Gimmel Tammuz 5767

Tonight is Gimmel Tammuz, marking thirteen years since the passing of the Rebbe in 1994.

Two weeks after the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn (1880-1950) passed away, my grandfather Reb Yochanan Gordon was in the synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway, which houses Lubavitch World Headquarters. This was yet before the Rebbe had openly accepted the mantle of leadership. It was a mere two weeks after the Previous Rebbe’s passing!

My Bubbe Zeesy had been seriously ill and the doctors didn’t give her situation much hope. The Rebbe had already heard that she was sick when he met my zayde. “Reb Yochanon, I heard that your wife is not feeling well.” Zayde confirmed his suspicion. Then the Rebbe said, “Why don’t you ask my father-in-law what to do?” Zayde said he had gone to the Previous Rebbe’s resting place but did not know where to turn for guidance. The Rebbe told him, “Ask, ask. My father-in-law will surely find a way to answer you.”

Continued in the Extended Article.

My uncles Nissen and Sholom heard about their father’s conversation with the Rebbe regarding their mother. They immediately wrote a note describing Bubbe’s condition and went to speak to the Rebbe in his office. They wanted the Rebbe’s blessing for Bubbe’s health. The Rebbe took the note from them, gave them a serious look, and said, “She has to live. She yet needs to marry off another child (my father, may he live and be well) and have much nachas from her children and grandchildren. She should live and be well.”

Afterwards, whenever Bubbe would visit the doctor, he would look at her in wonderment. She lived for another seven years.

It was the first Purim after the Rebbe’s open acceptance of the mantle of leadership. During the Purim farbrengen (Chassidic gathering) of 5711 (1951) , the Rebbe commented to Rabbi Simpson, a senior chossid, “During the Second Temple era, the elders who yet remembered the First Temple would cry. You, the elders, who remember the Previous Rebbe and his father, the Rebbe Rashab… for you it must be difficult to sit with me. After all, who and what am I?”

Rabbi Simpson came closer to the Rebbe and told the Rebbe that the Chassidim do not want to hear such words. More elder Chassidim joined Rabbi Simpson in asking the Rebbe to refrain from speaking such thoughts. The Rebbe leaned his head on his arms and began to weep.

Rabbi Mordechai Mentlick was the academic head of the Yeshiva and a devout chossid. He stood up and said in a loud voice, “It is explicitly not so! You are our Rebbe! It is a continuation from the Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad 1745-1812). I would like to receive a drink of L’Chaim (most likely vodka) from the Alter Rebbe!”

A smile came onto the Rebbe’s face as he poured him a bit of L’Chaim.

Yes, we yearn to see the Rebbe. Thirteen years does not lessen our yearning to see him. We are strong in our belief that all that happens is good. This situation is a test of our resolve as Chassidim. Surely, the Rebbe always finds a conduit through which to guide us. We must persevere and we will continue to have the astounding success that the Rebbe’s work has enjoyed over the past fifty-seven years.

May it be G-d’s will that we be reunited with the Rebbe with the coming of Moshiach speedily and enjoy the Rebbe’s blessings for all that is good both materially and spiritually for our brethren in Israel and the world over.

This Torah Thought is dedicated in loving memory of Schabse Noach ben Moshe z”l.

Excerpted from Rabbi Yossy Gordon’s weekly Torah Thought. To subscribe, please send your request to yosgordon@aol.com.