Weekly Story: Celebrating Yud Aleph Nissan
Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
As we are all gearing to commemorate and celebrate Yud Aleph Nissan, this coming Tuesday, 120 years since the Rebbe’s neshoma descended to elevate this world, I decided to post the following parable that I received a few months ago in an email.
While in general, I try to post something original and not copy something that others had posted or emailed, there are times that I receive some stories from others, and I will repeat it at a farbrengen and seeing the response, I feel that while some may also have received that email, the majority of the readers of this column have not and it is worthwhile to post it for them.
I read this a few months ago in the weekly email Shabbos Stories from Daniel Keren.
As always your comments and feedback is most welcome and appreciated.
The tzaddik Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berditchov would relate the following:
A highly decorated general once lost a battle. Obviously, there were repercussions but the general was confident that although he had suffered a defeat, never-the-less he will ultimately win the war and dismissed it as a temporary setback.
However, some of the advisers to the king lost their confidence in him, especially as they felt that this was supposed to be an easy battle, and if he lost an easy win he will lose the upcoming and perhaps decisive battle as well.
However, knowing that the king had chosen him to be his general they were at a loss as to how they can convince the king to replace him. They were at a loss until they came up with the following plan.
They informed the king that the general was informed of the enemy’s recent maneuvers and dismissed them. It is because of that that our men were outmatched and outmaneuvered. Some of the other generals feel that such a lapse in judgment cannot be a mistake but was intentional and somehow he is in cohorts with the enemy.
Hearing this accusation the king was alarmed and immediately had the general arrested and replaced him. On one hand, the general should be treated as a rebel for his treasonous act, yet the king reminded himself of the many battles he waged heroically and won, so perhaps these accusations are untrue. Unsure of what is the true reality, he placed the general under house arrest until he will be able to clarify it.
A short time later the king’s army went to battle again against that army, and this time his army under the new general was victorious. When the guard who was watching the disposed general mentioned it to him in passing the general began dancing and celebrating with all his energy.
Hearing this, the king freed him. The king explained that if he was working with the enemy or even if he now had some bitterness against me because of the dismissal he wouldn’t be able to celebrate like that. Since he is celebrating that means he is completely loyal and innocent of all charges.
Reb Levi Yitzchok said; this is the situation Hashem constantly is in.
A Jew is sent to this world by on a mission and sometimes the person is not successful on a particular mission. The prosecuting angels claim that the person intentionally didn’t succeed or didn’t put in enough effort and needs to be dealt with accordingly.
But then that person participated in the rejoicing of a person who had succeeded in one of his missions; he is making a siyum or a farbrengen in honor of something. When his friend rejoices in it he is declaring I wish I could do that also, and Hashem proudly points out, you see that is the truth and essence of him. He is with Me!
So now as we all prepare to celebrate Yud Aleph Nissan, we are allowing our true passion to reveal itself, celebrating the Rebbe’s life of preparing the world for Moshiach, and now that we know what our essence is, let us not only celebrate his mission, but become active participants to make it happen, NOW!
*******
Some have asked where does it say, or what is the source to commemorate and indeed celebrate birthdays of tzaddikim, even when their physical presence is not seen?
The Frierdiker Rebbe relates that the Alter Rebbe’s great-grandson Reb Boruch Sholom used to fast on Chai Elul. [For those who don’t know, Chai Elul is the birthday of both the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe].
On Chai Elul 5605 which was one hundred years since the birth of the Alter Rebbe the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek informed his son Reb Boruch Sholom of the tremendous rejoicing and celebration that is taking place now in the heavens commemorating a hundred years since the Alter Rebbe’s neshoma descended into the physical world.
Hearing this, Reb Boruch Sholom was matir neder (annulled his vow of fasting on that day and chose another day to fast on).
Just imagine the celebration in heaven in honor of the Rebbe’s 120th birthday.
I would like to add that the Alter Rebbe writes in Tanya, if a person did a mitzvah, although it was done in a specific time it is eternal.
So the Rebbe’s accomplishments are something that are present now even if they were accomplished years ago, but especially as people are being inspired today by his teachings, so definitely they are present and we have what to celebrate
*******
In the HaYom Yom for Shabbos the 8th of Nissan the Rebbe writes, that if a person has negative leanings, he should learn from it and then utilize its refinement in serving Hashem.
With permission from Malka, I will share a saying that Rebbetzin Chana told her which gives an insight in this saying.
Malka was then in College aiming to major in Oncology. Rebbetzin Chana told her being that you are challenged by infertility; that is a sign that you should deal with this issue (in at least to help others).
In other words when a person feels that they have a certain thing that really challenges them, often this is a subtle sign from heaven that this is where they should put their efforts in correcting it.
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
