Weekly Story: A Continuation of the Yud-Beis Tammuz Farbrengen

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

As a continuation to last weeks post, I am posted another two aspects that I mentioned at the farbrengen in Toms River on Yud-Beis Tammuz.

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I noted last week, that in the Maamar of V’ata Titzaveh, the Rebbe points out that the mesiras nefesh that the Jews had after Mordechai became the Viceroy, is a higher level than the mesiras nefesh they had during the twelve months of Haman’s decree. 

To explain it in practical terms and how it applies to us, I will note another aspect of Yud Beis Tammuz. 

One of the points that the Rebbe mentions quite often is that his father-in-law the Friediker Rebbe was Rebbe for three decades which composed of three different situations / periods of time. 

It began with the years in Russia, followed by the years in Latvia and Poland and then the final ten years in America. Each one of these three places presented and had its own unique challenges. 

In Russia he stood up to the anti-religious oppression and persecution of the communist doctrine. In Poland there were many great righteous Tzaddikim, but nevertheless, he forged ahead with changing the Jewish landscape of even religious Jewry in Riga, Poland and elsewhere. Finally in America, he challenged and changed the mindset of American Jewry that America is different, and Judaism of the old country cannot take root in America. Notwithstanding the totally different situations in all three of them, he fought with the same level of mesiras nefesh.

One may wonder, what is special about this, if we are speaking about someone who was willing and actually put his life in danger just  to teach other Jews Torah, so  obviously he works with Mesiras nefesh, so why is it surprising that he continued to do so?!

But as the Rebbe noted that there were many Jews who assisted and participated in the Rebbe’s work in Russia, and they too placed themselves in danger. But when they came to America, a place that allows and even promotes Religious freedom and liberty, they felt that there is no onslaught against Judaism, so they settled and became successful in their financial pursuits.

So you see, that having mesiras nefesh in one situation does not automatically mean that it would continue in a different situation. 

But yet, we do find some chassidim that continued and remained with the same spirit of mesiras nefesh conviction throughout their life, no matter the situation. 

Reb Abba Pliskin was one of stalwarts of the “illegal” underground Chadorim in Russia. He was a top priority for the KGB. When he escaped Russia and was living in Paris, France, awaiting a visa to settle in another country, he continued his activities of teaching Jewish children. 

Among the refugees were many Jewish teenagers whose fathers were either imprisoned in Russia, or were no longer alive, because of the Communist oppression. So Reb Abba, would ask these teenagers, if they would please do him a favor. He said, I can’t concentrate on my learning when I am doing it on my own. My mind wanders thinking about my family and friends who are still suffering in Russia. But perhaps if you would sit with me for a half hour while I learn and speak it out as if I am explaining it to someone else, my mind would remain focused. 

The boys respected him and replied yes to a half hour, and schelduled a time to learn, before or after the jobs they found to support themselves and often their mother and younger siblings. With this boy he learned the laws of Shabbos in the kitzur Shulchan Aruch and with another boy he learned the laws of davening, while with someone else he learned the weekly Torah portion, etc. This way he made sure that they all remained connected to their roots.

A few years later he settled in Australia. There, while there was no prosecution against Jewish studies, there was no Jewish education, so he together with a few others began investing their time and efforts in Jewish education for adults and youth alike. This endeavor proved to be very successful, helping to establish a cheder/day school for Jewish children. After being there for many years he moved to America and gave classes to young men who decided after learning in public school high school or even while they were in College, to learn about their beautiful Jewish Heritage.

The question becomes what makes one person retain that level of dedication, while by others it dissipates?

And that is what the maamar is explaining. The mesiras nefesh that was displayed by all the Jews during the twelve months of Haman’s decree was brought about by outside factors. Yes, it is wonderful and demonstrates not only the deep and powerful connection that every Jew has with Hashem, but it is an intrinsic connection. However, often it is concealed and only revealed when this connection is being challenged, such as by the demand of give up or even renounce your Judaism. However, when there is no repression, it doesn’t shine through. 

But then there are those who embraced mesiras nefesh, until it became their life and identity.

Yes, it no longer means that you are placing your life in danger, but it means giving up on conveniences and your comfort and working with that same sense of urgency.

Or to phrase it somewhat differently, it wasn’t a mechanism used to protect you from spiritual danger, like one who is on survivors’ mode, but it became your natural self.

For example, there is a very successful businessperson who, after twenty years, sells the business for a very large profit, or perhaps it goes bankrupt. If the person is a real businessperson, a new business will be shortly opened by him. Otherwise, the person would just sit around and enjoy the benefits of the profits, as he doesn’t care for the ups and downs of running a business.

Applying it to us, if someone is no longer employed for whatever reason, they are seventy-five; they can either say I am retired, and what are you asking of me? Or it can be used as a perfect opportunity, I am no longer obligated to work regular hours, so I can utilize those hours to do what I truly desire to do; learn more Torah and reach out to other Jews and inspire them to reconnect or strengthen their connection to Hashem, by learning His Torah and fulfill His mitzvos.  

One more point that was discussed, one or two summers after the Rebbe and Rebbetzin arrived in New York, the Rebbetzin was considering renting a room in Far Rockaway for a few days during the summer. She would be joining a few other Lubavitchers who went there for part of the summer, and one of them was the chossid Reb Shmuel Zalmonov. As is known he was extremely close to her father, the [Frierdiker] Rebbe. 

She asked him if he would approach this idea to her husband. [People say that she didn’t want to bring it up herself, as not to pressure our Rebbe even in the smallest way.] 

Reb Shmuel mentioned it to the Rebbe, noting that he himself and others are there and it’s good for the body to breathe fresh and clean air, etc. 

The Rebbe did not get into the discussion whether going away for the summer is good or not. Rather, he replied, “Every day that I am here in Brooklyn I have the wonderful zechus to enter the Rebbe’s room, see and ask him whatever I want, and he answers me. So let me ask you, Is there any good thing that in order to obtain and enjoy it is worth giving up such a tremendous Zechus?! So we see that even when you have something that is good and you will enjoy it, nevertheless, when you have something that’s more enjoyable it’s not worth it. 

A beautiful story, but what does it teach us?

In the summer, many families go on vacation. They go to a place where there is a daily minyan and plenty of kosher food etc, so you don’t have to give up on any mitzvah. 

The only thing is, being that their children are presently not in school, there is no homework, so the father and/or mother do not have to sit down and review or go over the parsha etc. with the children in the afternoon or evening. 

However, if someone would consider and contemplate the tremendous joy that Hashem gets when He sees a parent and a child learning together, not because a test is coming up or to do the homework or just to review what was learned, but to learn for the sake of learning, does the relaxation and enjoyment of that sightseeing tour or other excursion that you were thinking of, come close to that enjoyment that you and your child can cause and give Hashem by simply learning. 

This thought, while I mentioned its applicability to the summer situation, is applicable to all of us throughout the year, All we have to do is to contemplate what are we gaining and achieving and what will I be giving up in exchange for it? And is this new benefit or enjoyment worth it?

This is not referring to doing anything that is forbidden, it is speaking about doing permissible or perhaps even proper things, but is it as important as what I was doing?

We find in many letters of the Rebbe, that he writes to someone who wishes to leave the field of chinuch, “Does the new occupation that  you are interested in, have the same tremendous zechus as having the ability of teaching Jewish children, Torah on a daily basis??!!

A Taste of Chasidus     Oilas Tamid Hu’a’sooyu Behar Sinai 5734 

In chapter 28 of this weeks parsha, the Torah mentions the daily sacrifice, the monthly sacrifice, and then continues on TO discuss the korbanos (sacrifices) that are brought each month. 

The Rebbe notes that the Maggid noted, that when the Torah speaks about the two daily korbanos (sacrifices) that are brought on a daily basis, the Torah uses the word TOMID, it is constant, as it stays the same, never changing. 

However, when it comes to discussing the monthly sacrifice, even though every month we bring the same sacrifice, nevertheless the Torah does not mention that it’s constant, it just says it is brought each month. 

The explanation given is that while the korbon that was brought each month on Rosh Chodesh is exactly the same, nevertheless, the thought and intention that was given each month was different, than the month before or the month after it. 

This concept of paying attention also to the thought behind the gift/korban, is not uniquely applied to the korbon of Rosh Chodesh, we find it by other korbonos as well

For example, in parshas Nusoi, the Torah mentions how the leaders of each one of the 12 tribes brought the exact same sacrifices in honor of the dedication of the  Mishkan. Many commentaries ask, being that each one of them brought the very same offering that the other ones did, so the Torah could have mentioned it once (or at most twice) and then conclude that on the subsequent days, the other leaders of each tribe brought these exact items as well. But as Rashi mentions from the Midrash that each leader of the tribe had a different reason why he brought these sacrifices. 

So while the sacrifices were exactly identical, the intention and thought of each one was very different from the other eleven. And as we know, the Mishna of tells us that when one brings a sacrifice, they should concentrate on six aspects. 

The importance of concentrating on the purpose and reason of each korbon is underscored by the fact that if the kohen has a negative thought when he is in process of doing the korbon, it becomes invalid.

So we see there are two parts in the mitzvah, there is the actual fulfillment of the mitzvah which is a constant, and then there is the thought and insights of why we do the mitzvah, which may ad often varies. 

Or to express it somewhat differently, there is the general concept that applies to all mitzvos, we are fulfilling them because that is Hashem’s will. But then each mitzvah has its personal reason and significance. 

We see this in the way the 613 mitzvos were given to us. 

While there are 613 individual commandments, yet they are all encompassed and included in the 10 commandments of the luchos (two tablets). Furthermore, as the Alter Rebbe explains in Tanya, all of the Commandments are included in the first two Commandments, and therefore we only heard from Hashem the first two Commandments. 

The first commandment, “I am your G-d” encompasses all 248 positive Commandments. For if we accept Hashem as our G-d, we will do and fulfill all that He requests of us. The second commandment of that they should not be any other G-d besides me, encompasses all negative Commandments, for if we don’t accept and listen to any God besides Him, we will not do anything contrary to Hashem’s will. 

Then our sages note that in truth all of the commandments are included in the first word of the ten commandments, in the word of Anoichi – I am.

This is similar to the judgement and decision Hashem decides on Rosh Hashanah and signs on Yom JKippur. While it is for the entire year, each day there is another decision and judgement, for that particular year.

Being that the Torah was given for all times, all generations and for all situations, we have to see how this concept of one becoming many, applies to our own lives. 

The fundamental foundation of Judaism is Kabbalas Ol, accepting the sovereignty of Hashem upon us, [as the Jews declared by Matan Torah, we will do and we will hear, in simple words they accepted whatever Hashem will ask of them.

But then we must learn and understand what Hashem is instructing us to do one mitzvah in its details, and to fulfill that part, we must learn and understand the details of each mitzvah.

By doing so may we merit the swift redemption of Moshiach tzidkeinu swiftly in our days.

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