Motzei Shabbas Farbrengan with Tiferes Bochurim

“One with very bad vision does not leave their bedside without their glasses, else they would be blind and bump into walls, practically not being able to live. Similarly, today we are mostly spiritually blind. Just as a person who is legally blind goes no where without their glasses, so too is a Jew unable to take a step each morning without contemplating Hashem’s greatness or daven without first studying Chassidus.”

These words prevailed at Yeshiva Tiferes Bochurim where Rabbi Ginsberg, a Shliach in Boro Park, and Reb Leib Segal, a Tiferes graduate, came to Farbreng Motzei Shabbas. With Purim coming soon, the Bochurim have been enhancing their studies, outreach, and Chassidishe Farbrengens to prepare for the yom tov.

More in the Extended Article!

Rabbi Ginsberg discussed the importance of preparing for Purim in order to celebrate it in the right way. He said that Yom Kippur (which means “like Purim”) causes us to be like angels by praying greatly and abstaining from bodily needs; through remorse and teshuvah we connect to the essence of our souls. Yet Purim is greater because it does all this but “brings the body along.” How one celebrates this one day effects that entire year, thus we all must prepare by increasing in our study of Chassidus and in adding strength to our avodah by not “forgetting to put on our glasses.” Purim helps us not bump into the many spiritual walls we regularly find ourselves in front of.

Dressing up on Purim is the idea of changing ourselves, removing our old shells, without the need for complex segulas for a feeling of emptiness. The Rebbe said that an atom proves that quantity is not as important as quality; depending on its use, it can be manipulated to make great advancements or it can spilt to cause vast destruction. Similarly, kiddushah, when spread can conquer worlds of evil or could lie dormant without effecting the world. We need an explosion, now, since our yezter hara knows us and traps us. The Rebbe said each and every holy Yid has the power to destroy their self-image that the yezter hara creates. Even though acting more Chassidic might appear as if we are wearing a costume, the only things that aren’t truly us are our spiritual downfalls. Thus we must use Purim and to prevent our yetzer hara from cooling us down in our enthusiasm for defying logic so that we may fill this world with light and simcha.

Purim teaches us not to think so much about ourselves (which usually involves focusing on our troubles and problems) but instead to try to live with the Megillah daily. As the Rebbe said, the gezerah of Haman was not meant to punish but to fix a problem that still effect us today: not wanting to be part of the Jewish flock. The Rebbe is our Great Shepherd, if we follow him we will be successful in serving Hashem and in pushing away evil. Rabbi Ginsberg ended by reminding us that “bochurim of the Rebbe change the world. On Purim you go out and spread the mitzvahs and ideas of Purim instead of worrying about your own celebration.” This applies to all of us. So may everyone have strength from Hashem to live with Purim and prepare to spread Chassidishe Purims to more Jews so that we may bring Moshiach now through our toil and Simcha.