At the farbrengen of Simchas Torah תרפ"ט (1928), the Frierdiker Rebbe was speaking of the need to be connected to the "head" (the Rebbe), when he turned to Reb Chatshe Feigin and said, "This is your job, to see that there should be mashpi'im in every town."
Reb Chatshe asked if he should find someone locally who could serve as a mashpia, and the Frierdiker Rebbe replied, "Yes, with this they will be connected to the head."
Reb Chatshe then asked, "Is that because the mashpia is closer to the head?" The Frierdiker Rebbe gave his confirmation.
(סה"ש תרפ"ט ע' 49)
The Frierdiker Rebbe said: Mashpi'im serve a vital function in darchei haChassidus. The process of transmitting and imbuing chassidishe values can be likened to the planting of a seed. The mashpia is the planter; the chossid/ mushpa/ talmid is the fertile soil; and the quality of the fruits depends largely on the planter's success in preparing the soil. He cannot afford to be lax in this work, because a fruit that is spiritually rotten not only causes serious damage to his own spiritual life; it can also profane the sanctity of Chassidus (chillul kedushas haChassidus).
(לקו"ד ח"ג ע' תכו)
From the first moment of the farbrengen of Yud-Beis Tammuz תרצ"ט (1939), it was clear that something was greatly disturbing the Frierdiker Rebbe. After making a bracha and saying LeChayim, he began to share his pain.
The Rebbe spoke of the difference between the chassidim of the past and those of the present: "At farbrengens in the past, eltere chassidim would speak of avoda, using vivid stories of a Rebbe or a chossid to illustrate their lessons. When admonishing a younger chossid, they would handle this with sensitivity and genuine sympathy. Today, when gathering at a farbrengen, some older chassidim joke at the expense of others and everyone laughs. And so there has arisen a new brand of chassidim with unworthy middos and inappropriate talk. That was unheard of in earlier generations."
The Frierdiker Rebbe concluded: "Today, as well, there are B”H many true eltere chassidim who continue in the way of Chassidus as in past generations. It is their obligation to admonish the younger chassidim and point out clearly the authentic path of Chassidus."
The vital message of this sicha was immediately printed and distributed amongst the chassidim in Warsaw and then again by the Rebbe in the year תש"ח (1948).
(סה"ש תרצ"ט ע' 342 ואילך, סה"מ תש"ח ע' 251 ואילך)
In a letter, the Frierdiker Rebbe once bemoaned the state of some "mashpi’im" who, instead of teaching Chassidus of the Rebbeim in their original form, use concepts of Chassidus as material for their speeches and entitle them as "Chassidus."
In his words: "They justify themselves by arguing that they are doing it so that 'the people should understand,' but in fact they are rebelling against the Rebbeim and dimming the pure light planted by them. It is therefore no surprise that their words have no lasting impact on their listeners. These speakers have brought shame to the Chassidus they claim to stand for, by neglecting the crucial point of avoda shebalev – heartfelt davening and the study of Chassidus in a heartfelt manner."
(אג"ק מוהריי"צ ח"א ע' שמו)
