Merkos Shlichus

A couple from Kelowna, who are fine and well-to-do yidden.  The first Shabbos that they came to the local Chabad house Friday night for davening and seudas Shabbos, for some reason, the wife was asked to share an inspiring story and this was it:

4 years ago, 2 bochurim came to Kelowna on Merkos Shlichus and (presumably because this couple is wealthy and influential) the bochurim stayed by them for the 2 weeks that they were there. So, of course she told how they made Shabbos at their home, and bought new dishes and about how shetoiveled them in the lake (the dishes, that is, not the bochurim) etc. They had a great experience, they made kiddush, had a seudas shabbos with guests . . all of it was amazing. She even told about how they would come home at night and tell over their success stories from their Merkos Shlichus, and how she and her husband would love hearing them!

But, what was the most amazing thing that she remembered, and what really made the strongest impression on her (she continued), was when she woke up Shabbos morning . . and she heard loud noises from outside screaming. She listened closer, and hears that 2 people are in a deep heated argument (or discussion). The noise is coming from very close to her house, and as she pays closer attention, she realizes that the source of the sounds is on her own back porch.  It is none other than her guests, the 2 bochurim!

She doesn't really understand but it seems that the boys are discussing the portion of the week, and they’re all into it like it’s such a big deal! She couldn't believe it! She was so impressed that this is what was important to them, and so early in the morning, to boot. She was so impressed at their enthusiasm for the torah portion. (They were actually probably learning chassidus before davenen but) more than anything else this is what really stuck out in her memory, and that she wanted to share).

This was the couple’s first positive experience with Chabad, and it had such an impact on them that it ultimately led to the fact that BH they partnered with the shluchim in a significant way, and they are very close with them now. Before this they would never had thought that they could join Chabad.

Coming to chassidus on time

The following anecdote was once related by R’ Mendel Futerfas:

Once, on Simchas Torah, the celebrated chosid R’ Itche der masmid asked two elder Chassidim to join him in the formation of a beis din. The two were both old and respected – one was a chosid by the name of R’ Meir Markowitz who was a chosid of the Tzemach Tzedek and was at that time over 1oo years old, and the other, a chosid from the times of the Rebbe Maharash, was in his 80’s – but R’ Itche der masmid was held in the highest esteem by all, and they complied.

As soon as the beis din was formed, R’ Itche announced that the beis din is hereby ruling that – for the upcoming year - every member of anash must attend a shiur chassidus from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00, followed by shacharis (R’ Itche would give a shiur in Torah Ohr and Likkutei Torah during that hour throughout tha year).

He added, in the name of the beis din, that anyone who would not obey would not be motzie shnosoi(i.e., would not make it through the year alive)!

There were Chassidim in the group who worked the night shift, and only got home early in the morning, and there were others who were struggling in their livelihood and had no time at all to spare. But no-one, and I mean no-one, missed that shiur throughout that year. In fact, if anyone would even consider sleeping in, his wife would forcibly drag him out of bed, knowing what the consequences would be to her if her husband would ch”v be on the receiving end of the beis din’s ruling!

During the nesius of the Mitteler Rebbe, when questions in halacha were sent to him, he would give them to the Tzemach Tzedek to answer. The Tzemach Tzedek would write a Teshuva, and then bring it to the Mitteler Rebbe for approval. After the Mitteler Rebbe gave his approval, the teshuva would then be sent out. However, the Mitteler Rebbe never took issue with any of the teshuvos of the Tzemach Tzedek.

Once, an urgent query arrived, and the Mitteler Rebbe was not available. The Tzemach Tzedek decided that, in light of the fact that the Mitteler Rebbe always approved of his Teshuvos, and being that an immediate response was required, he would send out the Teshuva this once before showing it to the Mitteler Rebbe. When he later told the MR about, he asked the Tzemach Tzedek what he had answered in the Teshuva, and then showed him that it was contrary to an explicit tosefos.

The Tzemach Tzedek was very upset about this, so the Mitteler Rebbe said to him: “Don’t feel bad, in the meantime you are not a Rebbe!”

Even the Torah learning of the Tzemach Tzedek, with all of his phenomenal genius, had to be connected to the Mitteler Rebbe, who was then the Rebbe.

Learning with mesirus nefesh

During Napoleon’s campaign to conquer the world, the Rebbe’s of the time were divided about whether or not his success would bode good for the Jewish nation. The Alter Rebbe was of the opinion that the success of Napoleon, while improving the material lot of the Jews, would be very detrimental for them spiritually. Therefore, the Alter Rebbe was vehemently opposed to Napoleon, to the extent of sending his Chassidim to assist the Russian army, including spying on their behalf etc.

Once, the Alter Rebbe invited the Mitteler Rebbe to join him in learning a piece of Zohar. At that very moment, however, there was great tumult outside on account of the sightings of French soldiers, who appeared to be overrunning the country. The Mitteler Rebbe turned to the Alter Rebbe in concern, saying: “Father, what happened to your promise to me that the enemy would not succeed?!”

The Alter Rebbe reassured his son, saying: “I swear to you that the army of Napoleon will meet their defeat here”. The Mitteler Rebbe was calmed, and wanted to now learn the Zohar. The Alter Rebbe, however, indicated that now it was too late, saying “For that Zohar you needed to display mesirus nefesh!”

The Mitteler Rebbe recounted the story, saying that for years he suffered great pain on account of the missed Zohar.

Groping in the dark

If someone is in a dark room, and is seeking the exit, he has no choice but to feel his way for the door. When he finds an opening, he will try it out. If he later encounters an obstruction, he will realize that this was not a door, but a closet, and he’ll have to retrace his steps and start again. And so on. However, as soon as someone turns on the light, he goes directly to the right place!

Our learning is like the person who is groping in the dark. We are trying to understand, so we suggest a svoro. We can go with it for awhile, but then we encounter a stira, and we realize that we are on the wrong track and have to start over. It is a continuing exercise of trial and error. With the rishonim, however, they are like the person in the lighted room, who sees directly where to go!

Directly to the truth

R’ Avrohom, who was a talmid chochom of note, was in yechidus by the Alter Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe showed him a teshuva of the Maharam meRottenberg, in which he establishes a certain premise, and brings a support for it. The proof that he brings seems rather weak.

The Alter Rebbe turned to the chosid, and asked him: “Can you bring other, perhaps more solid proofs for this premise?” The chosid considered it briefly, and then presented 5 strong supports for the suggestion of the Maharam meRottenberg. The Alter rebbe then shared with him an additional 6 proofs of his own. “Why then”, the Alter Rebbe asked the chosid, “when there are 11 solid proofs to the position of the Maharam, does he have to base himself on one weak foundation?”

When R’ Avrohom had no response, the Alter Rebbe went and refuted all of the 11 proofs, so that all that remained intact was the one passable support that the Maharam himself had put forth. The Alter Rebbe then explained to the chosid: “Do you think that the Maharam considered the 11 proofs, thought about the flaws in each of them, and therefore went to his own (flimsy) one? Not at all! Rather, the way of the rishonim was that they went directly to the truth, without having to first go through unsuccessful attempts”.