Weekly Dvar Torah: Happy Birthday Chassidim
This week a Satmar Chossid told me that he has begun learning Chassidus after he met a few young Lubavitch Bachurim. He was completely overcome by their positive energy and joy of life that they exuded. He realized that the Lubavitch boys are incredibly G-d fearing boys, who study Torah in depth, and they have absolute unconditional Ahavas Yisroel. This combination is something he did not find in other communities.
He continues, “Every time I walk into 770, I am inspired and uplifted seeing these wonderful Bachurim fill the place and I hear the sound of Torah and Rebbe. All I want is to be able to learn more Chassidus, and to be like them, and become more connected to the Rebbe who raised such children”.
A few days before Yud Alef Nissan, the Rebbe’s 121st birthday, I found these words worth pondering over.
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In the Hayom Yom of 11 Nissan, the Rebbe writes:
On a birthday, one should spend time in seclusion; recall experiences and examine them, and Repent for, and correct those that need correction and repentance.
There are two ways of understanding this directive.
One perspective would be to see the birthday as a somber day. A day of seclusion and introspection to acknowledge one’s faults and repent.
The other perspective would be to seclude yourself with your closest and most beloved, to rejoice and celebrate without outside distractions. A day of reflection on how to grow and improve on all the good qualities Hashem has given you.
Teshuva is commonly translated as repentance; a time of regret for all the bad that one has done. Chassidus teaches that Teshuva means to return to one’s source, to the lofty heights from where you originate from. Hence, it is not about regret, rather it is about growth. Like the word ‘Chet’ which is commonly translated as ‘sin’. Chassidus teaches that ‘Chet’ means to ‘lack’; lacking in not realizing your maximum potential.
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On the Rebbe’s birthday, we can sit and lament over the bright glowing days of the past. When the sun was shining brightly, and all we had to do was to hop over to 770 and the Rebbe was there for us all to see. Oh, how we miss those days. Or we can say L’Chaim and thank G-d for the love and leadership that we experience now every single day. Almost 30 years after Gimmel Tammuz, young boys and girls are so devoted to, and inspired by, a Rebbe whom they have never seen.
What did the Rebbe do on his birthday? He Farbrenged for hours with his Chassidim. He stood for hours giving out dollars and blessings. He stood up all night after the Farbrengen and gave us all Tanya’s until 7 in the morning. The Rebbe secluded himself with us the Chassidim. The Rebbe spoke about growth. The Rebbe told us on his 70th birthday, a time when most people think of retiring and relaxing, that he wants to establish 71 new institutions. And he did so successfully, and that year he established 70, plus many more.
(Incidentally, in the source for this Hayom Yom, the Frierdiker Rebbe writes that on the day of his birthday, which is a day of remembrance, he thought of, and about, his Chassidim.)
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The Rebbe always teaches, that קלקלתנו זוהי תקנתנו = our failures are to our benefit. One example is, that in the Beis Hamikdash Simchas Beis Hashoeva couldn’t happen before Chol Hamoed Sukkos, because of the flute. But now that we don’t use the flute, we can start it on Yomtov, the night before.
In this spirit, we must focus on the fact that now after Gimmel Tammuz, we have access to the Rebbe without any limitations. If before we were limited to time and space in order to see and be inspired by the Rebbe. Now all those limitations are gone, and the Rebbe is accessible to anybody at any time and any place, and he continues to lead us without any constraints. Just look at the young generation.
The Rebbe explains that Haman’s mistake was that he thought that since Moshe died in Adar, this would be a bad omen for the Jews. But what he failed to understand was that when Moshe passed away, only then did it become clear what Moshe’s birth meant, and who Moshe really was. Only when he died did it become crystal clear what a blessing his birth was.
Just ask the Satmar Chossid.
L’chaim Chassidim, raise a toast and thank Hashem for giving us such a great Rebbe. Only now do we really realize and appreciate the Rebbe, who is with us now more than ever before.
But enough of this, we must see him again, and very soon.
Have a big birthday of a Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
