The Refused Blessing

by Dovid Zaklikowski for Hasidic Archives

When the nine Lubavitch students arrived in Montreal from war-torn Europe, Canada, many were reticent about their desire to open a yeshivah. Then there was Rabbi Yochonon Twersky, known as the Tolner Rebbe, who welcomed them warmly and told them he would be there for anything they needed: “My home is yours!”

Educated in the United States, Rabbi Twersky arrived in Montreal in 1934 and opened Kehal Hasidim Kehilas David. In contrast to the students, he was fluent in English and had many acquaintances in the Jewish community. He accompanied them from one bureaucratic office to the next and made every effort to help them feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

“He was always there at our side,” Rabbi Gerlitzky said. “He didn’t do it because we were a pity case—he did it out of the utmost respect.”

The Rebbe Rayatz greatly appreciated his efforts on behalf of the students. Once, while in New York for a private audience with the Rebbe Rayatz, Rabbi Twersky asked for a blessing: “Not to have any difficult challenges in serving G-d.”

He was taken aback when the Rebbe Rayatz refused. “This is why we were created: to serve G-d in friction with our evil inclination, and with the recognition that there is reward and punishment.”

“But don’t we ask every morning,” Rabbi Twersky asked, “that G-d not give us any challenges?”

The Rebbe Rayatz replied that the prayer continues, “And not to be scorned.” That is, he explained, the challenge should not lead others to mock you. “But challenges you need and must experience. What we are asking for is the strength to overcome them so that we do not come to be scorned.”

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