Riot in Vizhenitz: It was the Hasidic elders who prepared the Beit Midrash for Tish in the presence and at the instruction of the Rebbe, after he ordered that the yeshiva students would not assist in the preparations for Tish.
The affair began a few weeks ago, when a general meeting of all the young Hasidic students, headed by the Rebbe, was held at the Hasidic community, which is headquartered on Ezra Street in Bnei Brak, on Shabbat. During the exciting Shabbat, a rousing melody was composed, with words that expressed the excitement of the young men: "On Shabbat, Deborah gigeben with the holy Rabbi.".
The boys thought that was the end of it. However, the Rebbe did not forget and asked to see the results. Towards the end of last week, the Rebbe unexpectedly arrived for a surprise visit to the yeshiva boarding school, located on Ezra Street, at 10 a.m. To his disappointment, he discovered that all the boys were still sleeping soundly on the mats.
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The Rebbe, who was startled by the spectacle - perhaps his men were sleeping while disregarding the times for reading Shema and prayer - began to sing to himself the hymn that the men had composed for the Sabbath, "A Sabbath hath the Creator gigeben... A Sabbath with the Holy One, the Rabbi..." and began with a cry: "Now, where is the Holy One, the Rabbi? Where is the Creator? We gave you a gift, and what about you?""
The sequel came on Shabbat night, when the young men were surprised by the new instruction: After the prayer, the Rebbe turned to the audience and said: "I want the young men of Hasidism not to bother setting my table" (in Hasidism, cleaning workers are not employed at all, and all the cleaning and arranging of the place is done by the young men and children of Hasidism). The Rebbe named three of the most respected people in the courtyard, saying: "You will prepare the Beit Midrash in place of the young men.".
To the surprise of those present, the Rebbe added: "This is not in jest, but in earnest.".
And so it was: the three distinguished Hasidim put down their siddurs and began to engage in the work of preparing the Beit Midrash in the presence of the Rebbe, who stood in his place and watched the Hasidic elders busy arranging the Shulchan.
There was exemplary silence in the place. When they finished preparing the place, while arranging wine and challah for the Rebbe, the Rebbe said "Got Shabbat" to the audience - and left the Beit Midrash.
One of the young men responded outside with astonishment – that indeed the message had been well received. They added that they were not used to waking up at these hours, as they pray in the Rebbe's minyan every day no earlier than 11:30 a.m. The Rebbe surprised them and woke them up.
""To come prepared for the table, it is not enough to move a pair of scissors, but one must be loaded with Torah""
At the third meal, the Rebbe said: "Shimon the righteous says that the world stands on three things: on Torah, on work, and on acts of kindness. Blessed be God, in our community we can say that work is 'tishim', prayers with warmth, acts of kindness, everyone takes care of each other as real brothers. But the first thing that Shimon the righteous says is Torah, and this needs to be reinforced even more strongly and with greater strength.".
""I've been talking about this for a whole year and I will be firm on this issue until the end. Here in our community there will be Torah and Hasidism.".
""I don't care at all what people say on the street. The street is not our life, I'm interested in your life, your aspirations, I'm your father and I love you with all my heart, but sometimes a father also has to be firm. There will be Torah and Hasidism here, otherwise I have nothing to do here.".
""They say that Torah belonged more to the Rebbe zt"l. You are sorely mistaken. My only ambition is to instill here what my father z"a wanted. If not - I will be a rabbi in my room. I can also hold a tish in my room for ten Torah scholars. Here there should be Hasidism that is all Torah, and every young man and young woman should have the aspiration to become a great Magid Shiur, Rabbi, Dayan. Don't be afraid of pride. I have a special haidar for Torah scholars, I have experience in this. Even a rabbi or Dayan and any other Torah scholar can be a Hasid and also prepare the Beit Midrash for Shabbat. There is no need to be proud, because you already know how to study a little.
""I do not allow any Hasidic books to be studied until Shavuot, but only Torah-Torah-Torah-Torah. And I will follow that. I want holy vessels, lecture leaders, judges and rabbis to come out of here. I do not need to borrow from others. I have been talking about Torah for a year and not many people listen to me. This time I will not give up, do not be just Hasidic for me, it is worth nothing, only Torah and Hasidic, do not study all day only light and sun, words of morality and the peace of the Holy God, study Torah carefully, live in Torah, have aspirations.
""I am the first to advocate for Hasidism, Schwantzana, etc., yes, that is how it should be, but only on the condition that it is alongside the Holy Torah.".
