Weekly Story: Preparing For Yud Shevat

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

Recently I heard the following story. Your feedback is appreciated.

There was a person who hired someone to work in his business, however, it didn’t work out and after some time the owner dismissed him.

This person felt that his dismissal was unwarranted and took him to a rabbinical court asking the court to rule that he should be reinstated. His father who was a learned person came as his advocate and for forty-five minutes presented his case.

The three Rabbis were astonished at the calm demeanor of the boss, who not only didn’t interrupt and call the person a liar etc., as quite often happens in similar circumstances but that he was smiling and nodding his head as if he agrees to many of the points stated.

When the father of the claimant concluded his presentation, the Rabbis thanked the defendant for not interrupting and then asked him to respond to the arguments that were presented against him.

The person answered simply; if the father would have been working alongside his son, I don’t think we would be here today, as the father is extremely capable.

However, the esteemed court witnessed what I have endured, for the forty-five minutes that the claimant had his argument presented, he did not say a word. It is clear that he is incompetent in that aspect and likewise he is incompetent in fulfilling that tasks required for what he was hired to do.

Saying that he sat down, bringing an end to his defense.

The Beis Din ruled in the defendant’s favor.

Why am I writing this story?

We are a few weeks before Yud Shevat. When the Rebbe accepted the nesius on Yud Shevat the following year he stated, “I will help each person in fulfilling his mission. However, no one should be complacent and fold his hands across his torso, saying we now have a Rebbe and I don’t have to do anything…,”

In essence the Rebbe was saying don’t sit back and say the Rebbe will do all the work and carry the load. We each have to do our share.

If not we are like the young man who relied on his father’s presentation, but as noted above that ended up as a failure.

Mazal Tov to Levi and Yachat on their chassunah.

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