Weekly Story: With Joy and Happiness
by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
I thank all of those who gave me feedback on my newest book, the biography of the Rebbe Rashab. Boruch Hashem, it is being praised for putting his entire life in perspective and realizing that his greatness is way beyond what is commonly known. It is available in all the local seforim stores.
One of the emails I received:
It is a great read and a page-turner, I cannot put it down, there is so much interesting information, and important context which gives a full picture.
The notes are also very interesting. Looking forward to the next one.
I take the opportunity to thank all the wonderful individuals who have assisted in the research, as well as the financial support. May the zechus of the Rebbe Rashab and all of the Rebbeim, stand for you and may Hashem fulfill all of your desires and tefillos in an abundant measure, in revealed good.
In reply to the question of when will the next volume come out, all I can say is that I try to work on it daily, and in all probability, it will be two volumes.
I heard this week that once a chossid wrote to the Rebbe he is asking [for a] brocha that he gives nachas to the Rebbe and that he should do it with joy and happiness. His wording was: bracha sheyemale retzon kevod kedushas admur shlita besimcha temidis.
The Rebbe’s response quite often was by leaving most of the question in place and crossing out and inserting additional words. To this tzeitel (paper of request) the Rebbe crossed out the word asking for a brocha and left in place the words that he gives nachas to the Rebbe.
The Rebbe then added the words this would be accomplished through him being full of joy and happiness. So the words were now: bracha sheyemale retzon keved kedushas admur shlita al yedei zeh she’yihei besimcha temidis…
In simple words, the Rebbe was saying by us being joyful and happy, this would enable us to fulfill the mission the Rebbe gave us and give him happiness.
This brings to mind a parable of the Dubno Maggid, which was lauded by the Maggid of Mezeritch:
Once a passenger came off the train and asked a porter to please carry his suitcases and boxes.
One porter said he will carry them and they agreed that he will be paid after all the packages are transported. Sometime later the porter came and asked for his payment and the person said, I am not paying you, you didn’t bring my packages.
The porter looked at him and said, “How can you say that when you didn’t look to see what I brought?!”
The man replied, “I had numerous boxes of rare and precious diamonds, and although they are extremely valuable and precious, they barely weigh anything. But I noticed that you were sweating away after carrying the first box so evidently those boxes were heavy, so they are not mine.”
The nimshal of this parable is when we learn Torah, daven and fulfill the mitzvos, we should do it eagerly and with joy and happiness. We shouldn’t be sweating it, as if it is a burden, something we are being forced to do.
When I repeated this, I added, just as in the process of selling a diamond, there are various stages, the raw diamond has to be cleaned and cut properly. Then it has to be polished and only afterward is it set and ready to be sold, which each stage in the process has to be done meticulously and with great care, the same thing is for the Torah Tefilla and Tzedokah, in order that they be done properly, it has to be done with care.
One should make sure that they understand what they are learning, even if that slows down their pace. They should understand the meaning of the words of davening and realize what it can accomplish, and when one do a mitzvah, they are not merely doing a good deed, but they are becoming connected to the Creator through this act.
This weeks’ post is lezechus the complete and speedy recovery of my sister Chaya Rivkah bas Cheyena, and for all those that are in need of a brocha.
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of 15 books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com
