Recording of Rare Farbrengen By Rabbi Binyomin Klein Released
A rare and unplanned Farbrengen took place in 770 led by Rabbi Binyomin Klein OBM, one of the Rebbe’s secretaries. A recording of the Farbrengen has now been released.
From a diary entry of the Farbrengen:
Immediately afterward, the secretary, Rabbi Yirmiyahu Binyamin Halevi Klein (may he live long), went out to the upstairs zal and sat down at one of the tables, as though waiting for something. This strange and exceedingly rare phenomenon naturally drew a large crowd to the spot. One after another, the temimim and anash approached to receive a “l’chaim” from the secretary, even though it was not yet clear what exactly was taking place here. One thing, however, was clear to everyone: this beverage had come from the room of His Holy Majesty the Rebbe, Adoneinu Moreinu v’Rabbeinu Melech HaMashiach.
Later, the secretary said a few words regarding the matter: this bottle had been sent by Jews from Russia as a gift to His Holy Majesty the Rebbe, Melech HaMashiach, in honor of Yud-Alef Nissan. They had written words of blessing on the bottle itself, wishing refuah shleimah, etc. From this bottle, “l’chaim” had been said to His Holy Majesty the Rebbe inside the room. (It should be noted that the secretary avoided giving a clear answer as to whether the Rebbe himself poured the beverage, etc., and the crowd innocently assumed that His Holy Majesty the Rebbe had deigned to pour from the bottle himself. Therefore, they approached one after another to take a l’chaim…)
When the beverage was about to run out, several married chassidim procured other bottles, and everyone stood thirstily awaiting the words of the secretary. It should be noted that since כ״ז אדר, Rabbi Klein has not left the room of His Holy Majesty the Rebbe, Melech HaMashiach. From early morning until evening he stands by His Holy Majesty the Rebbe, and when Rabbi Klein goes out to farbreng with the crowd, this carries the greatest importance and value. Within a few short minutes, enormous improvised pyramids were formed in the zal. The crowd filled and overflowed the zal. Prominent among those present were important shluchim such as Rabbi Leibel (may he live long) Raskin, the mashpia Rabbi Yitzchak Springer, and others.
Rabbi Klein farbrenged continuously for four hours, with words that came from the heart and surely entered the heart. Below are several points and sparks of ideas that we gathered from what was said during the farbrengen.
One of the important points Rabbi Klein emphasized was the greatness of this exalted day: “Ilmalei hai yoma…” (“Were it not for this day…”). “What does this demand of us on such special days?” he asked. “The ahavas Yisrael that must dwell within us! It is clear that the entire problem originates with us. The Rebbe’s entire state of health depends solely on us. We must ask and demand that the Rebbe be healthy, and that we see this openly with our own eyes— that we open our eyes and can see it with physical sight. For 43 years the Rebbe gave us blessings and influences to the right and to the left. For every request for a blessing we received an immediate response. And now, the entire situation we find ourselves in is solely because of us, and it depends on us.”
Rabbi Klein repeatedly aroused the point that it is impossible for the radiant day of Yud-Alef Nissan to pass without a drastic change. In general, it is impossible to allow even one more day to pass with the situation remaining as it is. “How can one walk around ‘cold-blooded’ in the face of such a situation?” he said. “Fourteen months have already passed—what are we waiting for?!”
Referring to those who constantly focus only on demanding that the Rebbe be revealed, yet do nothing to actually bring the matter about, Rabbi Klein related that once, during the distribution of dollars, a woman passed by and said to the Rebbe, shlita: “Rebbe, reveal yourself!” The Rebbe passed his hand over his face and said, “I am in revelation…” If so, the problem is with us—the Rebbe himself is already revealed.
Rabbi Klein also related that while he was at a shlichus center in Australia, he met a certain professor who asked the bochurim whether they knew the Rebbe, and they answered that they did. He responded: “You have seen him, but you do not know him. I know him. I was together with him when he was in France.” The professor asked that we convey regards to the Rebbe and added that he wanted the Rebbe to send him a Shas. When we came to the Rebbe and told him about this, the Rebbe instructed that a Shas be sent to him immediately (!).
Rabbi Klein also emphasized the need to be careful in thought, speech, and action, and expressed himself as follows: “How can we stand with our coarse faces opposite the Rebbe? It may certainly be pleasant for us to see the Rebbe, but for the Rebbe to look at us?!” In this context, he related that several times, when he was present in the room with His Holy Majesty the Rebbe, Melech HaMashiach, and was thinking whether to ask the Rebbe about certain matters, the Rebbe immediately turned to him on his own and asked him about those very matters. (It should be noted that in the past Rabbi Klein related that many times, when he traveled with the Rebbe by car to the mikveh, the Rebbe would speak with him about things that he was thinking about at that very moment.) Certainly, the Rebbe knows what is in the thought, speech, and action of each and every one of us, and we must be careful, Rabbi Klein concluded.
Among those farbrenging was Rabbi Springer, who also aroused the issue of being careful not to drink more mashke than permitted, regarding which the Rebbe issued a decree. He stated that this is as severe as the prohibition of eating pork.
At the conclusion of the farbrengen, Rabbi Klein aroused the matter of practical action—that the bochurim should arise starting the very next day for the Chassidus seder exactly on time.
Rabbi Klein set a personal example when he took out a substantial sum of money from his pocket and announced that he was committing to cover all the debts of one of the shluchim who was present, as a gift to the Rebbe, shlita, in honor of Yud-Alef Nissan.
It should be noted that this farbrengen was broadcast via hook-up for the convenience of all the neighborhood residents who were busy with preparations for the days of Pesach.
The farbrengen made a strong impression, and when it became known that cassettes of the farbrengen could be obtained, many hurried to the store of Merkaz Shidurei Chabad, under the management of Rabbi Chaim Baruch (may he live long) Halberstam and Rabbi Sh. B. Eber, to acquire the recordings.
