Weekly Story: Gan Yisroel

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

As this Wednesday night/Thursday day is Gimmel Tammuz, I figured I will post a story of the Rebbe, that will inspire us, and we will come to the realization, that a faithful shepherd, does not forsake his flock. After all, by every farbrengen beginning this Shabbos, stories of the Rebbe will be said and listened to. Indeed I began working on finding out the details of just such a story, which would have been called “A Dollar for the Taxi-driver.”

However, I then remembered the following story or anecdote. On the first year after the histalkus of the Baal Shem Tov, his students gathered together to farbreng and speak about the greatness of the Baal Shem Tov. The night, when one of the students finally went to sleep, the Baal Shem Tov came to him and admonished him saying, why didn’t you mention my main greatness; my yiras shomayim!

So yes, they definitely said inspiring stories, stories that they personally witnessed. However, the Baal Shem Tov informed them that, although that serves a purpose, and an important one, the purpose of the farbrengen is to learn from him and try to emulate at least one aspect of his into our lives. Yes, he was much greater than we ever will be, but nevertheless it is incumbent upon us to try to emulate and incorporate one of his deeds or actions into our life.

With that said, I would like to relate the following personal anecdote that is relevant to this time of the year.

In the summer of 5738 (1978) I together with Reb Dovid Wilansky, went on merkos shlichus to the Canadian Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. The arrangements were made by Rabbi Simcha Zirkind, director of Tzach in Montreal. He gave us the minivan that Tzach of Montreal converted into a Mivtza Tank, gave us some names, who we should contact and visit, arranged sleeping arrangements in certain towns, and off we went.

It was a phenomenal experience and boruch Hashem we saw accomplishments of our short four week excursion. After the summer Reb Dovid returned to learn in the yeshiva in Montreal, while I chose to learn in 770. One day, while I was learning upstairs in the beis hamidrash, I was told that Rabbi Hodakov wants to know why we had not submitted a du”ch (detailed report) about the towns and cities we visited, who we spoke to and the general situation of the Jewish communities.

I responded, “We were never asked or told to write one. However, being that I am now aware of the need to do so, I will write one up and deliver it to him tomorrow.”
That night I spent some time writing. It was a six or eight page report about each city and town we visited. Understanding that it probably will be read by the Rebbe, I made sure to describe the situation as accurately as possible, putting in details of the rabbonim we spoke with, the people we visited, and our impression of the community as a whole.

My chaverim saw that I was busy writing and they inquired, what it is that I am writing about. When I replied that Rabbi Hodakov asked for a du”ch about the merkos shlichus that I participated in, one of them informed me that whoever goes on Merkos shlichus receives a dollar from the Rebbe.

Each dollar from the Rebbe is a brocha, but especially in those days that it wasn’t common to receive a dollar from the Rebbe it was much more.

So when I brought in the du”ch the following day to Rabbi Hodakov, I said, here is the du”ch of the merkos shlichus and can I have a dollar as every bochur who goes on merkos shlichus does.

He replied, the Rebbe gives dollars only to those who are sent by the office, but you went on your own. That was wonderful but you don’t get a dollar.

I was extremely disappointed and hoping to convince him to change his mind, responded, so if it wasn’t merkos shlichus why was I obligated to write this du”ch?

You did do merkos shlichus, he replied, and therefore we need the du”ch. However, the Rebbe only gives a dollar to those who we request to go, not those who go on their own.

I responded, but I was requested to do so by your representative, so I should receive one. Just because I wanted to fulfill the ratzon of the Rebbe and didn’t know that I could also receive the dollar if I signed up before I went, I should lose out? If I would have asked Rabbi Zirkind to request a dollar before we agreed to it, we would have received it, so now I should also receive it.

Seeing that I wasn’t accepting his explanation, Rabbi Hodakov shared with me the following.

What you said is correct. You and your chaver fulfilled the Rebbe’s ratzon completely. However, not always when someone does the Rebbe’s ratzon is he given a dollar.
Seeing that I was listening, he continued: For example, Merkos Shlichus began many years before there was a concept of Gan Yisroel. So on one hand it shows how important it is, and therefore as you stated the Rebbe gives a dollar to those who participates in its functions.

However, you should know that we don’t accept applicants for Merkos shlichus until the directors of the Gan Yisroels’ inform us that they have their entire staff. So that shows the importance of Gan Yisroel, that it supersedes Merkos shlichus. But, at the same time, only those who go on Merkos shlichus from here receive a dollar and not those who fulfill the Rebbe’s ratzon and go to a camp as a counselor or other position.

I couldn’t argue with that and returned to the beis hamidrash.

The reason I am posting this is to those of you who have the zechus to direct a camp, you should know how much emphasis the Rebbe placed on camps and making sure that they be successful. If that is so in normal times, especially now after there was a three month hiatus of normalcy, those that are allowed to open a camp, just realize how much nachas you will be giving the Rebbe! Every additional child, is additional joy.

Yes, you are facing new obstacles, namely governmental regulations. But, as chassidim who are resolved to fulfill the Rebbe’s ratzon, solutions are found out. As the saying goes, “A chossid is one who is connected to the activities of the Rebbe.” If the regulations prevent or limits you to open in the normal way as previous years, I don’t believe the regulations extend into the backyards of individuals. Perhaps there should be bunks similar to bungalow colonies, where a melamed/counselor teaches boys/girls of different ages together.

No it is not optimum nor is it going to be the same camp experience, it may even be more challenging and so on. However, somehow the children of all grades have to be taught. Chassidim succeeded in the past to educate their children under difficult times, and will succeed now as well. If you have a better way, implement it. I am only putting out one possible suggestion.

Yes, you might not see the acknowledgement from the Rebbe that is always assuring, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are giving the Rebbe tremendous nachas. It is a unique shlichus. Hatzlacha Raba!

Your feedback is always appreciated.

This week’s story is l’zechus my sister Chaya Rivka bas Cheyena and all cholei Yisroel for a complete and speedy recovery.

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