HISKASHRUS FOR THE Y & Z GENERATIONS

Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,

In last week’s article, we discussed the role of a Rebbe in the life of a Chassid. In this week’s article, I would like to discuss the definition of a Chassid and a Mekushar through the lens of the HaYom Yom.

Most people have heard of the famous Posek Rabbi Shmuel Wosner A”H. Rabbi Shmuel Wosner was born in 1913 in Vienna, Austro-Hungary and studied in the Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin of Poland led by Rabbi Meir Shapiro. He married and immigrated to Eretz Yisroel before the Holocaust and settled in Yerushalayim, where he studied at the Dushinsky yeshiva. It was in that time that, in spite of his young age, he became a member of the Edah HaChareidis. When he relocated to B’nei Brak, he established the Zichron Meir neighborhood and Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin, bearing the same name as the one in Lublin where he studied in his youth.

In 1938, the young Rabbi Wosner was in the city of Pressburg where he had correspondence with the Frierdike Rebbe. On 21 Adar 1 of that year, the Frierdike Rebbe sent him a very powerful letter where he describes to him what a Chassid and Mekushar is.

Regarding a Chassid, the Frierdike Rebbe writes (HaYom Yom 21 Adar 1, which is the same day that the original letter is dated): “The title ‘chassid’ is an ancient term found in the words of our Sages (Eruvin 18b), and refers even to Adam, the first man. It denotes a person of perfection and distinction in his intellectual attainments or in his character attributes, or in both these qualities combined. Within the teachings of Chabad Chassidus, the description ‘chassid’ refers to one who recognizes his essential nature, his level of Torah knowledge and study, and his status in the observance of the mitzvos. He knows what he is lacking and shows attention and concern to complete it. And he shows great discipline in yoking himself [to his mission].”

This is similar to what the Rebbe told Dr. David Weiss (from “Here is my Story,” JEM 2018), in a Yechidus in 1965: “ At the end of the audience, I was so profoundly impressed that I was moved to say to the Rebbe, ‘I am not as exacting in my Torah observance as some others. I do pray three times a day, but not always with a minyan. And I am not always as careful about observing the commandments as the people who are your emissaries. But I would just like to know, who can call himself one of your Chassidim?’ He responded, ‘It’s very simple … Somebody who can say at the end of the day that he has advanced a small step higher than he was at the beginning of the day, I would be happy to call that person a Chassid of mine.’”

Regarding a Mekushar, the Rebbe writes (HaYom Yom 24 Sivan), based on a letter of the Frierdike Rebbe dated 24 Sivan 5700: “You ask: What does your spiritual bond with me — your hiskashrus — consist of, since I do not know you by face…? True connection is attained by Torah study. When you study my maamarim of Chassidus, read the sichos, associate with my friends (the members of the chassidic brotherhood and the T’mimim) in their studies and in their farbrengens, and fulfill my request by reciting T’hillim and maintaining a regular study schedule — this is what constitutes hiskashrus.”

It is fascinating to focus on the fact that the Rebbe chose to define Hiskashrus with this letter and not continue with the letter that the Frierdike Rebbe write to Rabbi Wosner. In that letter, quoted above, the Frierdike Rebbe continues: “The concept of Mekushar, according to Chassidus Chabad, is for that person to learn Chassidus daily and especially on Shabbos morning; to fulfill the takana of saying T’hillim every day and also Shabbos Mevarchim, and from time to time to write to the Rebbe with updates on where the individual is holding.”

The questions begs to be asked: If the Rebbe already quoted the letter to Rabbi Wosner, in regards to what a Chassid is, why not continue to quote in regards to what a Mekushar is? While I do not claim to know the answer, as we do not know the Rebbe’s intentions, I would like to propose the following:

There are three main differences between the two letters about Hiskashrus. Firstly the letter to Rabbi Wosner speaks about Hiskashrus, while the HaYom Yom of 24 Sivan discusses “Hiskashrus Amitis, true Hiskashrus.” Secondly, while in the letter to Rabbi Wosner the focus is on learning Chassidus and fulfilling the takana of saying T’hillim, in the HaYom Yom of 24 Sivan the focus is on “My chassidus and Sichos” and “My request to say T’hillim.” Lastly, in the letter to Rabbi Wosner, there is no stress on joining the T’mimim in their learning and farbrengens, while that is strongly stressed in the HaYom Yom of 24 Sivan.

What is the root of all these differences? I would like to propose that it all comes from the question that was asked. “You ask: What does your spiritual bond with me — your hiskashrus — consist of, since I do not know you by face…?” The key words here are “since I do not know you by face.” This Chassid, as opposed to Rabbi Wosner, feels totally alone and does not know how he can connect to a Rebbe that he has never seen.

Such a Chassid needs:

1) True Hiskashrus. A Chassid that feels that he has a basic connection with the Rebbe, that the Rebbe knows him, can run on regular Hiskashrus. A Chassid that wants to connect to a Rebbe that he has never seen, but knows that exists, needs to get in touch with “True Hiskashrus.”

2) Needs to learn “My Maamarim and Sichos.” A Rebbe can be found in his Torah. This is how you get to know the Rebbe. For a Chassid who feels that he is connected, he needs to learn Chassidus to inspire him to elevate in his Avodas Hashem and for basic Hiskashrus. For the Chassid that feels alone, and feels that he does not know his Rebbe, as he has never seen him, he needs to learn, specifically the Torah of the Rebbe. In addition, when he fulfills the directives of the Rebbe, like saying T’hillim and Rambam, this needs to be permeated with the knowledge that he is not just doing a Chabad custom; rather, he is doing “my request.” He is developing his connection to his Rebbe.

3) He needs to spend time with the bachurim. The pure and honest bachurim, who are not yet corrupted by the stress of realism and daily life, are true idealists. They have an inner feeling for the truth. For them, Hiskashrus is real and fiery. Their truth and enthusiasm will rub off on anyone who visits Tomchei T’mimim.

Dear Chasidim!

It is no secret that in this twilight zone, right before the ultimate Hisgalus, there are many that ask: “How can I connect with the Rebbe and live with Moshiach, ‘since I do not know you by face?’”

We all need to take the steps that the Rebbe outlines for “true Hiskashrus”:

 1) It is not enough to just learn the general concepts of Geula as explained in s’farim. They need to be studied primarily “in the Torah (Maamarim and Likkutei Sichos) of the leader of our generation. Learning this material is a sample of and preparation for learning the Torah of Moshiach, ‘For a new Torah shall go forth from Me.’” (Tazria-Metzora, 5751)

2) The focus needs to be on “my request.” For many years, we have been doing Mivtzaim and great activities. During the Kinus HaShluchim of 5752, in the last sicha that we heard so far that the Rebbe spoke to the Shluchim, the Rebbe outlined his deepest request: “The most recent innovation in the work of shlichus is: to receive our righteous Moshiach in the true and complete Redemption. Indeed, the preparation for the coming of our righteous Moshiach is the most all-encompassing aspect of Judaism and includes all the other points and details of the work of shlichus.”

3) Come, visit, and get involved with Tomchei T’mimim and the bachurim. Our bachurim are not extreme and wild. Rather, they live with the Rebbe and live with Moshiach. The feeling can be felt and the enthusiasm is infectious. They live with the Sichos and Maamarim in their most literal way and are not swayed by the tests of the physical senses. Come to Tomchei T’mimim and bring your children too!

L’chaim!

Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com