Lubavitchers don't daven....

It used to be common for litvishe bochurim to check out Kfar Chabad by popping in there for a Shabbos. After one of such shabbosim, a litvishe bochur upon returning said that he found out that not only that lubavitchers don’t learn (a well-known concept), but that they don’t daven either. His conclusion was based on that that the mashpia farbrenged for five hours straight, repeating over and over, “we have to start davening”

In vos ligt ihr?

R’ Shmuel Michel Treinin was a chosid (of the Rebbe Rashab) who resided in Petersburg. R’ Shmuel Michel was a very wealthy chosid, and, in addition, was very organized and well put together by nature. Furthermore, he was a moroh shchoira, a serious and pessimistic individual (I know, it’s not a good translation for MS). He had dealings with numerous important government officials (which was one of the reasons that he was approved to live in Petersburg), and was always dressed immaculately.

Once, the celebrated chosid R’ Michoel der Alter came to Petersburg for the purpose of getting a bochur freed from the draft (so that, rather than serve in the army, he can spend his time learning Torah). He came to R’ Shmuel Michel for assistance, and R’ Shmuel Michel was accompanying him to visit some important officers who would perhaps be able to help their cause.

R’ Michoel went around the streets of Petersburg the same way that he did in Lubavitch; - he didn’t pay any special attention to his attire. Furthermore, at the time of the story R’ Michoel was apparently before davening, and wasn’t even buttoned up (I won’t get into which buttons we’re talking about, - this was before zippers were around . . .)

R’ Shmuel Michel was walking alongside R’ Michoel in the street, and feeling distinctly uncomfortable. Here he was, the respected businessman who everyone knew and held in such high esteem, and he was being escorted by what looked like a tramp! Of course he wouldn’t say anything to R’ Michoel, who he was in awe of, but every time one of his acquaintances passed by them he felt like running away and hiding.

Finally, he could not contain himself, and a long sigh burst out of his mouth. Startled, R’ Michoel asked him if everything was alright. R’ Shmuel Michel tried very respectfully to suggest to R’ Michoel that at least when walking in the streets of Petersburg he could make himself more presentable. When R’ Michoel heard that this was what was troubling his colleague, he turned to him reproachfully and exclaimed:

“Gevald, R’ Shmuel Michel, in vos ligt ihr?!!” [Gevald, R’ Shmuel Michel, is this what your into??!!]

The gain of Chassidus

One of the great Chassidim of the Alter Rebbe (R’ Zalman Zezmir?) once remarked: ‘What did I gain through becoming a chossid? I gained the following: Prior to becoming a chossid I would think 10 machshovos zoros a day, and since I began to study chassidus, I only think 9 machshovos zoros a day. But for this change it was worthwhile to become a chossid, because that one time of having iskafya is extremely precious to Hashem.

Traveling to the Rebbe

R’ Hilel Paritcher was one of the renowned Chassidim of the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek (having not actually met the Alter Rebbe, despite his best efforts (as is known the story thereof). The Tzemach Tzedek once said that he has two and a half Chassidim, with R’ Hillel being counted as a half because he is half a Rebbe. The following is a story about R’ Hillel:

Once, in the middle of the week, R’ Hillel was suddenly overcome with a yearning to visit the Rebbe in Lubavitch for Shabbos. Now, the trip from Paritch to Lubavitch was a considerable one, and all of the wagon drivers that he approached to transport him there declined, on the grounds that he had decided to late in the week for this to be a viable option.

One of the wagon-drivers in town was a devoted disciple of R’ Hillel, who was prepared to do anything for the sake of R’ Hillel, his Rebbe. Thus, when R’ Hillel approached him, he calculated the viability and decided that, if he exerted himself and exceeded all speed limits, and they were further accompanied by the great merit of the tzaddik R’ Hillel, then he was prepared to make the attempt with the hope of arriving in Lubavitch in time for Shabbos. However, in order for there to be even the smallest chance of success, it would be necessary – in addition to him driving at the greatest speed ever attempted – it would be crucial that they not encounter any additional avoidable obstacles or delays. Therefore, he stipulated with R’ Hillel that he was prepared to take him on condition that the Rebbe (R’ Hillel) would not get carried away and start davening b’arichus en route; - something that he knew was a very real danger with R’ Hillel, and would completely remove any possibility of their reaching their objective.

R’ Hillel agreed to the condition, and the pair set out. The driver urged his horses to breakneck speeds, and it looked like, with Hashem’s help, this amazing feat would be realized.

But then disaster struck.

During a brief “rest area”, while the baal agoloh was giving the horses a much needed (and deserved) break and snack, R’ Hillel got off and went into a clearing in the woods to daven. Sure enough, he became completely immersed in his davening, and lost track of anything and everything going on around him. While the baal agoloh stood aside in consternation, the possibilities of them arriving at their destination in time for Shabbos – or even get back home – dwindled and disappeared entirely.

The wagon-driver was upset about this for R’ Hillel’s sake more than for his own. When his Rebbe finally finished his davening, the baal agoloh expressed his astonishment. “Rebbe”, he exclaimed, “What have you done? It was you who was so eager to arrive in Lubavitch for Shabbos. Now on account of your davening – in defiance of our agreement – there is no longer a chance of our achieving this?!”

“Come now”, R’ Hillel answered him, “I will answer you with a story:

There was once a businessman named Yankel, who had a stock of iPods that he wanted to sell. Since the biggest market was in Leipzig (since he didn’t believe in internet, as a matter of principle, and thus couldn’t sell it through ebay), he loaded up a wagon with them, and set out on the two-day journey to Leipzig.

Shortly after he left town, he met his friend Shmerel, traveling down the same road. “Yankel”, Shmerel exclaimed, “Where are you headed?” n

“I’m on the way to Leipzig, to sell my stock of iPods”. “Why that wonderful”, exclaimed Shmerel, “it’s just what I’m looking for. You see, I’m starting a business of selling iPods to the bochurim who had them confiscated by the hanholoh. I’ll give you the same price you would get for them in the market, and I’ll relieve you of the whole load”.

“Do you think for a minute”, asked R’ Hillel, “that Yankel would say ‘I’m sorry I can’t sell them to you because I’m on the way to Leipzig’? Of course not! He is going to Leipzig for a purpose, and if he could achieve those results on the way, why, surely he would grab the opportunity with both hands!

“The same is true in my case”, concluded R’ Hillel. I’m going to the Rebbe with a purpose, that I should be able to daven, so obviously if those results are achieved on the way, ‘az es advent zich’, I won’t throw away this opportunity because I had initially been heading to Lubavitch!”

[According to one version, I heard that the ending was that they did indeed arrive in Lubavitch in time for Shabbos].

Grow a Beard

The Rebbe once asked a chosid to influence an acquaintance to begin letting his beard grow. The Rebbe, however, stipulated, that under no circumstances should he disclose that the source of the request is the Rebbe.

This particular acquaintance enjoyed a very close relationship with the Rebbe, and was the recipient of many kiruvim. In his resistance to the suggestion that he grow a beard, his trump card was always that “It can’t possibly be as crucial as you say; you know what a close relationship I have with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, if he thought that it was so important (as you suggest it is), surely he would have said something!” The chosid was left biting his tongue, unable to provide the real answer to that question!

Finally, on one occasion, the chosid complained to the Rebbe about how that condition makes his task almost an impossibility, and requested it be revoked. The Rebbe refused, and offered the following explanation: “If he knows that the request is coming from me, then it will be my beard, and I want it to be his beard!”

L'chayim

A chosid once said to the Rebbe “L’chayim far Lubavitch”. To which the Rebbe responded: “Lubavitch ken zich alein an eitzah gebben, zog L’chayim far zich!” (Lubavitch can take care of itself, say, rather, L’chayim for yourself).

The Reality

In 5751, Rabbi Wagner was in Manchester with a few other bochurim for a short visit, for the chasuna of a friend. This was during the gulf war, and the Rebbe’s position was the topic of many conversations. Thus it happened that, while they were riding somewhere on a bus, they were approached by a few Poylishe Chassidim who were questioning us about the Rebbe’s position.

“Is it true that the Rebbe said that Eretz Yisroel is the safest place?” he was asked. he responded: “The Rebbe always points out that this is a clear Possuk, that Eretz Yisroel is the land where “Einei Hashem Elokecho boh meireishis hashonoh ve’ad achris shonoh”.

“I also know what it says in the Possuk”, was his rejoinder, “but I’m speaking practically now”.