tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55037682283500820352024-03-13T08:16:23.054-07:00The Tzaddik and the Rebbeaccording to Torah sourcesYehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-56812860144065269062010-09-15T14:13:00.000-07:002012-08-13T05:21:18.799-07:00A message to my readers<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Since I have not posted on this blog for a while, I have decided for the foreseeable future to post all content related to the topic of this blog—the concept of Tzaddikim and a Rebbe—on my other, main blog, </span><a href="http://a-farbrengen.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A Chassidishe farbrengen</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which, thank G-d, has attained a significant readership. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Below are links to the posts from that blog that are relevant to the topic of this blog, and I will </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">bli neder</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> update this blog post if and when I post more on that topic:</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://a-farbrengen.blogspot.com/2009/05/if-you-dont-believe.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">If you don't believe ...</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://a-farbrengen.blogspot.com/2009/01/faithful-shepherd.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The faithful shepherd</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://a-farbrengen.blogspot.com/2010/09/pure-performance-of-mitzvosthrough.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pure performance of Mitzvos—through </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hiskashrus</span></i></span></a></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366cc; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://a-farbrengen.blogspot.com/2011/01/tzaddiks-power-to-nullify-decrees.html" style="color: #3366cc;">The <i>Tzaddik</i>'s power to nullify decrees </a></span></span></li>
<li><a href="http://a-farbrengen.blogspot.com/2012/05/reciprocating-for-rebbes-blessings.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reciprocating for the <i>Tzaddik</i>'s blessings</span></a></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Im yirtzeh Hashem</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, I hope to compile these posts into a booklet, and I invite anyone willing to co-sponsor this publication to contact me.</span></span>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-3400446599545877462009-03-15T22:00:00.000-07:002012-05-18T07:23:38.000-07:00Her faith in Tzaddikim saved her husband!<div class="MsoNormal">
Reb Yisroel of Ruzhin once related (the lesson from this story is the same as the lesson described earlier <a href="http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2009/01/power-of-believing-in-tzaddikim.html">here</a>):</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Once there lived an innkeeper who did not believe in the power of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Tzaddikim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">, while his wife believed in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Tzaddikim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> very sincerely. It happened that his business dealings took a turn for the worse, and he had not paid the landowner his rent for three years. The landowner set a date, and warned him that if he would not pay his debt, he would throw him in prison and evict his family. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">His wife said to him: “I heard that in Ruzhin there is a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> who works miracles. Travel there, and you will be saved.” Her husband laughed at the suggestion: “Will the Rebbe give me money?!”</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">When the date approached and the required sum was still lacking, the wife returned and urged her husband until he became so sick of it that he said: “What do you want from me? If you want, travel there yourself!” So the woman did. When she arrived, she met another woman who had come to the Ruzhiner to ask for a blessing for her husband to have a speedy recovery. Both women wrote their written requests, and the assistant took their letters and delivered them to the Ruzhiner.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">However, when the assistant left the Ruzhiner’s room, he mistakenly switched the responses that the Ruzhiner had given him: To the woman who asked for a blessing for her husband’s speedy recovery, the assistant responded in the Ruzhiner’s name that G–d would help her; while to the woman whose husband was an innkeeper, the assistant responded in the Ruzhiner’s name that she should put </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">bankes </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">(small hot glass cups that were placed on the back of the sick person, which sucked in the flesh until blood would flow, thought to be a remedy).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">When the woman returned home, she told her husband about the Ruzhiner’s response. Her husband laughed in scorn at the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">, exclaiming: “Am I sick?! Do I need </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">bankes</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">? I need money!”</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">But as the date of payment drew closer and the innkeeper was unable to pay, his wife said to him on the day of the repayment: “Look, the landowner is preparing to throw you into prison regardless. What do you have to lose by listening to the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">’s advice? Lie in your bed, and I will affix </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">bankes</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> to your back.” At a loss, this time the man consented. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Shortly after, the servants of the landowner arrived to bring the Jew to the landowner’s mansion. The woman brought them into her husband’s room, and showed them that he was lying sick in his bed. The messengers returned to the landowner and told him that the Jew was sick. The landowner angrily cried out: “He is just pretending! Bring him here, alive or dead!”</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">The messengers returned to the inn, and saw that the Jew was lying on his bed and the sheet was covered with blood. They had pity on him, and carried him on his bed to the landowner. However, the landowner still did not believe, and told them to remove the sheet. But when he saw the wounded back of the Jew, he asked him in shock, “what happened to you?”</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">At that moment, the Jew had an idea. In a broken voice, he responded: “I knew that today is the day of payment, so I went yesterday to the city in order to borrow money. I borrowed the entire sum, and returned to the village via the forest. But on the way bandits attacked me, injured me, and robbed me of all the money. Now I owe a double amount—to you, my master the landowner, and to those from whom I borrowed the money!”</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">The landowner had pity on the Jew, and said: “If so, I forgive the entire debt. And since it was on my account that they hit you so cruelly, I will even forgive the payment for the next three years in advance!” So did the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">bankes</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> save the tenant and his family.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">When the Ruzhiner finished relating the story, he added: “When the woman’s note reached me, I saw that it was not possible to help her, so I wrote, ‘May G–d help’ [which was a way of saying that the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> would not give a blessing]. Obviously it did not occur to me to tell her to prepare </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">bankes</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> for her husband, and that was a mistake of the assistant. Rather, it was the woman’s pure faith in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Tzaddikim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> that brought the salvation!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Translated from </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Sippurim Chasidiyim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">, Vol. 1, p. 68.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"></span></div>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-17428295047661959232009-03-08T12:24:00.001-07:002011-06-15T22:59:38.419-07:00They could see everything<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1_KwZBnkX9A/SbQdNmEBmZI/AAAAAAAAAVw/t4tRIkEaaGg/s1600-h/rebbe.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310901979969591698" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1_KwZBnkX9A/SbQdNmEBmZI/AAAAAAAAAVw/t4tRIkEaaGg/s400/rebbe.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 295px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: left; width: auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">This teaching expresses the greatness of the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><i>Baal Shem Tov</i></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><i>Maggid</i></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> of Mezeritch, and the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Alter </span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Rebbe</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, and explains that through learning their </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Chassidus</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, we connect with their lofty level.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"></span></span></span></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <i>Tzemach Tzedek</i> writes about the <i>Alter Rebbe</i>: Also from my grandfather, may his soul rest in <i>Gan Eden</i>, we heard predictions of the future [that were fulfilled] to a hairsbreadth [i.e., with total precision].[1] </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">This appears difficult to understand: Does the <i>Tzemach Tzedek</i> mean to praise the <i>Alter Rebbe</i> for miracles, which are a superficial thing? Does this define the <i>Alter Rebbe</i>’s greatness? Rather, this comes in continuation to what is written there earlier: He [the <i>Baal Shem Tov</i>] and his student, the <i><i>Maggid</i></i> [of Mezeritch], would see from one end of the world to the other with a seeing eye ... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">This was possible because the light that was created on the first day that G–d hid in the Torah was revealed before them. Of this the <i>Tzemach Tzedek</i> says “also from my grandfather, may his soul rest in <i>Gan Eden</i>, we heard predictions of the future ... ” The expression “also” implies that the “predictions of the future” expressed by the <i>Alter Rebbe</i> is the same idea as what was written earlier concerning the <i>Baal Shem Tov</i> and the <i>Maggid</i>—the revelation of “the light that was created on the first day.” However, the <i>Alter Rebbe</i> perceived this in a manner “[that was fulfilled] to a hairsbreadth.” </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“The light that was created on the first day” is a reference to the light that transcends the <i>Hishtalshelus</i>,[2] and “the light that reveals G–d’s very Essence.”[3] Although this light shone for the <i>Baal Shem Tov</i> and the <i>Maggid</i> even in the physical world, the <i>Alter Rebbe</i> had the additional quality that this light shone in a settled manner—“to a hairsbreadth.” </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">In order for the light that transcends the <i>Hishtalshelus</i> to enter the world in a settled manner, the light is not enough; this can only be accomplished through G–d’s very Essence, which can reconcile all opposites. So will it also be in the Messianic age, when the purpose for which G–d created the world will be fulfilled—“to make a dwelling place for Him in the lower realms [i.e., this physical world].” [“For Him”] means a dwelling place for His Essence. G–d’s Essence will enable the combination of physicality and spirituality, such that “The glory of G–d will be revealed, and all flesh will see.”[4] This means that the physical flesh will perceive G–dliness, and it will rest there in a settled manner. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is the inner meaning of the <i>Tzemach Tzedek</i>’s expression “also from my grandfather, may his soul rest in <i>Gan Eden</i>, we heard predictions of the future.” The expression “predictions of the future” alludes to the revelations of the Messianic age. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <i>Alter Rebbe</i> imbued all this into the teachings of <i>Chassidus Chabad</i>. By learning Chassidus we “take” the highest levels, and even the “hidden light,” and even higher, and this descends into the intellect of the Divine Soul, until it reaches the understanding of the intellect of the Animal Soul, until the glory of G–d will be revealed, and even all flesh will see, with the arrival of our righteous <i>Moshiach</i>, may it happen very soon.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Likkutei Sichos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, Vol. 4, pp. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=1137&ilSC=40&nBookId=172&cPartLetter=b"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1137</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-</span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=1138&ilSC=40&nBookId=172&cPartLetter=b"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1138</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-</span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=1139&ilSC=40&nBookId=172&cPartLetter=b"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1139</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">______________<br />
[1] </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Derech Emunah</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> 65a. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow; font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">[2] See </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Torah Ohr</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> 44c. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
[3] The “contraction,” in which G–d’s infinite light was hidden in order to make it possible for the worlds to be formed. This level of divine light stemmed from a level that transcended this one. See</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> Sefer HaMa’amarim</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> 5670, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Noach</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
[4] </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Yeshaya</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> 40:5.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">In my own words</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">: The </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><i>Baal Shem Tov</i></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> and the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><i>Maggid</i></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Mezeritch</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> were able to see from one end of the world to another, and perceive everything that took place, including future events. The <i>Alter Rebbe</i> had the additional power to perceive these events with total accuracy. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> The reason they possessed this power was that they perceived a level of G–dliness that transcends all limitations, G–d’s very Essence as it were, such as will be revealed when </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Moshiach</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> comes. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">This enabled their perception to transcend the limitations of time and space. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> We are granted the ability to connect with these lofty levels through learning </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Chassidus </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">in general. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Chassidus Chabad</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> enables these lofty levels to permeate the person, and even the intellect of his Animal Soul. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> This prepares us for and hastens the coming of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Moshiach</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, when this sublime level will be revealed and permeate one and all.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-82116547122127852022009-02-22T18:22:00.000-08:002009-02-22T18:30:41.847-08:00Nothing happens to a Rebbe against his will<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is the first of a series of posts concerning the Tzaddik’s control over nature.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); "></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">When we think about the greatness of my father-in-law, the [Previous] Rebbe, and the fact that he left us ...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">I don’t know why Hashem did this, but that is the fact of the situation. This is clearly not against his will, for in the case of a Rebbe the whole concept of “against his will” is not applicable. When the Rebbe agrees to something, he does so because that is what he wants. [The Rebbe said this also to an individual concerning a personal matter, saying:] May Hashem help you to understand that nothing can happen to a Rebbe against his will.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align: right; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">Toras Menachem</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">, Vol. 5, p. <a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=183&ilSC=50&nBookId=122&cPartLetter=B">183</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">.</span></p></blockquote><p></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-41487813437206863292009-02-02T14:53:00.000-08:002024-01-22T15:39:30.822-08:00Tzaddikim Provide Vital Inspiration<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Some ask, “Why is it necessary to connect to a <i>Tzaddik</i>? I know that the <i>Tzaddik</i> is great, but what could be greater than going to Hashem directly?” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">The Rebbe addresses this question in the <i>sicha</i> below:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: yellow;"></span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span>There is another lesson from the combination of the <i>Parshiyos</i> [Torah portions, sing. <i>Parsha</i>] of <i>Vayakeil </i>and <i>Pekudei</i>. The <i>Parshiyos </i>of <i>Terumah</i> and <i>Tetzaveh </i>describe how Hashem commanded Moshe to construct the <i>Mishkan</i> and its vessels, while the [later] <i>Parshiyos</i> of <i>Vayakeil</i> and <i>Pekudei</i> describe how Moshe told the Jewish people to construct the <i>Mishkan</i> and its vessels, and they implemented this. However, in between these two activities there was something that separated and disturbed this, as described in the <i>Parsha</i> of <i>Ki</i> <i>Sisa</i> [regarding the sin of worshipping the golden calf].</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span>However, when the command was issued by <i>Moshe</i> <i>Rabeinu</i>, as described in the <i>Parsha</i> of <i>Vayakeil</i>, the <i>Mishkan</i> was immediately built and completed. This is one of the ideas represented by the combination of the <i>Parshiyos</i> of <i>Vayakeil</i> and <i>Pekudei</i>.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span>In most years, <i>Vayakeil</i> and <i>Pekudei</i> are combined, and “we follow the majority.” Even when the evil inclination mixes in and several more days may pass (until the directive as issued via <i>Moshe</i> <i>Rabeinu</i> is carried out), still, nothing else occurs in between. Ultimately every Jew will certainly do <i>Teshuva</i>, but when the matter is revealed via <i>Moshe</i> <i>Rabeinu</i> and “the extension of Moshe in every generation” [<i>Tikkunei</i> <i>Zohar</i>, <i>Tikkun</i> 69, 112a, 114a] this matter will certainly be accomplished, i.e., the Jewish people will certainly perform their divine service, and this will surely bring “the glory of G–d to fill the <i>Mishkan</i>.”</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right;"><i><span><br />
</span></i></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right;"><i><span>Likkutei</span></i><span> <i>Sichos</i>, Vol. 3, pp.<a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=936&ilSC=50&nBookId=62&cPartLetter=B" style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: blue;">936</span></a><span style="color: yellow;">-</span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=937&ilSC=50&nBookId=62&cPartLetter=B" style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: blue;">937</span></a><span style="color: yellow;">.</span></span></div></blockquote><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right;"><span style="color: yellow;"></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b>In my own words</b>:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">When a command is issued directly from Hashem, the Jewish people don’t necessarily follow through with alacrity. Moreover, they may become sidetracked with trivialities, or even sins. However, when they hear it from <i>Moshe</i> <i>Rabeinu</i> or his extension in every generation, there might be a slight delay, but then they move to carrying out the instruction without going through a stage of sinning.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">As is known (for example, see <a href="http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2008/09/tzaddik-and-his-followers-limbs-of-one.html"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>), the <i>Tzaddikim</i> are “the extension of Moshe in every generation.” Here the Rebbe is saying that knowing that the <i>Mitzvos</i> were commanded by Hashem is insufficient. Bonding with <i>Tzaddikim </i>and receiving their guidance in divine service has a special power to inspire the Jew, protect him from sin, and bring him to perform the <i>Mitzvos</i> with alacrity (see also <a href="http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2008/09/roots-trunk-branches-and-fruit.html">here</a>).</div>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-20002165674297284692009-01-26T16:32:00.000-08:002009-01-26T18:07:22.118-08:00If you don’t believe in me ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/458439328_3f09c74cfa.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/458439328_3f09c74cfa.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The following story took place during t</span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">he first or second year of the Rebbe’s leadership</span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">
</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A</span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> non-observant woman turned to </span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">the Rebbe </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">in connection with her husband’s health. The Rebbe blessed her husband with a complete recovery and added that if until now she did not light Shabbos candles, she should begin to do so.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The woman contacted the secretariat and </span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">argued</span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, “I don’t understand the connection between my husband’s health and my lighting Shabbos candles.” The secretary relayed this to the Rebbe, who responded that the secretary should tell her as follows: “If you </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">do</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> rely on me, and this brought you to write to me, then believe me that lighting Shabbos candles will help your husband’s health. And if you </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">don’t</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> believe in me, why did you turn to me in the first place?!”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:right;line-height:normal"><i><span style=" mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hiskashrus</span></span></span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> #</span></span><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://chabad-il.org/sh/701-800/sh704.htm#5"><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">704</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi- mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Explanation</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">: In an </span><a href="http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2009/01/power-of-believing-in-tzaddikim.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">earlier post</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> we discussed the concept that the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">’s ability to help the person stems from one’s basic faith in the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tzaddik</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">submission to him. Perhaps the story above can be explained in this vein. The Rebbe was telling this woman that since she did not believe in his ability to assist her, he could not assist her, not only because she wasn’t willing to follow his instruction, but because spiritually she wasn’t a vessel for it.</span></span></span></span></i></span></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-17122034170658295112009-01-21T19:16:00.000-08:002009-01-26T18:07:07.366-08:00The power of believing in Tzaddikim<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3brothersbakery.com/prodimages/08breads.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 322px;" src="http://3brothersbakery.com/prodimages/08breads.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> 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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" >The following story (see <a href="http://www.lchaimweekly.org/lchaim/5762/721.htm">here</a>)was told concerning the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rebbe Maharash</span>, the fourth Chabad Rebbe. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" ></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >A severe decree was being formulated against the Jews. Rabbi Menachem Mendel, known as the “Tzemach Tzedek” (the third Lubavitcher Rebbe), sent his youngest son, Reb Shmuel to Petersberg in an attempt to get the decree rescinded. Traveling with Reb Shmuel was his older brother Reb Yehuda Leib, twenty years Reb Shmuel’s senior.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >Before commencing the journey, Reb Shmuel insisted that Reb Yehuda Leib agree not to bless anyone during their trip. “Our father is the Rebbe and he is the only one who should give people blessings,” he declared. Having no other choice, Reb Yehuda Leib agreed to these conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >In every town they visited along the way, people converged on Reb Yehuda Leib. They begged him, as the son of such a great <i>Tzaddik</i> (righteous person), to give them a blessing for health, a living, children, etc. To each person, Reb Yehuda Leib replied, “Go visit my father, surely he will bless you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >In one particular village, there was a woman who was especially persistent. She had not been blessed with children and was certain that, with the blessing of a <i>Tzaddik</i>, she would indeed merit to have children of her own.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >The woman stationed herself in front of Reb Yehuda Leib. She begged and pleaded, screamed and cried that he must bless her to have children. But still Reb Yehuda Leib refused to bless the woman. “Go to my father, the Rebbe,” he stated simply. “Surely he will bless you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >The woman was not satisfied with this answer. She continued to cry out to Reb Yehuda Leib that he should bless her. Finally, at wit’s end, Reb Yehuda Leib said, “Go to my brother. Perhaps he will bless you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >The woman repeated the entire scene in front of Reb Shmuel. She begged and pleaded, cried and screamed that Reb Shmuel bless her to have children. But nothing could move Reb Shmuel. He insisted that only his father, the Rebbe, could do anything for the woman. Seeing that she would not take “no” for an answer, Reb Shmuel told his brother and the carriage driver to get ready to leave. They quickly got into the carriage to begin their journey home and away from the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >But the carriage didn’t budge. The woman had cleverly placed a stick in the spokes of the wheels to keep them from turning.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >Reb Shmuel climbed down from the carriage and, in annoyance told the woman, “Go eat a bagel” - equivalent in today’s vernacular to “go fly a kite.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >Satisfied at last, the woman left Reb Shmuel and Reb Yehuda Leib to continue their journey. She promptly went home and made bagels, concentrating all the while on the blessing that the bagel would surely elicit. It occurred to the woman that just to be sure that the blessing would really be actualized, she should maybe eat two bagels. So that is exactly what she did.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >The following year, Rabbi Menachem Mendel passed away and Reb Shmuel, though the youngest of his seven sons, was chosen to succeed him as Rebbe.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >One day, a man came into Reb Shmuel’s study with two cakes which his wife had baked for the Rebbe. “You blessed my wife last year that she would have a child, so she has asked me to bring you these cakes in gratitude.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >Reb Shmuel had no recollection of the event so the man recounted the entire episode to Reb Shmuel. He finished by saying, “You said to my wife, ‘Go eat a bagel.’ That is exactly what she did and your blessing came true.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >“But why,” asked Reb Shmuel in amazement, “are you bringing me two cakes?”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >“My wife had wanted to make sure that the blessing would really materialize so she ate two bagels and had twins!” said the beaming father.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:yellow;" >“Know,” Reb Shmuel told the husband, “I saw that there was a heavenly decree that you and your wife were not destined to have children. It was only in exasperation that I told your wife to eat a bagel, not as a means of blessing. But because of her simple faith, her strong faith in the blessing of a <i>Tzaddik</i>, the decree was annulled and you and your wife were blessed with children.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" ></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.6pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" >What’s amazing about this story is not that the Rebbe Maharash was able to give a blessing for children, for the powers of Tzaddikim over nature is well-known. Rather it lies in the woman’s pure faith in the powers of a <i>Tzaddik</i>. 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style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" >A Jew goes to a <i>Tzaddik</i> in order to be inspired to love and fear Hashem, to connect with Hashem on the lofty level of the <i>Tzaddik</i>, or to receive a spiritual or material blessing or advice. In order to accomplish these important goals, one needs to study the <i>Tzaddik</i>’s teachings and follow his instructions. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" >However, this relationship will only work if the person approaches the <i>Tzaddik</i> with total <i>emunah</i> in the <i>Tzaddik</i>’s power to provide these things.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" >Often people follow certain instructions of the <i>Tzaddik</i>, and see that they’re not getting inspired! It’s not working! And instead of searching within themselves for the root cause, they start to doubt the <i>Tzaddik</i>’s powers. In reality, the fault is in the person. The reason that the <i>Tzaddik</i>’s prescription isn’t working is that in order for the recipient to be a vessel, he has to believe with full confidence that the <i>Tzaddik</i> can do it. However, if the person the efficacy of the <i>Tzaddik</i>’s powers, then it become a self-fulfilling prophecy. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" >The solution then is to study Torah sources concerning the level and holiness of a <i>Tzaddik</i>, and read stories of <i>Tzaddikim</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-73189129515583139622009-01-13T14:08:00.000-08:002024-01-22T14:55:29.312-08:00The Tzaddik Draws Down Transcendent G-dliness<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Yud Shevat</i>, the <i>Yom Hillula</i> of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, is rapidly approaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below is an excerpt of relevance to the topic of <i>Tzaddikim</i> from a <i>Ma’amar</i> that the Rebbe delivered on <i>Yud Shevat</i> 5715. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The divine service of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Is’hapcha</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">, transformation, involves transforming the “foolishness of the opposing side”[1] into “holy foolishness.” This means that instead of behaving in a manner of irrational foolishness, one acts in the realm of holiness in a manner that transcends logic and reason.[2] This is the concept of “cedar wood”[3] in the realm of holiness.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Through this a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Mishkan</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Mikdash</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> is built [within the Jew] for Hashem, and through one’s divine service he creates “A dwelling place [for G–d] in the lowly realms [this physical world],”[4] for “When one bends the ‘opposing side’”—and especially when one does not merely weaken and nullify it, but one transforms it to holiness—“the glory of G–d is revealed in all the worlds.” The light of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Sovev</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> [transcendent G–dliness], which is present in all the worlds equally, then shines and is revealed.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">This is drawn down and revealed in this lowly world through the heads of the generation, the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Nesi’im </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span">of the Jewish people</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">, who connect the generation with G–d’s very Essence, as it is written, “I [</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Moshe Rabeinu</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">] stand between G-d and you </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">...</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">to tell you the Word of G–d.”[5] This is the concept of an “intermediary who joins.” Through this bonding process [whereby the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Nesi’im</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> join the generation with G–d’s very Essence] they create a dwelling place for G–d down below [i.e., in this physical world].</span></p> <p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Toras Menachem Hisva’aduyos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">, Vol. 13, p.</span> <a href="http://chabadlibrary.org/books/default.aspx?furl=/admur/tm/13/24/216">216</a><span class="Apple-style-span">.</span></p> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><hr align="left" size="5" width="37%" /> </span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">[1] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Le’umas zeh</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">,</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">“the opposing side,” refers to the spiritual energy that conceals G–dliness.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">[2] I.e., one should take the raw intensity of the Animal Soul and uses it in the service of G–d, to act in a way of “holy foolishness,” going beyond the required measure in holiness.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">[3] The Hebrew word for cedar is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">shtus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">, foolishness. Thus, the deeper significance of the fact that the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Mishkan</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> contained cedar wood is that it involved transforming unholy foolishness into holy foolishness. Every Jew should emulate this in the formation of his personal inner </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Mishkan</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">[4] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Midrash Tanchuma</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Naso</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> 16. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Tanya</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">, ch. <a href="http://chabadlibrary.org/books/adhaz/tanya/1/36.htm">36</a>.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">[5] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Devarim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> 5:5.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>In my own words</b>: Although the Jew elicits a revelation of the transcendent light of <i>Sovev</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> through transforming the foolishness of the Animal Soul to “holy foolishness,” this revelation descends into the world through the efforts of the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moshe Rabeinu</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> of the generation.</span></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-50690989831297531862009-01-04T22:24:00.000-08:002009-01-06T21:51:55.950-08:00The Rebbe: The key to transcending ego<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.chabad.org.il/_Uploads/237futerfas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 225px;" src="http://www.chabad.org.il/_Uploads/237futerfas.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HE">Reb Mendel Futerfas was once hosted by a <i>Chossid</i> who was a great scholar and <i>oived</i> (one who strives to change his character through <i>Avodas HaTefillah</i>, lengthy prayer accompanied by meditation). Reb Mendel observed that every night his host would cry profusely in <i>Kerias Shema She’al Hamitah</i> (the recital of the bedtime<i> Shema</i>). Reb Mendel asked him, “Why are you crying, if you learn and pray so much?” He answered, “<i>ich lern un davven takeh, ober es shtinkt</i>”—“indeed, I learn and pray, but it smells.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HE">This line should not be taken literally, as if this <i>Chossid</i> thought he was a person full of arrogance. This was a very refined, humble person, and he knew his level. On the contrary, <i>because </i>he was so refined, he felt that even the small sense of self that he did have was detracting from the total submission to <i>Hashem</i> that he longed for. His natural, human self-love and preoccupation with his own concerns bothered and distressed him.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HE">In other words, even someone on a higher level (and perhaps <i>especially</i> such a person) should realize how low he is. This is discussed in Tanya ch. <span style="color:black"><a href="http://chabadlibrary.org/books/adhaz/tanya/1/29.htm"><span style="color:blue">29</span></a></span>. There the Alter Rebbe explains that our self-awareness is in fact awareness of the <i>Nefesh Ha’Behamis</i>, the Animal Soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HE">In order to get in touch with our true selves, the <i>Nefesh Ha’Elokis</i>, the Divine Soul, special <i>Avodah</i> (effort at self-improvement) is required such as<span style="color:black"> <i><a href="http://a-farbrengen.blogspot.com/search/label/iskafya"><span style="color:blue">Iskafya</span></a></i> </span>(self-restraint from indulgence), prayer with intense concentration, and intensive study of Torah in general, and the inner dimension of Torah in particular.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HE">Yet even then one is only allowing the Divine Soul to be revealed in one’s body and consequently in the world. However, the Divine Soul still remains separate from one’s conscious self. His core identity remains his Animal Soul, also known as the Evil Inclination. This inner force is evil. Thus, the Alter Rebbe explains in that chapter that one should angrily scream at one’s Evil Inclination, “‘You are evil, wicked, abominable, loathsome, and disgraceful,’ and so forth, using all the epithets by which our Sages have called it in truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HE">(It should be clarified that the inner essence of every Jew is his Divine Soul; this is his true self. However, on a revealed level, if he is not a <i>Tzaddik</i>, his conscious self-awareness is of his Animal Soul.)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HE">How do we have a hope of pulling ourselves out of this mire of ego, and connecting to <i>Hashem </i>and to our Divine Soul within? Especially in light of the fact that “a prisoner cannot free himself from prison” (<i>Berachos</i> 5b)?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HE">The answer is the <i>Tzaddik</i>, the Rebbe. He has no evil inclination. He has truly transcended the natural human condition of selfishness. His entire being is nullified to G–dliness, and thus G–dliness shines through him without obstruction. Thus, by learning from him and devoting ourselves to him, he elevates us beyond our ego, and grants us the ability to transcend our personal limitations and devote ourselves to <i>Hashem</i> in the most sublime manner possible during exile, and thus prepare ourselves to submit to <i>Hashem</i> in the most sublime manner possible after <i>Moshiach</i> comes.</span></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-25126463977102557302008-12-31T07:30:00.000-08:002008-12-31T08:11:25.053-08:00Macrocosmic and microcosmic miracles<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">The <i>Tzaddik</i> enables us to reveal G–dliness and overcome boundaries in our personal service of G–d. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">There are times designated for Torah study and prayer, and times designated for engaging in mundane matters, as it is written, “In all your ways [i.e., mundane parts of one’s life], know Him.”[1] However, the ultimate goal is that one abolish this division, such that the light of Torah and prayer illuminates one’s mundane affairs as well, and one comes to know G–d in all one’s ways in a way similar to one’s spiritual state while engaging in Torah study and prayer. ...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">This is the connection with the redemption and miracle of 12 </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Tammuz</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> [when the Previous Rebbe was miraculously released from prison], for it is known that G–d relates to the world in two ways: through nature and through miracles.[2] From the perspective of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Seder Hishtalshelus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> [the orderly chain of the spiritual worlds], the natural and the miraculous are removed from each other. This is the reason that one who recites Hallel daily is considered a blasphemer,[3] for miraculous divine behavior, on account of which one recites Hallel, is contrary to the standard natural manner in which G–d treats the world.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">However, this is only from the perspective of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Seder Hishtalshelus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, which stems from divine strictness, for our Sages say that the world was created through the attribute of judgment.[4] However, G–d then saw that the world couldn’t last, so he partnered the attribute of compassion along with the attribute of judgment.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">The Alter Rebbe explains in Tanya[5] that this divine compassion is expressed through “the revelation of G–dliness by </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Tzaddikim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> and signs and miracles.” This is the idea of abolishing the partition and division between the natural and the miraculous, such that even in nature, miracles are elicited in an open fashion.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">These miracles infuse the Jewish people with strength in serving G–d, enabling them to abolish the partition between mundane matters and Torah and prayer, such that the light of one’s Torah and prayer shines even in one’s mundane matters. This reaches the point that they reveal G–dliness even in physical objects, as it is written, “The glory of G–d will be revealed and together all flesh will see that the mouth of G–d has spoken.”[6] This means that the flesh itself will perceive G–dliness, just as the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Neshama </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">sees G–dliness before it is vested in a body, and to an even greater extent.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">All this is accomplished through signs and miracles performed by the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Tzaddikim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, who elicit the miraculous into the natural. This is also what occurred “in those days, at this time.”[7]</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[1] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Mishlei</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 3:6.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[2] See </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Ohr HaTorah</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Bereishis</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, 18b.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[3] Shabbos 118.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[4] Rashi on </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Bereishis</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 1:1. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Bereishis Rabba</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 12:15.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[5] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Shaar HaYichud Veha’Emunah</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> ch. </span><a href="http://chabadlibrary.org/books/adhaz/tanya/2/5.htm"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">5</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[6] Yeshaya 40:5.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[7] I.e., when the Previous Rebbe was miraculously released from Soviet imprisonment, inspiring Jewry to overcome the challenges that they faced in Jewish observance under communist rule.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;margin-left:2.5in;text-align:right;text-indent:-2.0in;line-height:normal"><i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Sefer HaMa’amarim</span></span></i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 5717-5718-5719, p. </span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=470&ilSC=40&nBookId=114&cPartLetter=b">470</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">.</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;margin-left:2.5in;text-align:right;text-indent:-2.0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language: HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">In my own words</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language: HEfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">: When the <i>Tzaddik</i> performs miracles and suspends the division between the natural and the miraculous, he grants the Jewish people the ability to transcend the natural divisions in their personal lives, such that one’s inspired state while engaged in Torah study and prayer continues the entire day.</span></p><p></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-43942272685343192002008-12-26T00:40:00.000-08:002009-03-01T09:40:30.951-08:00The Nasi HaDor elicits all<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> 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</style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve translated the whole of this letter of the Rebbe because although some of it is not so relevant to the blog topic, it’s needed in order to know the context of the section that is relevant.
</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" class="MsoNormal">To the administration of Kfar Chabad,</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" class="MsoNormal">Peace and blessing! ... </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" class="MsoNormal">The lack of obedience in Kfar Chabad, and the disorganization that this leads to, cause me tremendous pain. I am not sure of the solution for this, for it would appear that the solution is simply to reach a recognition, which means an internal understanding and sensation, that Kfar Chabad carries the name of Chabad, and when it was founded it received the blessing of the [Previous] Rebbe, my father-in-law, for this. It is well known that while still alive he said here, <i>that he leads it</i> [Kfar Chabad] <i>himself</i>. Thus, you must all regard all matters related to Kfar Chabad as relevant to fulfilling the desire and will of the [Previous] Rebbe, my father-in-law, and honoring his name. This is not a personal matter.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" class="MsoNormal">The practical consequences of this are twofold: </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><b>In the positive sense</b>: This is his [the Previous Rebbe’s] personal task, and he is the <i>Nasi HaDor</i> [Leader of the Generation]—meaning that <i>all</i> the flows of blessing related to our generation flow through him, and not only spiritual flows, but even physical ones. For as is known, this is the function of a <i>Nasi</i>—that he elicits all the flows of blessing for the generation <i>without exception</i>. Therefore it was necessary for even the <i>physical</i> meat of the generation of the desert to be elicited via <i>Moshe Rabeinu </i>[the <i>Nasi</i> of that generation]. (It is true that he said, “From where will I have meat?”[1] [which apparently implies that he was not a conduit for that type of physicality]. However, <i>Chassidus</i> explains that he said, “From where will <i>I</i> have meat?” [This indicated that he recognized that the blessing did need to come via him, and he was only questioning <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">how </span>this would occur in that particular situation.]) [Thus,] one receives his flow of blessing—provided the channels used conform to his [the Previous Rebbe’s] wish and desire—successfully, i.e., in a manner that transcends the natural order, and one may then use it for healthy, happy things.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><b>In the other sense</b>: Inappropriate behavior increases the power of the “other side” [a reference to the forces of <i>Kelipah</i>, i.e., concealment of G–dliness] not only in one’s own environment, but also in the environment of the <i>Nasi HaDor</i>. Thus, this affects the community to a far greater extent than the [general principle that] “All Jews are responsible for one another.”[2] It is unnecessary to elaborate upon this, for the matter is sufficiently straightforward, especially for those who have been involved in the teachings of <i>Chassidus</i>, and have an appreciation of the notion of <i>Hiskashrus </i>[bonding with a <i>Tzaddik</i>].</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right; color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" align="right"><i>Igros Kodesh</i>, Vol. 6, p. <a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=257&ilSC=40&nBookId=10&cPartLetter=B">257</a>.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" class="MsoNormal">[1] <i>Bamidbar</i> 11:13.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" class="MsoNormal">[2] <i>Shovuos</i> 39a.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right; color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" align="right"><o:p> </o:p></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right; color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" align="right"><o:p></o:p></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-7776358739642353842008-12-22T08:12:00.000-08:002008-12-22T18:40:20.936-08:00The Rebbe: Infinite in the finite<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>HE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> 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</style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Short but powerful:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: yellow;">When Reb Hillel Paritcher taught the first chapter of <i>Tanya</i> concerning <i>tzaddikim</i>, <i>beinonim</i>, and <i>resha’im</i>, Reb Hillel explained what is a Rebbe, saying that a <i>beinoni</i> is finite, a <i>tzaddik</i> is infinite, and a Rebbe is the infinite within the finite.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: right; text-indent: -0.5in;" align="right"><i><span style="color: yellow;">Nitzutzei Ohr</span></i><span style="color: yellow;"> p. 47.</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-78708495624144845572008-11-26T20:21:00.000-08:002008-11-26T20:24:01.235-08:00The ahavas Yisrael of the Rayatz<p class="MsoNormal">Reb Rafael Nachman Kahn relates:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">My mother related to me: </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Once when the Rebbe Rashab and his son were in the country near Liozna, I was there as well. At the time I was pregnant.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">One day I was walking with a chicken in my hand to the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">shochet</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, and in the other hand I was carrying my son’s hand, so I would be able to reach the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">shochet</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, who lived on the mountain. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Rayatz</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> was then sitting on the balcony, and when he saw a woman in such a situation (he did not know who I was then), walking with difficulty with a child and a chicken in my hands, he stopped me and said, “If you wish, I will slaughter the chicken for you.” In this way he saved me the walk to the shochet.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Here we see the tremendous </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">ahavas Yisrael</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> of our holy </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Rebbe’im</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Shemu’os V’Sipurim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, Vol. 1, p. 193.</span></p></blockquote>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-3966290297411910222008-11-26T16:28:00.000-08:002008-11-26T16:31:33.589-08:00The Rebbe sees the heart<p class="MsoNormal">Some people only learn the lesson of a Rebbe’s superior powers of perception the hard way:
</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">A Lubavitcher student told me [Rabbi Rafo’<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">el Nachman Kahn] the following story. He had been a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">shochet</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[1] in one of the settlements near Moscow, and a dispute arose against him, and his opponents wrote to the Previous Rebbe, and the young man also wrote to him. The Previous Rebbe instructed him to give up slaughtering. The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">shochet</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> was very angry at the Previous Rebbe, because on the surface there was no reason to warrant this prohibition.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">When the Previous Rebbe was in Moscow, the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">shochet</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> visited him for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Yechidus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> in the house of Reb Chaim Zalman Gordon. When he left </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Yechidus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, he told me that he had demanded of the Previous Rebbe, “Why had he been forbidden to slaughter? What had disqualified him?” The Previous Rebbe responded: “It is written, ‘For man sees [what is] before [his] eyes, and G–d sees the heart.’[2] We [referring to himself] are connected with the second half of the verse.” Once the Rebbe said this to him, he did not ask further.[3] </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Shemu’os V’Sipurim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, Vol. 1, p. 204:2. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[1] Ritual slaughterer.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[2] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">I Shmuel</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 16:7.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[3] The Previous Rebbe sensed that this </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">shochet</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> was not fit for his position, which requires exceptional fear of G–d.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-63038276806937173212008-11-24T23:52:00.000-08:002015-02-01T19:12:21.653-08:00A knock on the door<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Previous Rebbe discusses the dynamic of the <i>Rebbe/chossid</i> relationship:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"></span></div>
<blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">One of the novelties that </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Chassidus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> introduced was that </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">chassidim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> have a Rebbe, and they live with a saying, a gesture, or a melody of the Rebbe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">When a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">chossid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> hears a saying, a gesture, or a melody of the Rebbe, at that moment his </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Nefesh</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Ru‘ach</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">, and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Neshamah<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> [the three levels of the soul that are vested in a body]</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> are connected to the Rebbe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">When one reviews an aphorism that the Rebbe said, or a melody that he sang, even if one only reviews the saying superficially, this is called “a knock on the door.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">The “knock on the door” indicates that he is here, and wants to come in. One will not knock on the door if he has no desire to enter; no one would have such arrogance, G–d forbid, to knock and not wish to enter. He is not such a type of person; rather, [he is acting] superficially. This is called “knocking on the door.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">The “knock on the door” is when a person with a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">chassidishe</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> education says, “Rebbe, I’m yours. I devote myself to you completely. It is only that the sly one, who is ‘clever for doing evil’ [cf. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Yirmiyahu</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> 4:22], the evil inclination, who wants to deceive me, and put me in a sack. I do not want this. I am yours; I want to be as you desire. Have pity on me, Rebbe, extract me from where I am, and bring me to stand where I should be.”</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Likkutei Dibburim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">, Vol. 3, p. 516.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Summary</b>: The very act of reviewing an aphorism or a melody of one’s Rebbe, even if done half-heartedly, is a <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“a knock on the door,” i.e., it establishes a connection between<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">chossid </span>and his Rebbe and</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> indicates that the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">chossid</span> desires to connect further with his Rebbe and receive from him even more deeply, and that this is his true desire, even if he falls occasionally, and that he asks the Rebbe to pull him out of the low spiritual state in which he finds himself.</span></span></span></span></div>
Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-38797346942334617112008-11-23T22:48:00.000-08:002024-01-22T14:58:38.378-08:00Connecting to the One Who Sees<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; padding: 3px; text-align: left; width: auto;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif">The sublime level of a Rebbe can benefit a skeptic too:</span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span></span></span></span></div><blockquote><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Once someone came to the Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek and complained that he harbors doubts in Hashem. The Tzemach Tzedek asked him, “are you afraid of the king?”</span></span></span></span></span></div><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Yes.”</div></blockquote><blockquote><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“Have you ever seen the king?”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></div><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“No, never.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></div><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“So why are you afraid of him?”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></div><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“My brother told me that he once saw the king.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></div><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“Do you believe </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">me</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">?”</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></span></div><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“Yes.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></div><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“If so ... ”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></div><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"></span><br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Shemu’os V’Sipurim</span></span></span></span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">, Vol. 3, p. 171.</span></span></span></span></span></div></blockquote><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif" style="color: yellow;"></span></span></span></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Summary and lesson</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">: The Hebrew word for world is <em>olam</em>, which is etymologically related to the word <i>he’elem</i>, concealment. We live in a world of tremendous spiritual darkness, and this darkness can weaken our faith and devotion to Hashem. In contrast, a Rebbe can “see” G-dliness in the sense that he relates to it as a reality; thus, by connecting with him, we too can come to “see” G-dliness to a significant extent, thereby strengthening our faith in Hashem, and making Him more of a tangible reality in our daily lives.</span></span></span></span></div></div>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-91542075120456407842008-11-23T21:43:00.000-08:002008-12-24T01:11:09.292-08:00The global impact of a Rebbe's life<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> 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mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -2.9pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="">What is the impact of the actions of a Rebbe on the world? The Rebbe explains:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 33.1pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 33.1pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">The reason that my father-in-law, the [Previous] Rebbe, related this episode[1] and instructed that it be publicized is in order to increase the spiritual energies endowed to each and every Jew to accomplish this. Since the episode occurred with a “<i>Nasi</i>,”[2] of whom it is written: “The <i>Nasi</i> is everyone,”[3] it endows spiritual energy within every single Jew. This is especially so since it did not just take the form of a verbal Torah discourse, but of an action.[4] Moreover, the fact that it was revealed and publicized by a <i>Nasi</i> increases this endowment of spiritual energies further still.</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 33.1pt; text-align: right; line-height: normal;" align="right"><i><span style="color: yellow;">Sefer</span></i><span style="color: yellow;"> <i>HaMa’amarim</i> <i>Melukat</i>, Vol. 4, p. <a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=26&ilSC=40&nBookId=75&cPartLetter=B"><span style="color: blue;">26</span></a>.</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 33.1pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">[1] See there for the specific episode and its lesson.</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 33.1pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">[2] The Leader of the Generation.</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 33.1pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">[3] I.e., his soul includes all the souls of his generation. See <i>Rashi</i> on <i>Bamidbar</i> 21:21 and <i>Likutei</i> <i>Sichos</i>, Vol. 18, p. 165.</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 33.1pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">[4] cf. <i>Bava</i> <i>Basra</i>, 130b.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 33.1pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;"></span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>HE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> 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mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">The Rebbe repeated the same message on many occasions, in connection with many stories. Based on to the above, let us define levels of events:</p> <u1:p></u1:p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Everything a Jew sees and hears holds a lesson, as the Baal Shem Tov teaches.</li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">An episode that occurs to the <i>Nesi’ei HaDor</i>, the Leaders of the Generation. Here the lesson is even stronger, for the very fact that it happened to them affected the entire generation and endowed the people of that generation with extra inner strength—even if they don’t know it. Thus, when the story is told, even by a non-<i>Nasi</i>, the episode has an even greater impact.</li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">When the <i>Nesi’ei HaDor</i> related and publicized the story of the event themselves, the event had an even greater impact on the generation. (This apparently implies that retelling these stories holds special priority and can have a special impact.)</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">Thus, an episode that occurred with one of the <i>Rebbeim</i> has already had an impact on the entire generation, and has a special power to inspire the generation further.<span style=""><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u2:worddocument> <u2:view>Normal</u2:View> <u2:zoom>0</u2:Zoom> <u2:trackmoves/> <u2:trackformatting/> <u2:punctuationkerning/> <u2:validateagainstschemas/> <u2:saveifxmlinvalid>false</u2:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <u2:ignoremixedcontent>false</u2:IgnoreMixedContent> <u2:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</u2:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <u2:donotpromoteqf/> <u2:lidthemeother>EN-US</u2:LidThemeOther> <u2:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</u2:LidThemeAsian> <u2:lidthemecomplexscript>HE</u2:LidThemeComplexScript> <u2:compatibility> <u2:breakwrappedtables/> <u2:snaptogridincell/> <u2:wraptextwithpunct/> <u2:useasianbreakrules/> <u2:dontgrowautofit/> 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take advantage of this sublime divine gift and study these stories carefully, deriving the necessary lessons and implementing them.</span></p> <p></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-89002040838588188892008-11-22T19:29:00.000-08:002008-11-22T22:11:18.025-08:00Total devotion to the Rebbe<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">To what degree should a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Chossid</span> bond with his Rebbe? The Rebbe guides us:</p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Hiskashrus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> (bond) with our </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Nasi</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> (“leader”), my father-in-law, the (Previous) Rebbe, whose liberation we are commemorating today, must be forged in all faculties of the soul, such that no faculty or aspect remain that is not connected:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">Hiskashrus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); "> of one’s faculty of thought (with the Rebbe’s) is attained by contemplating the Rebbe’s words.</span></li></ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">Hiskashrus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); "> of one’s faculty of speech (with the Rebbe’s) is attained by verbally studying the Rebbe’s teachings.</span></li></ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">Hiskashrus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); "> of one’s faculty of action (with the Rebbe’s) is attained by doing the things that the Rebbe wanted and instituted.</span>
</li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Additionally, all the above ought to be done with feeling, i.e., the emotions, and understanding, i.e., intellect, and with willpower and pleasure, for through this he connects all the faculties of his soul.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">However, each person knows that sometimes one of the faculties of his soul may be lacking in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Hiskashrus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">. The solution to this is to give charity, for with this money “one could have bought the life of one’s soul (i.e., health)”; thus, giving charity is similar to the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Hiskashrus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> with all “the life of one’s soul,” as explained in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Tanya</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> ch. 37.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">This is especially applicable when one gives charity according to the law of Rabbi Nosson: “When someone is owed a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">maneh</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> (100 units of currency) by his friend, and his friend in turn (is owed a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">maneh</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">) by his friend, we can take from this one and give to that one (in order to settle the debt).”[1] Similarly, in this case: He devotes himself to our Rebbe, and therefore he gives his money for those things that our Rebbe devoted himself to, according to the law that “we can take from this one and give to that one.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">This is the reason for the good custom that has been introduced that on 12 </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Tammuz</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> (during the farbrengen) everyone makes a donation for the “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Oholei Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">” in our Holy Land, may it be rebuilt, and in the Diaspora. This name is significant, for it indicates that those who study in it ought to be educated according to the wish and intent of our Rebbe, such that all who see them will recognize that “these are seed blessed by G–d.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Since this donation is relevant to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Hiskashrus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, as explained above, there is nothing to be gained by publicizing it, which might well spoil it. Thus, the custom is that each person gives his donation quietly and in a modest manner, and he writes his name and his mother’s name on a special note, in order that he be mentioned (by the Rebbe) at the gravesite (of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Frierdiker Rebbe</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Likkutei Sichos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, Vol. 4, p. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=1325&ilSC=40&nBookId=172&cPartLetter=b">1325</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[1] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Gittin</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 37a.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>In my own words</b>: The <i>Chossid</i>’s bond with the Rebbe should permeate every level of his soul and every aspect of his behavior. This is the ideal. However, even if the <i>Chossid</i> is yet to achieve this in the literal sense, by giving charity to one of the charity funds of the Rebbe, it is also considered in a sense as if he devoted all his faculties to the Rebbe, and bonded with him totally. Since this charity is intended as a means of forging <i>Hiskashrus</i>, which is a deep, personal bond, it should not be publicized.</p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-55394833727309754102008-11-17T21:37:00.000-08:002008-11-18T14:49:13.001-08:00The foot soldier and the king<p class="MsoNormal">Some find it difficult to grasp the concept of absolute obedience to a <i>Tzaddik</i> and a Rebbe. Based on a public address of the Previous Rebbe, the Rebbe explains that this obedience is necessary because the Rebbe/<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Chossid</span> relationship is comparable to the relationship of a foot soldier and his king:
</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Obviously, in order to resurrect to others, one must be alive oneself. Here the evil inclination finds an opportunity to entice the person with the claim: “Who are you, and how do you have the power to resurrect others? You would do well to save yourself!”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">However, the [Previous] Rebbe, my father-in-law, of blessed memory </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">explains, “Although it is true ... it is out of place ... what does a soldier know—he can only shoot, and he goes with self-sacrifice ... with joy, and this makes him a victor.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">The soldier does not design his rifle, nor is he able to. He does not intellectually grasp how the rifle shoots, or tactics of war in general. However, he devotes his life and his power of resolve to the general, and he does so joyfully, and only then is he the victor.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">We see tangibly that the foundation of all of this is faith—faith in the head of all the generals, the king and the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Nasi</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">. As far as the spiritual war is concerned, this is the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Nasi</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> and the leader of the generation. In our generation this is the [Previous] Rebbe, my father-in-law, of blessed memory, who instructed and assigned every man and woman among us a specific role in the battlefield against the forces of evil.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Faith needs to be strengthened from time to time as well, so that it not remain in a manner of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Makif</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> (superficial), but rather, that it rule over all one’s faculties, and over one’s thought, speech, and action in actual day-to-day life.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">May Hashem grant us full faith, and may we merit the fulfillment of the prophecy, “As in the days of your departure from Egypt”—when in the merit of faith, our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt—“I will show you miracles” (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Micha</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 7:15).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Igros Kodesh</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, Vol. 3, pp. </span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=265&ilSC=40&nBookId=7&cPartLetter=B"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">265</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">-</span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=266&ilSC=40&nBookId=7&cPartLetter=B"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">266</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>In my own words</b>: Just as the foot soldier’s victory in war depends upon faith in the king and total devotion to him, so does victory in the war against the forces of evil depend upon cultivating one’s faith in the Rebbe and devotion to his directives, until one brings this faith to permeate one’s personality and inspire every aspect of one’s life.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Comment</span>: This teaching, which compares the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tzaddik</span> to the general/king who runs the war, and the disciple to the foot soldier who follows orders even without understanding them, fits nicely with the earlier post <a href="http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2008/11/difference-between-request-to-angel-and.html">here</a> comparing the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tzaddik</span> to the head, and the disciple to the foot.</p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-34626834676614476372008-11-13T23:22:00.000-08:002009-06-02T13:21:06.753-07:00Angel and Tzaddik<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why is it permitted to ask a </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">davven </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on one’s behalf, but it is not permitted to submit the same request to an angel? The Rebbe explains:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></span></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">meshulach</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (fundraiser), a fool, when given a </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pidyon</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (written request for blessing from a </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">) to give to the (Previous) Rebbe, would refuse to take it, saying that one should request from Hashem directly, and not through intermediaries.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The truth is, as explained in the responsum of the </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chasam Sofer</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,[1] ... that there is a difference between angels and [Jewish] souls. Requesting via angels is considered a request via intermediaries (which is forbidden), while the request via souls, who are higher than angels, is not considered a request via intermediaries, for “All Israel are partners, one body and one soul. When one Jew feels pain, his fellow also senses it, and shares his pain. ... Since they are both in pain, it is better for the head to enter (and plead for Heavenly mercy) than for the foot to enter. The </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Talmidei Chachamim</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Torah scholars) are the head.” This is especially true of Jewish leaders (“</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">nesi’ei Yisro’el</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">”) who are the “heads of the thousands of Israel,” the level of the “head.”[2]</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thus, in this case the principle “The prayer of the sick person himself is more effective than the prayer of others for him”[3] is not applicable. This principle is referring to </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">others</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, while </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">nesi’ei Yisro’el</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> are not others; rather, they are the “</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">heads</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of the thousands of Israel.” Therefore their prayer is like “the prayer of the sick person himself,” just as the head prays for the foot.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On the contrary, the prayer of the </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">nesi’ei Yisro’el</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is even </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">more</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> effective than the prayer of the sick person himself,[4] for the </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nasi</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, who is the head, feels the illness more than the foot. The reason for this is twofold:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the head is higher than the foot, since the intellect resides there;</span></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the only reason that the foot feels the illness is on account of the sinews that stem from the brain, for all sensation stems only from the brain.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, all this only applies when the person recognizes that he is a foot, and devotes himself completely to the head—the Rebbe. However, if one thinks that he has a head as well, and comes to the Rebbe in such a state to hand over a </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pidyon</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, then it is indeed questionable to employ an intermediary.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To seek the Rebbe’s advice</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> would not be problematic, for one can ask any Jew for advice. In fact, the Talmud relates[5] that </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rav</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> studied from a shepherd for twelve months. However, giving a </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pidyon</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (without recognizing the Rebbe as one’s head) raises the question of an intermediary.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All those here are surely devoted to the (Previous) Rebbe. Even those whose devotion is lacking (can be considered devoted, for) since their inner self is devoted to the Rebbe, it is sufficient for them to verbally declare that they are devoted to him (in order for their presentation of a </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pidyon</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> not to be problematic; see also </span></span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=5&ilSC=40&nBookId=119&cPartLetter=B"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">). This is similar to Maimonides’ explanation concerning the benefit of “forcing him until he says, ‘I want.’”[6] Since his statement “I want” is consistent with his true desire “to be one of (the people of) Israel ... to perform all the </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mitzvos</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.”</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There is thus no basis for a question concerning the issue of (submitting a request for blessing to) an intermediary, not even concerning “an intermediary who joins.”</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The knowledge that one is only a foot and the Rebbe is the head is also relevant to the </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">manner</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in which one fulfills the Rebbe’s command:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Rebbe may issue a command to do something that involves suffering, or even a command to increase in Torah study and prayer in a way that the person must sever himself from eating, drinking, and sleeping. Even when he carries out the command obediently—knowing that he is merely a foot, and as such he must follow the head’s command—the thought might enter his mind that were the Rebbe to know how hard It is for him to do this, the Rebbe would not have commanded him to do it.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This can be answered based on what was said earlier concerning the head and the foot: Not only is the head able to sense better than the foot, as it is higher, but even the foot’s sensation of pain is in fact the sensation of the head. Thus, if there is a separation, G–d forbid, between the foot and the head, the foot will feel no pain. Thus, when the head commands the foot to place the heel into boiling water, the foot must obey immediately, without thinking twice, and the foot must understand—this degree of understanding the foot is “allowed” to have—that the head feels the pain.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><i><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Toras Menachem—Hisva’aduyos</span></span></span></span></i><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, Vol. 2, pp. </span></span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=31&ilSC=40&nBookId=119&cPartLetter=B"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">31</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-</span></span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=32&ilSC=40&nBookId=119&cPartLetter=B"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">32</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[1] </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shut Chasam Sofer</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Orach Chaim</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, 166.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[2] </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tanya</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> ch. 2.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[3] </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bereishis Rabba</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 53:14.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[4] </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bava Basra</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 116a.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[5] </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sanhedrin</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 5b.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[6] </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mishneh Torah</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Laws of Divorce</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, end ch. 2. When a husband stubbornly refuses to give his wife a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">get</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, a certificate of divorce, the Jewish court forces him to do so until he says “I want.” Maimonides explains that since deep down, every Jew truly wishes to obey the Torah, this declaration of willingness is regarded as genuine, and the divorce is valid.</span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In my own words</span></span></span></b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: Extending a request to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hashem </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">via an intermediary is only problematic if he is indeed a separate entity from the person who submits the request. However, the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is a </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Neshama klalis</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, a general soul that contains the souls of other Jews, just as the head contains the life of the body. Thus, the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is not a separate entity, but an extension of oneself. Put differently, one’s own spiritual self is in fact an extension of the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Thus, just as my head can </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">davven </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">for my foot, so can I ask the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">davven</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for me.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Therefore, not only does the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> feel my pain, but my pain is the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">’s very own pain, which he feels even more acutely than I do myself. Conversely, the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">’s pain is in fact my pain, even if I do not feel it tangibly.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thus, the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is my head regardless of whether I recognize it. However, if I fail to recognize it, or I recognize it on some level but do not devote myself sufficiently to him, and I treat him as a separate entity, then asking him to pray for me is indeed problematic. However, since the person believes in the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and, at least deep down, wishes that he could be devoted to him, it may be derived from </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Halacha</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> that a verbal declaration of his intent is sufficient to reveal his true desire, even if he is yet to bring this true desire to conform with his daily life. His request for blessing is then not problematic, G-d forbid, but on the contrary, it is desirable.</span></span></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-17202950718992116432008-11-12T06:11:00.000-08:002009-06-02T13:55:18.034-07:00The lesson from Mishneh Torah<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;">The last book of <i>Chumash</i> is <i>Devarim</i>, which is also known as <i>Mishneh Torah</i>, “the repetition of the Torah,” for in it <i>Moshe Rabeinu</i> sums up the first four books of the <i>Chumash</i>. What lesson can be derived from this? The Rebbe explains:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Granted, the Talmud implies[1] that the first four books of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Chumash</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> have an advantage over the book of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Devarim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">. Nevertheless, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Devarim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> also has an advantage, for it is said there, “These are the things that Moshe spoke.” This is along the lines of the verse, “Remember the Torah of Moshe, My servant.”[2] Indeed, in its plain and true meaning this verse refers to the entire Torah. Nevertheless, the phrase “the Torah of Moshe, My servant” refers especially to “the things that Moshe spoke.”[3]</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">In “the things that Moshe spoke” [i.e., the book of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Devarim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">] there are several additions, new laws, and directives not found in the first four books. But if the book of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Devarim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> is only a review of the first four books, how can it contain novelties?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">The explanation is that this is the greatness of a summary, and the purpose of the book of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Devarim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> is to summarize the entire Torah.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">A summary contains the core point of all the ideas [that it seeks to summarize]. Although there is no novelty, for everything is derived from existing information, there are still concepts that were expressed differently earlier, and when the summary is made, that which was not noticed earlier becomes apparent.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">This is similar to the quality of the last Sefirah (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Malchut</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">), which includes all the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Sefirot</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> above it, but its source is higher than all the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Sefirot</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">This is the purpose [of the book of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Devarim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, which begins with the words,] “These are the things that </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Moshe</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> spoke”—although these concepts were taken from the previous books. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">One could think, “Why do I need the instructions of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Moshe Rabeinu</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, can’t I take from where Moshe took?”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">To this we respond: “You will not be able to reveal these things on your own; only </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Moshe Rabeinu</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> can do this,” as it is written, ‘These are the things that </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Moshe</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> spoke.’”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">This very concept—that Moshe “summarizes” the previous books of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Chumash</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">—was also given to Moshe at Sinai. In other words, just as the hidden aspects of the Torah were given to Moshe at Sinai, so was the revelation in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Mishneh Torah</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> also given to Moshe at Sinai.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">And one who contradicts this, G–d forbid, claiming that even one letter in the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Mishneh Torah</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> was not given to Moshe at Sinai, is considered a heretic, as Maimonides rules.[4]</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">As far as our situation is concerned: Certain people erroneously think that there is no need for an intermediary; rather, one can go straight to G–d. However, this is incorrect, as it is written, “And they believed in G–d, and in Moshe His servant.”[5] This means that by believing in “Moshe His servant” one attains “they believed in G–d.”[6] When one’s faith in Moshe is lacking, so is his faith in G–d. Conversely, by believing in “Moshe His servant” one attains “they believed in G–d” in an additional measure and on a higher level. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">This principle also applies to the Moshe in every generation,[7] until the Moshe of our generation, my father-in-law, the [Previous] Rebbe.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Thus, it should be known that all the instructions revealed and transmitted by “Moshe His servant,” who is the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">memutza ha’mechabeir</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">,[8] are of primary importance, for through “Moshe His servant” one reaches “they believed in G–d.” One should not imagine that he can reveal and accomplish on his own [i.e., find his own path in understanding and applying Torah without following the guidance of a suitable intermediary], for these are matters that were given at Sinai specifically to Moshe. Thus, only by following the instructions that we receive from the Moshe of our generation do we reach “they believed in G–d.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">This concept is not a matter of “I have codified a statute, I have decreed a decree”[9] that has no rational basis. Rather, we can observe this phenomenon tangibly: Through “I stand between G-d and you<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); "> there is an increase in “to tell you the Word of G-d”[10]</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Moreover, it was also only Moshe who possessed the ability to begin delivering the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Mishneh Torah</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> with the account of the sin of the golden calf, and not be deterred. Rather, he continued further and further, until the conclusion: “in the eyes of all Yisrael”—which represents the notion of seeing G–dliness [which is a very lofty level.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Hisva’aduyos</span></span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, Vol. 17, pp. </span><a href="http://chabadlibrary.org/books/admur/tm/17/16/131.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">131</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">-</span><a href="http://chabadlibrary.org/books/admur/tm/17/16/132.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">132</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[1] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Megillah</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 31b.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[2] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Malachi</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 3:22.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[3] See </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Iyun Yaakov</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> on </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Bava Basra</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 14b.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[4] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Hilchos Teshuva</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 3:8.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[5] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Shemos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 14:31.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[6] See </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Mechilta</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, ibid.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[7] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Tikkunei Zohar</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Tikkun</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 69 (pp. 112a, 114a).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[8] Literally, a “joining intermediary.” See the Rebbe Rashab’s </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Sefer</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">HaSichos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Toras</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Shalom</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> p. 158.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[9] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Tanchuma</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Chukas</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 3.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[10] </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Devarim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> 5:5.</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;">In my own words</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;">: Although <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hashem </span>had revealed the first four books of the <i>Chumash</i> without an intermediary, <i>Moshe Rabeinu</i> was needed to sum up and explain the content of the first four books in his own words, which also involved teaching apparently new concepts. Yet although <i>Moshe Rabeinu</i> used his own words and expressed apparently new ideas, his teachings were an integral part of the divine revelation of the Torah; in fact, they were vital and indispensible to it. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;">Similarly, the guidance of the “<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Moshe Rabeinu</span> of the generation” is a vital part of the Jew’s divine service, and is needed for him to truly grasp all the other teachings of the Torah. Moreover, it enables him to connect to G–d on a far more profound, sublime level, to the point that he apprehends G–dliness on the level of sight, i.e., as if G–d were a tangible reality. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;">Comment</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;">: This is the basis for the strong emphasis that <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>Chassidus</i> and <i>Chassidim</i> place on believing in the Rebbe, studying his teachings, and obeying his instructions, for it is specifically this emphasis that enables us to connect with </span>Hashem <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">and all of the Torah in the most complete manner. Thus, even if some of his teachings appear novel and unprecedented, we are confident that they are merely a revelation of that which was earlier hidden, and are being revealed now because they are vital for our divine service.</span></i></span></p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-31150669452392970302008-11-08T21:30:00.000-08:002008-11-14T09:13:44.295-08:00The Tzaddik feels our pain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1_KwZBnkX9A/SRZ3s96cpdI/AAAAAAAAAMs/69EDubl-pxQ/s1600-h/FR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1_KwZBnkX9A/SRZ3s96cpdI/AAAAAAAAAMs/69EDubl-pxQ/s320/FR.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266528428674033106" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Reb Folle Kahn <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:12px;">ע"ה <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;">relates:</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">In the year 5683 (1923) Reb Simcha Gorodetzky travelled to raise funds for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tomchei Temimim</span>. While he was staying in Charkov, two </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Chassidim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> asked him to convey a message to the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Frierdiker Rebbe</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">. The first </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Chossid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> asked him to inform the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Frierdiker Rebbe</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> that he was unable to perform a particular mission that he had been assigned because his son had tragically passed away, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">lo aleinu</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">. The second </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Chossid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> asked him to convey that he had become entangled in his business dealings, and requested a blessing.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">When Reb Simcha returned from his journey, he entered </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Yechidus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> and amongst other things conveyed the words of these two </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Chassidim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">. This made a tremendous influence on the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Frierdiker Rebbe</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">. His heart was broken and he began to weep profusely. They had only observed such weeping at the time of blowing the Shofar.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">When he left </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Yechidus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, Reb Simcha told the Rebbetzin Shterna Sara (the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Frierdiker Rebbe</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">’s mother) about the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Frierdiker Rebbe</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">’s response. He added, “I regret having conveyed these messages to the Rebbe, because even the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Chassidim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> themselves (who suffered personally) weren’t as broken as the Rebbe.” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">The Rebbetzin responded, “I don’t know what to do. After every</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> Yechidus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> the floor is soaked with tears.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Shemu’os V’Sipurim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">, Vol. 3, p. 218. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Explanation</b>: Why did the <i>Frierdiker Rebbe</i> feel the pain of the <i>Chassidim</i> more than the <i>Chassidim</i> themselves? The answer appears simple: The Rebbe is the head (see <a href="http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2008/11/visiting-tzaddiks-gravesite-explanation.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2008/09/tzaddik-and-his-followers-limbs-of-one.html">here</a>), and the head feels the pain of the body more than the body itself (see <a href="http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2008/11/difference-between-request-to-angel-and.html">here</a>).</p>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-63067750829680709892008-11-03T11:08:00.000-08:002024-01-22T15:39:47.703-08:00Visiting a Tzaddik's Gravesite<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Below is a letter written to the Rebbe concerning the custom to visit the gravesite of a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which is also known as </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hishtatchus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, lit., “prostration.” In this case, the Rebbe discusses visiting the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ohel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (gravesite) </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">of the Frierdiker Rebbe: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You ask to be mentioned at the gravesite of my father in law, the Rebbe, of blessed memory; I will do as you ask. You write that you have no understanding of this. [To this I respond that] even when you eat, drink, and sleep, you surely do not contemplate first how this affects your body and soul, and you do all this even if you don’t understand how the impact works. The same principle applies here as well.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As for what you write that it [visiting the gravesite of a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">] appears:</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*like speaking to the dead;</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*like directing one’s thoughts to a force other than G–d, G–d forbid.</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You surely understand on your own that this is not so. For it is accepted [in Torah sources] that Kalev the son of Yefuneh [</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sotah</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 34b], several </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tana’im</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amora’im</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddikim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> throughout all the generations did so.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Your question can be explained further, albeit in brief: Even when people would come to the [Previous] Rebbe to request a blessing [during his lifetime], they would come to him not on account of the greatness of his body, but on account of the greatness of his soul. The whole idea of death is only possible for the body, since the soul is eternal. This is true of the soul of a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in particular, for it has no connection whatsoever to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gehinom</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kaf HaKela</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> [a punishment for the soul after death]</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, etc. [1] The death of the soul of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is termed </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Histalkus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which means an elevation to a higher level, and he is not called a dead person, G–d forbid, as it is written in the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Zohar</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (3:71) [thus, visiting the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">’s gravesite does not constitute speaking to the dead].</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As for what you write that it appears like directing one’s thoughts to a force other than G–d; in short, this is not so. For the request is that the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in his great righteousness plead favorably on behalf of the one requesting the blessing before the King of all kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There is a second intention in this regard: Every </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chossid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and person connected to the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is an individual aspect of the soul of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which is a great gestalt. It [the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">’s soul] is comparable to the head relative to its individual souls [which are compared to the body], as explained in </span></span><span><a href="http://chabadlibrary.org/books/adhaz/tanya/1/2.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tanya chapter two</span></a></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Every individual organ receives its sustenance from the soul, and the soul vests itself first in the head and the brain, and from there the vitality is divided up according to the individual needs of each individual organ.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So is it also in the case of a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chossid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and a Rebbe: Since the head is healthy and strong, it contains all the vitality of all the individual bodily organs. [Thus,] in order for the individual organ to be healthy, it must be fully connected to the head: The sinews and nerves that join the head with the organs must be open, for then the vitality related to each respective organ will flow to it.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Generally speaking, this is the concept of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hiskashrus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, the bond of a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chossid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and a Rebbe. Through this the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chossid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> receives everything that he needs, both materially and spiritually.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Igros Kodesh</span></span></i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, Vol. 3, pp. </span></span><span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=458&ilSC=40&nBookId=7&cPartLetter=b"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">458</span></a></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-</span></span><span><a href="http://otzar770.com/library/display_page.asp?nPageNumber=459&ilSC=40&nBookId=7&cPartLetter=b"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">459</span></a></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(255 , 255 , 0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[1] See </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Zohar</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 3:21b "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">זכאה חולקהון דצדיקיא דנשמתהון סלקין לעילא, ולא מתעכבי באתר אחרא, דלא אצטריך.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In my own words</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One who comes to visit the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and ask for his blessings does not come to the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">’s body, but to his </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Neshama</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, his lofty soul. Since the soul lives on eternally, and the soul of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in particular is not affected by death in any sense other than it rising to a higher level, the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is not considered dead in the regular sense even after his passing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One who visits the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> does not worship the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, G–d forbid; rather, knowing the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">’s lofty spiritual level, he asks the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to plead on his behalf before <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hashem</span>. There is no essential difference between during the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">’s lifetime and after his passing in terms of approaching him</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and asking him to present this plea.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Moreover, a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chossid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> visits his Rebbe because he knows that although his </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Neshama</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is a part of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hashem</span>, it is rooted in the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Neshama</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of his Rebbe. The Rebbe is not a separate entity from the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chossid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">; rather, their </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Neshomos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> are two parts of one whole. However, in the Rebbe’s </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Neshama</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, G–dliness is not at all hidden—like the head, where the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Neshama</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is fully revealed, vis-à-vis the other limbs of the body. (Note that this concept is also found in non-Chabad sources, e.g., </span><span><a href="http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2008/09/tzaddik-and-his-followers-limbs-of-one.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.) Thus, by visiting one Rebbe’s and bolstering his </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hiskashrus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chossid </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">connects with the G–dliness of his own </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Neshama</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in its most rarefied form, and in so doing makes himself a vessel for divine blessing in all forms, both material and spiritual.</span></div>
Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-20688265577675318582008-10-27T18:39:00.001-07:002008-10-27T18:53:43.368-07:00The Tzaddik's impact on the world<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1_KwZBnkX9A/SQZvr8GEccI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/AaSFvYGtnmM/s1600-h/noam.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1_KwZBnkX9A/SQZvr8GEccI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/AaSFvYGtnmM/s320/noam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262016015285645762" /></a><span xmlns=""><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk taught:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "></span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "></span></span></span></p><blockquote><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">"[Noach was] a </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">Tzaddik</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">, complete in his generations."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">The </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">Tzaddik</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">, through the holy deeds that he performs, draws the blessed, exalted Creator down into this world. It emerges that he does a favor for his generations (i.e., for the people living in his time), for he brings them the privilege of the Divine Presence resting with them via the </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">Tzaddik</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">[Moreover], by rising to a higher level, the </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">Tzaddik</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "> connects and elicits G–d's exalted Name in all the worlds. This is the deeper meaning of the verse, "a </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">Tzaddik</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">, complete in his generations"—that his complete righteousness benefited his generations.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">It is written: "Noach 'made walk' with </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">Elokim</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">," for his righteousness even benefited the higher spiritual realms (alluded to by the divine name of </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">Elokim</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">). He would even bestow (G–dliness) upon them. This is the deeper meaning of the phrase, "</span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">with </span></strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">Elokim</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">." This refers to the higher spiritual realms, for even there Noach would "make walk" (i.e., elicit G–dliness).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: right; margin-left: 36pt"><span style="color:yellow;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Noam Elimelech</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> p. 5.</span></span></p></blockquote><p><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In my own words</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:
</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'s every action reveals G–dliness in the world in a way that illuminates the darkness for regular people. Moreover, when the </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> rises to a new level, this brings G–dliness to be revealed in all the worlds. I.e., not only does the </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tzaddik</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> illuminate our lowly world, but he brings additional illumination to the higher spiritual realms.</span></p></span>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503768228350082035.post-64453747578461532932008-10-12T00:10:00.000-07:002010-01-29T04:30:40.480-08:00Two paths: Only before the Geulah<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">One of the main differences between the path of Chabad and of other Chassidic groups (also known as </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Chassidus</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Chagas),</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> is in the way that they relate to their </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Tzaddikim</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> in terms of the divine service expected of the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">chossid</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. The Chabad path says that a Rebbe is a boost and an aid, but not a substitute for striving to reach high levels of connection to Hashem through lengthy study of divine greatness and prayer, while for other groups the focus on belief in the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> is the main requirement and means of reaching inspiration in serving Hashem.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span style="color:yellow;"></span></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The philosophy of Chabad is that every Jew should exert himself to understand G–dliness, while the philosophy of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Chassidus</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Polin</span></span></i></span><a name="_ftnref1"><u><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">[1]</span></span></span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span></span></span></span><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> is (according to the well-known aphorism of the holy Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin), “And the righteous will live by his faith”: do not read “live,” but “</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">give</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> life.” In other words, there is the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> who exerts effort [to serve Hashem on a lofty level], and everyone else is enlivened [i.e., inspired to serve Hashem] by the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> through, and by virtue of, their faith in the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Tzaddik</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">These two philosophies can only exist now. However, concerning the future [i.e., the Messianic age], everyone agrees that then we will see the fulfillment of the prophecy, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of G–d as the waters cover the ocean,”</span></span></span><a name="_ftnref2"><u><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">[2]</span></span></span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span></span></span></span><span style="color:#66FFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">such that the entire Jewish people will reach through understanding of G–dliness, as it is written, “for they will </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">all</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> know Me.”</span></span></span><a name="_ftnref3"><u><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">[3]
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><i><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">
</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></u></a></span></span></p><span style="color:yellow;"><a name="_ftnref3"><u><span style="color:blue;"><i><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000FF;"></span></span></i></span></u></a><u><span style="color:blue;"><i><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000FF;"><div style="text-align: right;"><a name="_ftnref3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a name="_ftnref3"><u><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><i><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Hisva’aduyos</span></span></span></i><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> 5717, Vol. 1, p. 104.</span></span></span></span></span></u></a></div></span></span></i></span></u></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="color:#66FFFF;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color:#66FFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><hr size="1" width="33%" align="left"> </span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><a name="_ftn1"><u><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">[1]</span></span></span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span></span></span></span><span style="color:#66FFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lit., “Polish Chassidus”; this refers to an approach, not a location, as many groups associated with this path were not based in Poland, although not all were. This is perhaps similar to the way that all European Jews are called </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ashkenazim</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> when compared to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Sefardim</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, although of course they did not all live in Germany. Thus, this expression is not intended to be derogatory, G–d forbid.</span></span></span><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><a name="_ftn2"><u><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">[2]</span></span></span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span></span></span></span><span style="color:#66FFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span><i><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Isaiah</span></span></span></i><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, 11:9.</span></span></span><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><a name="_ftn3"><u><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">[3]</span></span></span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span></span></span></span><span style="color:#66FFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span><span style="color:yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ibid., 31:33.</span></span></span></p></blockquote>Yehoishophot Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906934928426540018noreply@blogger.com0