Op-Ed: Is It Time To Talk About Traveling to Alma-Ata For Chof Av?
by Rabbi Gershon Avtzon – Cincinnati, OH
For many years, since I was a young bochur, I had a fascination with the Torah of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak – the Rebbe’s father. As the son of a professional accountant, numbers always intrigued me. While it was almost impossible for a young bochur to understand what Reb Levik was writing (and Adas Hachassidim should thank Rabbi Dovid Dubov for spending hundreds of hours producing “Yalkut Levi YItzchak” which enables everyone to finally learn the Torah of Reb Levi YItzchak in an understandable manner), I still loved to browse through his writings and especially the letters that he wrote to the Rebbe.
It was only natural that I developed a desire to visit his Kever on his Yahrzeit- Chaf-Av. The logistics (traveling there, expense and general life responsibilities) prevented for many years. In 5781, a group of people in Crown Heights chartered a plane for Chassidim that wanted to go to Kazakhstan for chaf-av. A parent of one of my talmidim sponsored a few tickets for the Talmidim and Hanhalla, so I finally had the opportunnity to go.
When I shared with people that I was going, I got mixed responses for my friends. Some were excited while others felt that going to Kazakhstan – or going to any of the “Kevarim trips” to Rabboseinu Nesieinu – was “against Hiskashrus” to our Rebbe.
This sentiment, shared by some very Chassidishe people, made me rethink my upcoming trip to Kazakhstan and made me wonder what the right thing is. I spoke with a Chassidishe Mashpia who shared the following perspective:
There are two reasons why a Chassid would travel to Kazakhstan for 20 Av: 1) Because he is so impressed with the holiness, Mesiras nefesh and life of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and so he wants to go to his Kever on his Yahrtzeit. 2) He feels very connected to the Rebbe. He knows how connected the Rebbe feels to his holy father and he wants to give Nachas to the Rebbe. One of the ways that this Nachas is given is by showing the Rebbe that you care about his father and mother.
This Nachas is evident in a letter of the Rebbe to Rabbi Mendel Brook from 5712 (Igros Kodesh Volume 6 page 108 # 1630) who named his son Levi Yitzchak: ““I just received your letter in which you inform me that a baby boy was born to you, l’mazel tov, and he was named for my father z’l [here the Rebbe added in his handwriting] for length of days and good years. I hereby express my blessing that you and your wife raise him to Torah, chuppa and good deeds in expansiveness and peace of soul and body.May it be Hashem’s will that just as you caused me pleasure by naming your son for my father, Hashem should grant you pleasure and nachas from your entire family and may you always report just goodness and kindness.”
The Mashpia finished his thought: If you are going for Reb Levik the Tzaddik, then there is validity to the thought of not going. If you are going to give nachas to the Rebbe – and you feel like you are going as shliach of the Rebbe to his father – then it is a Mitzvah Gedolah to go!
While this was a personal discussion that I had with a Mashpia about the particular question of traveling to Alma-Ata,I think that general Hashkafa is applicable to many other situations as well. To a Chassid, decisions which are made must be looked at through a specific lens: “How can I give Nachas to the Rebbe”? If I know that something is important to the Rebbe, even if to me it seems small, it becomes “big” and important.
This reminds me of a Rashi that we just learned in Parshas Devarim: The Passuk (Devarim 1:7) says: פְּנ֣וּ | וּסְע֣וּ לָכֶ֗ם וּבֹ֨אוּ הַ֥ר הָֽאֱמֹרִי֘ וְאֶל־כָּל־שְׁכֵנָיו֒ בָּֽעֲרָבָ֥ה בָהָ֛ר וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֥ה וּבַנֶּ֖גֶב וּבְח֣וֹף הַיָּ֑ם אֶ֤רֶץ הַכְּנַֽעֲנִי֙ וְהַלְּבָנ֔וֹן עַד־הַנָּהָ֥ר הַגָּדֹ֖ל נְהַר־פְּרָֽת, clearly referring to the river of Peras by the term “big River”:. Rashi is bothered by a question: What is unique about that river that is deserving of the title “great” river?
He answers: “Since it [the Euphrates] is mentioned [in association] with the Land of Israel it is referred to as “great.” A popular parable says: A king’s servant is a king. Associate yourself with the ruler, and [people] will bow down to you; attach yourself to one who is anointed [with oil] and you will become anointed [with oil yourself].” In other words: If something is connected to the Rebbe, it becomes very big and important in the eyes of the Chassid.
As this shabbas is Chaf Av, and everyone will be inspired to sit by a Farbrengen in the honor of the 80th Yahrzeit of the holy Reb Levik we must all think about what activities can we do to give the Rebbe personal Nachas Ruach. Let’s keep in mind the words the Rebbe wrote 40 years ago:
“The shabbas after 15 Av is 20 Menachem Av – the 40th Yahrtzeit of my father Rabbi Levi Yitzcak ben (Rabbi) Baruch Schneur Z”L. I have the great responsibility and privilege to ask and request etc to learn by a Farbrengen from his Torah and to donate money to Tzedakah on this day. He lived a life of self-sacrifice for spreading Yiddishkeit amongst the Yidden “behind the iron curtain” and was therefore imprisoned and sent to exile and is buried there. May his merit protect us and all of the Jewish people – may they live and be well”.”
May we merit the Hisgalus of the Rebbe – which would obviously be the biggest Nachas to the Rebbe’s father – now!
Please feel free to share your thoughts on the above with me by sending me a personal email: rabbiavtzon@gmail.com
Mushkie
This article really provoked me. It raises the topic of whether going to another tzddik’s kever is somehow “anti-hiskashrus” to the Rebbe, Chas V’sholom.
I hear you!
But what are the parameters? Is there an issue with going to the kever of the Rambam? What about Kever Rochel?
Maybe davening at the Kosel is also a breach of hiskashrus with 770- Bais Rabbeinu sh’b’bavel?
I am confused. Explain!
Mushkie
So, according to this article, going to a kever of another tzaddik is “against hiskashrus”.
What about learning the seforim of another tzaddik? Surely that us a greater “anti-hiskashrus”!
Yet the author has no issue with learning Litkutei Levi Yizchok. It doesn’t damage his connection to Likutei Sichos!
What about studying other seforim of tzaddikim, like the Noam Elimelech? Bnei Yossoschor?
Mushkie
I guess according to the author, it is definitely “anti-hiskashrus” to visit the court of another chassidus, to attend a tish, or get a brocha from another tzaddik!
If visiting the kever of another tzaddik is a “shayla”, even if it’s the Rebbe,’s father’s kever, then Kal V’chomer, to visit a live tzaddik is totally destructive to hiskashrus.
Really?
Maybe even a birkas hedyot is problematic.
Mushkie
“If you are going for Reb Levik the Tzaddik, then there is validity to the thought of not going.”
Are you saying that it is anti-hiskashrus to recognize ANYONE as a tzaddik besides the Rebbe?
Therefore, there is no such thing as kivrei tzaddikim, besides the Ohel. (Including the kevorim of previous Rebbes or Baal Shem Tov)!
And there are no other mekomos hakedoshim besides the Ohel or 770!
Mushkie
Are you are saying that if someone considers anyone, including past Rebbes, as a tzaddik – that interferes with hiskashrus to the Rebbe?
I used the term tzaddik, but likewise, you believe that there are no other lamdonim besides
the Rebbe!
And likewise, there are no others who can give a brocha besides the Rebbe!
Literally, ein od milvado.
Is THAT what you are saying?
Please be clear!!!!!!!!
Mushkie
No. I suspect you are trying to “justify” (be melamed zchus) about going on the trip. You are going with an attitude that I am not here for you, but for my Rebbe. You create the fiction that mitzad me, I don’t want to
be here, but I am here because it would give the Rebbe nachas.
Question: If the Rebbe would be told this, would THAT give him nachas?
Mushkie
I ask these questions because I sincerely want to know and understand! If they are worded disrespectfully, I apologize, because that isn’t my intention.
I have gone to kivrei tzaddikim in Eretz Yisroel during my seminary year. Yes, I went to Amuka to daven for a shidduch, and many kevorim in Tzfas and Tveria. I thought they were meritorious trips and was inspired. Correct me if I was wrong to go.
Aaron
What about going to Switzerland on vacation? Do you have to convince yourself that you’re only doing it to give the Rebbe nachas and not to satisfy your own curiosity? Or you’re allowed to travel for tourism and enjoyment but to spend a Shabbos at the kever of a tzadik is suddenly pogem your hiskashrus?
Mushkie
When you go and enjoy Switzerland ot travel for tourism, you don’t connect with Switzerland and your neshama does not have a kesher with it. Going to kivrei tzadikidim creates a kesher with those tzadikim. Question is, does this new kesher interfere with the kesher of hiskashrus? Can one connect to several tzadikim, or is our connection to the Rebbe exclusive, to the exclusion of others?
Mushkie
To use chassidic terms: one mashpia can have many mekablim. A male can (biblically) have more than one wife. But a wife can only have one husband. If a wife has a “second” husband, the marriage is destroyed. The hiskashrus is broken.
Dovid
There is chasideshe stupidity..
There is no question going to reb levik or learning reb levik Torah is the same as the Rebbe. The Rebbe said at a farbrengen the Rebbe is a hemshich of his father.
It’s a great zchus to travel to reb levik
Mushkie
To decide whether something is “chasidishe stupidity”, one must be proficient in chassidus, darchay hachasidus, and chasidish hergeishim – before passing judgement. Now, I don’t know you, but if you consider yourself possessing all those qualities and therefore qualified to decide what is or chasidishe stupidity, then by believing so in yourself, with such ego you certainly aren’t chassidishe!
Mushkie
“Going to Reb Levik…is the same as the Rebbe” – are you serious? Read what you wrote, think about it. Maybe you mean something else because the words don’t make sense.