Weekly Story: The Six Perspectives That Guide a Chossid
by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
Dedicated in loving memory of Sonya bas Adam (Alfred), who passed away erev Rosh chodesh Shevat.
I thank all those who expressed their appreciation to last week’s posting. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated and helpful.
While the Rebbe sent shluchim all over the world, everyone recalls the three times in 5636-7-8 (1976-7-8) when he sent groups of shluchim to Eretz Yisroel, that was something special.[1] The final group consisted of eight couples and eight bochurim. On the day they were to leave they were informed that before mincha the Rebbe’s secretary Rabbi Hodakov is going to address them. At around three in the afternoon he spoke to them, shortly after he was in the Rebbe’s room. [It is believed that the following which he said to the shluchim, were not his own thoughts.] Last week I received a synopsis of what he said. I believe that we all can take those words to heart, so I am posting it as an additional preparation to Yud Shevat.
This is not a word for word translation of what I received, as I don’t think it was recorded. Additionally it is being presented not as a guideline for only that selected group of shluchim, but to all of us. We all have a responsibility and ability to bring the Rebbe’s message to another individual, group, community or the entire world, each in his/her particular way
[As an introduction, I would like to point out that the end of Shacharis we say the Sheish zichirois (six points the Torah instructs us to remember), Rabbi Hodakov explained how a chossid and shliach is supposed to apply those guidelines as his/her barometer in their shlichus].
- Remember the day you left mitzrayim. Chassidus explains that mitzrayim doesn’t only refer to the physical servitude of being enslaved in Egypt, but rather it is an eternal message: One must remember that Hashem has given him/her a mission and thereby also enabled him/her to accomplish it.
If you feel you don’t have the ability to overcome the obstacles, you should realize that Hashem took you out of those limitations and your potential capabilities are much stronger than you think. Go out of your limitations and you will succeed. Being that you are His messenger, you are no longer working only with your own strength, talent etc., but with His, and He is not limited.
- Don’t forget the day you stood by Mount Sinai and received the Torah. By matan Torah there were so many miracles, how can one forget that special moment, [that the Torah has to warn us not to forget it]. But human nature is that as time passes, we get entangled and interested in new things and sometimes we forget about the past.
When a person first begins their shlichus, they feel a tremendous zechus and are euphoric, that they were chosen or given the opportunity to represent the Rebbe and bring his teachings to a community. However, as the years pass, and communal issues arise, this mind-set may cool down to the extent that it is “forgotten” why I was sent here.
The remedy to prevent this is; Don’t forget the moments you were by the Rebbe, the farbrengen, the yechidus, the answers and guidance you received from him.
- Remember what Amelek did to you…that he attacked you. Chassidus explains that the word used for attack is kurcha, which has the root word of Kar, cold. The way Amalek attacked was by cooling off your enthusiasm, passion and zeal. Of course you should do the work that you came to accomplish, but would the people in the community be receptive when you are on overcharge. Be calm, cool and collected etc.,
The only solution to this approach is to eradicate it from its source. To erase and chase away such thoughts entirely, every day should be with a passion!
- Remember how you aggravated Hashem: This comes as a continuation and follow up to the command to destroy the influence of Amalek. Because if G-d forbid Amalek does have some entry and sway over you, you should realize that it will bring chas v’sholom to a situation that you too may aggravate Hashem.
- Remember what Hashem did to Miriam , [when she spoke negatively about her brother].
Hashem created us that each one has their thoughts and their way of accomplishing things. Not always do you agree with your friends’ method. But even if you disagree, make sure to stay away from focusing on the trivial and become involved in these disputes, as that is the way the yetzer hora, derails you from focusing on accomplishing what you have to accomplish.
Simply put don’t allow any amount of discord to exist between you and your fellow shluchim/chassidim, and rip you apart from each other. Live together in peace and harmony
- Remember the day of Shabbos and make it holy. We say this not only on Shabbos or also on erev Shabbos, but we say it every weekday of the entire week. One of the halachos that is learned from this is, If a person sees something nice during the week, he should buy it to be used on the Shabbos.
The same thing is by a shliach, he has to know that Shabbos is coming, and one day he will have to give a reckoning and show that he did everything he or she could have done to prepare the world for Shabbos- the coming of Moshiach.
In simple words, every day one has to ponder, what have I accomplished this day to elevate myself and my surroundings?
When I was going over this message, I was reminded of the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov that the Alter Rebbe explained at the great debate in Minsk, in 5543 (1783). That is a fundamental approach of Chassidus.
In Moshe’s first encounter with Hashem, he saw a burning bush that wasn’t being consumed. The Baal Shem Tov explained, that while every Jew has a thirst and burning desire to be close to Hashem, a talmid chocham, may satisfy his desire through the Torah he is learning. Yes, he wantsmore, but he has a sense of accomplishment, I am close to Hashem.
However, a “simple” Jew, doesn’t have this satisfying factor and feels that his burning desire is never satisfied. When Moshe saw that, he felt humbled; I wish I can maintain that burning desire.
The same is with us, everyone accomplished things on behalf of the Rebbe, and are doing their Shlichus. But because you accomplished and maybe the accomplishment was beyond your expectations, so while you should be proud of it, at the same time don’t allow it to weaken your drive, as the Rebbe always says, now you can accomplish even more!
This weeks post is lzechus the complete and immediate refuah for my sister Chaya Rivkah bas Cheyena and all those who are in a need of a brocha.
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim, he can be reached at avtzonbooks@gmail.com
[1] The first group in 5636 (1976) was twenty shluchim, ten to start off in Yerushalayim and the other ten to start off in Tzfas. The Rebbe also sent Rabbi Mordechai Mentlik to accompany them and be his personal representative to the government officials they will meet.
