Weekly Story: The Birth of the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon 

As this Shabbos is the last Shabbos of this year, and as the the Alter Rebbe heard from the Maggid in the name of the Baal Shem Tov  that the reason we don’t bless the new moon this month, is because Hashem Himself blesses it, and that gives us the ability to bless every other month, I take the opportunity to bless klal Yisroel with a wonderful year in all aspects. As we heard the Rebbe would mention a brocha with each letter of the Aleph Beis, just as the Kohen Gadol did on Yom Kippur.

It is also a good time to thank the readers for their feedback whether in person or via the comments, as that gives me the strength to continue. 

For example, last week I farbrenged in Jackson, New Jersey, and although due to other events there, some people were not able to attend, and the crowd was not as large as expected, so it may seem as a disappointment.  But when the people who were present say we enjoyed it and this time we remained until the end, and then there are over 600 clicks on the internet who also watched part of it, that demonstrates that it reaches and interests a much greater audience than I anticipated. The same thing is concerning the comments on these posts, it demonstrates the broad audience that reads this column.

At the same time, I must note that because of time constraints I can’t always answer the questions that are asked. Additionally, I will not answer halachic questions as those have to be addressed to a practicing Rov, as the  Rov has to clarify what exactly was the situation, since the halachah can be and often is  different in two different situations, even though in general it seems that they are similar. That said, last week’s column generated over 40 comments.

Nine years ago I made a commitment to do this column for one year, or fifty some weeks. Yet, we are now posting close to  the 500th column, so I thank you all. Please continue with your feedback and comments.

This erev Rosh Hashanah is 235 years since the birth of the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek, consequently his new kapital (at least to be said on erev Rosh Hashanah), is Kapital 86. Shabbos, the third of Tishrei, is the yahrzeit of his mother, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah.

The Frierdiker Rebbe notes in Likkutei Dibburim, that Rebbetzin Devorah Leah’s petira was when she was twenty-six. Being that her petira was on the third of Tishrei 5554 (1793), this would mean that she was born in the year 5527 (1767).

As is known in Beis HaRav (the house of the Rebbeiim) (as well as by many others in those days), the custom those days was that their children married at the age of 14, which would be 5541 (1781).

Her husband was the chossid HaRav Sholom Shachne, who was a son of HaRav Noach, a very devoted chossid of the tzaddik, HaRav Menachem Mendel Horodoker. HaRav Menachem Mendel moved to Eretz Yisroel in 5537 (1777), and HaRav Noach set out on this journey in 5539 (1779). However, while he was on the boat he realized that he would not reach Eretz Yisroel. So he requested of the captain that after he passes away, they tie his body on a board and toss it overboard.

His body miraculously floated to Eretz Yisroel and HaRav Menachem Mendel, instructed some students to go to the shore, and carry his body to the burial society.

Being that HaRav Noach did not take his young son Sholom Shachne with him, the Alter Rebbe brought him into his house and raised him (and some say also  his sister named Matel). Two years later, the Alter Rebbe arranged the marriage between his daughter and HaRav Sholom Shachne.

I heard from my father, HaRav Meir a”h, that all the Rebbeim were born after their parents were given a special brocha. While we are aware of many of these brochos, I am not aware of a brocha that the Alter Rebbe gave to his daughter, HaRabbonis Devorah Leah in connection to the birth of her only child.

However, based on the above-mentioned information, that she gave birth to her first and only child eight years after her marriage, that demonstrates that it was indeed a tremendous brocha.

After Pesach 5552 (1772) it became noticeable to all that something was on the Rebbe’s mind. He was secluding himself more than usual. Chassidim attributed it to the disagreement that Reb Avrohom Kalisker, who succeeded HaRav Menachem Mendel Horodoker as the leader of chassidim in Eretz Yisroel, created against the Rebbe, concerning colel chabad. While no one, especially a tzaddik wants a rift between them and another, especially a former friend, there was another issue that the Rebbe was much more concerned about.

That year, the Alter Rebbe began publicizing the manuscripts that he wrote (which ultimately became the sefer HaTanya). Many of the other students of the Maggid were against publicizing them, as they held these thoughts are to be hidden from the masses.

The Satan chimed in and argued that the Alter Rebbe is going against the Heavenly decision that they are not to be publicized and therefore demanded that he be forced to stop. He then argued, being that the Rebbe refuses to heed the requests of his own friends, there is only one other way to stop him and that is, that the Rebbe be nistalek.

During the Shavuos farbrengen, the Alter Rebbe suddenly stood up and cried out, Tatte, Zeideh (referring to the Maggid and Baal Shem Tov) save me and he then fainted.

The doctors present as well as others were not able to revive him, until his young grandson, Menachem Mendel stretched out his hand and entreated his grandfather, Zeide, Zeide!, take hold of my hand and I will help you get up.

The Alter Rebbe opened his eyes and saw little Menachem Mendel standing by his side with a concerned expression on his small face. Taking the child’s outstretched hand, he stood up and exclaimed, Zeh yenachamainu – this one will comfort us!

Later on in life he said Menachem in the present and Menachem in the future. Chassidim understood it to mean that the Tzemach Tzedek was to become Rebbe after the Mitteler Rebbe. While our Rebbe, who is named after the Tzemach Tzedek will become Rebbe after his father-in-law, the Frierdiker Rebbe.

A Taste of Chassidus 

Hayom Hazeh Tichilas Maaseicho 5733

We say in the davening of Rosh Hashanah, that today is the beginning of You creating the universe. The question is, Rosh Hashanah is the sixth day of creation, the day that mankind was created, which was on the 6th day of creation. The first day was on the 25th of Elul. So why do we call the 6th day of creation, the 1st?

Furthermore, the prayer itself continues and states, this is a remembrance of the 1^st day, meaning this is not the first day.

While, one may say that the sixth day brought the first day of creation to completion and therefore it is called the first. However, this is difficult to say for a few reasons. 

A. Order is a very important aspect in every aspect in life. When a person wants to convey a thought to others, the thoughts and especially the speech must be organized. This is particularly so when it comes to creating (building) something, that it must have an order. Otherwise the building will not last.

B. Our sages say that in reality everything was created on the first day, just they became revealed later on. That means that the completion also occurred on the first day.

C. As Chassidus explains the main point of Rosh Hashanah is to build up the exalted sphere of Malchus. The possuk (in Koheles) states that a king rules through saying an edict, which then becomes publicized. So being that speech was on the first day of creation, as the possuk states And Elokim said, that day should be called the first day, as that is the essence of Rosh Hashanah, and not to state the  the sixth day is  the first day of creation.

In Hebrew, the 25th is known as כ”ה, which not only has the numerical value of 25, but it also has the meaning of so.

Our sages inform us that one of the major differences between the prophecy of Moshe and the other prophets is that their prophecy was not crystal clear to them and therefore when they gave over their prophecy they said, So said Hashem… . However, Moshe Rabeinu said Zeh, which means this is what Hashem said. In other words, by Moshe it was crystal clear what Hashem wants to convey, while by the other prophets it wasn’t as clear.

As noted, every Rosh Hashanah we proclaim that Hashem is not only our King, but He is the King over the entire universe. [Just as Adam HaRishon explained and convinced all creations on the day he was created, We shall come, bow and prostrate ourselves in fron of Hashem who created us.] And as Chassidus explains this to mean that before creation, Hashem decided to create because of His infinite kindness, but after creation, and especially after we received the Torah, it is our service of Torah and mitzvos and particularly our acceptance of Him being our King, causes a new desire in Hashem to continue creating the universe. 

In other words, every year, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah that initial desire to create a universe is not strong enough to propel Hashem to continue the creation process for an additional year.  Only when Jews proclaim that Hashem is the King of the entire universe, does He have that desire. In other words, the כה of the 25th of Elul gets an infusion of clarity (Zeh) from the Jewish people who descend from Adam HaRishon. Subsequently, we refer to the day that Adam was created, the 6th day of creation, as the first, since creation nowadays is continuously ongoing because of the service of mankind.

The reason we have this ability is because our neshoma comes from Hashems thought and that is higher and gives life to speech.

The question then becomes, so why was man also created through speech, if man is much higher than speech?

On this the Rebbe explains that while every creation was transformed from its spiritual entity in something physical and that is a tremendous change, the neshoma of every Jew, remains the same spiritual entity as it was in the loftiest realms of heaven. So even when it is found in the physical world, it has the power to infuse strength into the power of words which in essence is the power of creation, and bring out that their essence is also                 G-dliness. 

This weeks post is in honor of reb Yosef Shlomo ben Risha and all cholei Yisroel that are in need of a refuah shleima, may Hashem who is still in the “field” grant them a complete and speedy healing, as it says in the maamar that the King greets all graciously and shows them His happiness in their greeting Him, [and subsequently fulfills their requests]. 

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeiim and their chassidim. He is available to farbreng in your community. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com