Next Wednesday, we will celebrate Yod Shevat, a special day for Chabad followers. This is the day on which, in 1951, a year after the passing of the previous Rebbe, the Lubavitcher Rebbe took on the burden of leadership. And since then, as they say, everything is history.
The issue of the relationship between a rabbi and a Hasid constitutes one of the most fascinating and profound investigations in Jewish Torah.
In the last few parshiot, we are exposed week after week to the leadership of Moses our Lord. The leader in the knowledge of God. Even without regard to his leadership, we can see his behavior. The fact that even though God speaks to him, he does not feel worthy and suitable for leadership.
Where are you?
Just before we celebrate in Chabad the day of our connection with the Rebbe, which began on the day his presidency began - Yod Shevat - I find myself pondering the question over and over again: What motivates each and every one of us to continue doing the things the Rebbe has instructed us to do, even though sometimes it seems like impossible tasks.
When the old Rebbe, the author of the Tanya and the Shulchan, was in prison in St. Petersburg, he was asked a very interesting question by one of the ministers. That minister, who was a learned man, asked the Rebbe why God, blessed be He, asked the first Adam, "Where are you?" and why did the Creator of the world not know where Adam was?
The elderly Rebbe's response contributed greatly to his release.
He turned to the minister and said to him: "How are you? Where are you in the world? What have you already accomplished in your mission during the years you have lived on earth." And here the Rebbe specified the minister's exact age.
The question of what happened is not a technical question, it is a fundamental question that God, the Blessed, addresses to the first man who had just been created. The minister was deeply impressed by the words and this influenced, as mentioned, the decision to release the Rebbe.
A contemporary Jew who was exposed to the story sent an angry letter to the Rebbe. "By what right do you preach morality to me and ask me what I am doing? Do you also ask yourselves what I am doing?!".
The Rebbe's response was not long in coming: "My lament is to ask every Jew what lament...""
In other words, I - the Rebbe - am asked every day, "What have you done to ask another Jew where he is in fulfilling his mission in the world and what he has accomplished so far?".
Personal work
Yes. Chabad is different from other Hasidim. Even though they are also Hasidim. Already in the Rebbe's first talk, on Yod Shevat 5711, the Rebbe mentioned that in Chabad, everyone is required to act on their own and not rely on the Rebbe. This is the difference between the Chabad system of Hasidim and the system of Hasidim that was practiced in Poland.
The Polish Hasidim said: "A righteous man lives by his faith." Do not say "live" (Hachait in vain), but "live" (Hachait in Fatah). A righteous man lives with all his disciples and followers.
But in Chabad, they argue as stated in the verse: He will live (in vain). A Hasid must act with all his might, with all his limbs and all his limbs, in order to fulfill his mission in the world. He cannot rely on the righteous one to revive him.
The Rebbe continued, saying: "Everything is in the hands of Heaven except for the fear of Heaven. I do not remove myself, G-d, from helping. To help as much as I can. But, since everything is in the hands of Heaven except for the fear of Heaven, if the work is not done alone, what good will it do to give 'scriptures', play melodies, and say 'Hayim'?""
We need to act! Every day we must ask ourselves, "Where are we?" Where are we in fulfilling our mission in this world? What have we done to bring another Jew closer to our Father in Heaven? What have we done to increase our fear of God?.
Jews everywhere
By the way, this week, following the stabbing of a Jew in Marseille, someone said that French Jews should go without a kippah because of the danger. The strong opposition, he said, testified to the stage that Israel is alive.
The previous Rebbe, who left Yod Shevat, arrived in America at the beginning of the terrible war. Upon his arrival, he coined the slogan "America is not different" - America is no different. A Jew must live and behave like a Jew wherever he is in the world.
The writer is the owner ""My choice"", event host, lecturer and radio broadcaster. For comments: [email protected]
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