Weekly Story: I Need A Representative At That Fair

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

Being that this coming Tuesday is Lag B’Omer, I decided to post the following story I received this week via WhatsApp. I thank the two individuals for forwarding it to me, using technology to spread Torah. At the same time I ask others to please share with me interesting stories, so that I can pass it on to all of our readers.

The Mashgiach in Nitra Yeshiva in Mt. Kisco, HaRav Garalnik related:

I had the zechus to have a yechidus (private audience) with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and the discussion evolved about the importance og mincha on erev Shabbos, and I asked why doesn’t Lubavitch say Shir HaShirim [after mincha] and V’shumroo [Friday night before Shemone Esreh]?

The Rebbe replied, that this question was asked to the Alter Rebbe [by Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berditchov, at the chassunah of their grandchildren in Zholbin] and he replied, when Jews say V’shumroo they create a great fair in heaven. However, one doesn’t have to participate in every fair.

The Rebbe continued, I once asked my father-in-law, the Rebbe, if he would clarify this saying to me and he replied, Simply meaning that the Alter Rebbe was at a different fair that is higher than that fair.

I asked my father-in-law the Rebbe, That can be said about the Rebbeim themselves, however, what about the chassidim [they are not on that higher level]?

He replied, Wherever the Rebbe is, he is surrounded by the chassidim and those who are connected to him, so they don’t have the time to go to other fairs.

Rav Garalnik continued, so I asked the Rebbe Should I stop saying Shir HaShirim? I too want to be mekusher (connected) to the Rebbe, and I would want that he takes me along to the higher fair.

The Rebbe replied to me smiling, In my fair you might find that it is difficult and Shabbos is day of rest.

I said, However, I wish to be with the Rebbe.

Being that he just smiled and didn’t reply, I repeated myself a second and third time.

He then said to me, I also need a representative in the other fair.

Three or four years later, and on Shabbos Bereishis, during the farbrengen I was by the farbrengen and said a L’chaim to the Rebbe. He motioned that he wished to tell me something quietly.

When I came close, he whispered, I believe my representative was not at the fair yesterday?!

At the moment I didn’t understand what he was referring to. But then suddenly it dawned upon me, and I was astounded. On that Friday, I wasn’t feeling well and I came a little later to shul than I usually do and I didn’t have time to say Shir Hashirim [as I usually do].

Rav Garalnik concluded, I then realized and was in awe from two points:

A] Nothing is concealed from the Rebbe. He senses everything with his ruach Hakodesh, and felt that I didn’t say Shir Hashirim.

B] What the Rebbe says is not a gleich vertal (just to humor). When he told me a few years ago that he wants me to be his representative at the fair, he actually meant it, in an actual sense.

I will add the known story that Rabbi “uncle” Yossi Goldstein would relate about the first Lag B’Omer fair that the Rebbe made in 5703 (1943). At that time he stood by the Rebbe’s side and noticed that during the fair/parade, the Frierdiker Rebbe was seating by his window and watching it.

He then said, One doesn’t have to be by all fairs, but all the Rebbeim were by the Lag B’Omer fair.

PARTICIPATE (at least virtually).

I received a question about last weeks stories and I thank him for the question.
Here is my reply.

I also saw today that Rabbi Mottel Shusterman in his sefer, lmaan yedoo, writes that the man wanted to divorce and the Rebbe Maharash told him to stay together and make peace and harmony. (So the uestion is what can I learn from this version?)

I explained the message of this version at my table as follows; that the bochur learns in Yeshiva, but it is not with a passion, it is something separate from him, his mind is not there and the lesson is we have to become one with our learning

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