it in a kiln. The tremendous heat generated in the kiln separates the impurities from the metal and then you can forge the material into whatever you need it for. The support beam would be strong enough to hold the weight which will be placed on it. Or the gold and silver can be used accordingly. But if the impurities were not expunged, then even if the most talented craftsman uses it, it will not last. The metal would become brittle and crack etc.

This is also true with the physical items of the world. Before Hashem gave us the Torah, there was a separation between heaven and earth, which could separate one from the other and  prevent  of being merged together. Subsequently, even when the Avos used them for holy purposes those foreign elements did not allow it to be elevated. [It was like they were being held back by an anchor.] 

But after matan Torah we were given the ability to expunge and separate those foreign elements, allowing the items to be transformed and elevated into holiness. The question is what caused this change? Or what and where was this spiritual kiln?

Our sages explain that was accomplished through our servitude in Mitzrayim. Through that extremely difficult and excruciating suffering the foreign elements that were created within ourselves were extracted, giving us the ability to accomplish the same feat in all materialistic items.

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