PRECIOUS MOMENTS
The Torah says that Avrohom Avinu became old and was "coming in days." The Zohar explains that this refers to the many mitzvos that he fulfilled: all the days of his life were fully utilized for the service of HaShem.
As Chassidus explains, a person is given the exact number of days he needs to accomplish his tasks in this world. If a day is not used for its purpose, that day's task is left undone.
(זהר ח"א קכט א', תו"א עט,ב, אג"ק ח"א ע' נד, חכ"ב ע' א)
To highlight the importance of valuing every moment and utilizing it for growth, the Rebbe made two points:
Firstly, wasted time never returns. Every individual is given a specific number of days and seconds to accomplish all that he is charged with. Hence, when a day is misused, this loss is irreplaceable.
Secondly, today's avoda raises tomorrow's avoda to a higher level – for, as Chazal say, a person who has a hundred coins desires two hundred. Therefore if today is misused, this will weaken the chances for a better tomorrow.
(תו"מ חכ"א ע' 59)
Many ancient ethical works point out the same unfortunate reality: while people are concerned over a loss of money, they are less concerned over a loss of time. In truth, of course, the reverse should be the case. Lost money, after all, can be recovered; lost time cannot.
(ראה ס' החיים לר' שמעון מפראנקפורט י,א, סה"ש תשמ"ט ח"ב ע' 601)
PASSING TIME?
During the summer of תרנ"א (1891), at the age of eleven, the Frierdiker Rebbe was arrested for trying to protect another Yid from a cruel police officer. Thrown into a dark cell and overcome by fear, he suddenly realized, "I'm imprisoned just like my holy forefathers were, so I should respond to the challenge with courage and faith, and spend my time studying Torah."
He already knew the Mishnayos of Zero'im and Moed by heart, so he began reviewing them. Suddenly, he heard fearful groaning and whimpering. The prison was dark, and he could not make out the source of the sounds, so he tried to ignore the moaning and concentrate on his learning. He then davened Mincha, omitting Tachanun because he was so happy to have had the great merit of being imprisoned for defending another Yid's honor.
Continuing to review from memory, he once again heard wailing noises. He struck a match, looked around the cell, and discovered a calf tied up, with a muzzle on its mouth. His fears were calmed. He went through the entire Seder Zero'im, began Seder Mo'ed, and before he had a chance to finish, he was released.
Later, when his father, the Rebbe Rashab, heard what had occurred, he complimented his son on being able to review mishnayos baal peh. Otherwise, he added, with what would he have been superior to (lehavdil) the calf which had also been imprisoned...?
When the Frierdiker Rebbe related this story, he added: "These words engraved in my mind and heart the necessity of preparing 'provisions for the way' by learning Torah by heart, so that in any situation, one will not waste his time."
(התמים חו' ז' ע' ס"ה)
Every moment was so precious to the Rebbe Rashab, that he was available to discuss communal matters only at mealtimes. When the Frierdiker Rebbe was away and the Rebbe Rashab had to review the yeshivah's affairs with the bookkeeper, he did so during mealtime.
For the same reason, even when money was extremely tight, he always traveled by train first class, so that he would be able to learn undisturbed.
On Nittel Nacht, when it is forbidden to learn Torah, the Rebbe Rashab would use his time to play chess, thereby sharpening his mind for his future Torah studies. From this, says the Rebbe, we see how even when one cannot learn Torah, he should utilize his time for beneficial activities.
(לשמע אוזן ע' 113, רשימות היומן ע' ריח, סה"ש תש"נ ע' 192)
A SINGLE MINUTE
During a visit of the Rebbe Rashab to Germany, some local Yidden accompanied him to the railway station, and one of them remarked that the train would be leaving in another minute.
The Rebbe replied, "In one minute one can do teshuvah."
(תו"מ ח"ב ע' 183)
In the year תש"ד (1944), the Rebbe davened at the amud after the passing of his father Reb Leivik. It once happened that the minyan did not gather in time. The Frierdiker Rebbe called the rosh yeshivah and told him that his son-in-law, the Rebbe, had complained about his wasted time. The rosh yeshivah excused himself, saying that the bochurim had arrived only five minutes late.
The Frierdiker Rebbe replied, "For my eidem, a minute is a year. Do you want to steal five years from him?!"
(אוצר פתגמי חב"ד ח"ב ע' 50)
When, in his early years in America, the Frierdiker Rebbe spoke of the imminent coming of Moshiach, some people questioned his activities to strengthen Yiddishkeit and build yeshivos. They argued: "If anyway we are in golus only for a short while, what is the need for all this?"
The Frierdiker Rebbe answered by reminding them of the Mishkan in the desert. While in some places Bnei Yisroel camped for long periods of time (once for 19 years!), in others they camped for only one day. Yet, in every place they set up the Mishkan with all of its keilim and korbanos, regardless of how long they stayed.
(סה"ש תש"א ע' 162, תו"מ חי"ח ע' 299)
CONSIDER
Is it important to use every moment so that more will be accomplished, or so that each moment is elevated?
Does using time to the maximum mean not to relax?
