Recap: The Tzemach Tzedek began encouraging the Rebbe Maharash to recite Maamarim in 5622. The Rebbe Maharash only agreed to infrequently recite Maamarim before a select few.
In 5623, my grandfather, the Rebbe Maharash, travelled overseas on account of his health. The strain of travel in those days is well-known, especially for someone so frail. The expert doctors from Vitebsk, and the educated, knowledgeable, landlords, Wirbetzke and Tzekret (They both lived near Lubavitch, where they ran an academy of medicine and mathematics. They had a close relationship with all of the professors around the country.) advised him to travel through Kiev, to ask advice from the expert doctors, about where he should travel overseas. The doctors in Vitebsk were divided about his exact illness and the best place for healing. The Tzemach Tzedek decided that he should follow their advice and travel to Kiev.
This is not the appropriate place to write at the appropriate length and detail about the nature of my grandfather, the Rebbe, his holy conduct, the extensiveness of his holy mind and his amazing talents, which demands entire chapters - each one just a general sketch. One is his expansive mode of conduct, and the princely majesty evident on his holy face, which was a sight to behold.
The road to Kiev passes through many cities with Lubavitcher communities. He stopped in each city for a few hours, reciting Maamarim in each city he passed through, like he assured his father. His father had instructed him to recite Maamarim and accept people for Yechidus, but he didn’t fulfil the second part - receiving Yechidus. News of his journey spread quickly, to the extent, that when he arrived in Kiev, a beautiful reception was prepared for him, with all of the community leaders, almost entirely indiscriminate of faction - not only the Chassidim and the religious, but even the ardent Maskilim came to greet him. During his ten day stay in Kiev, the city and its environs were full of tremendous excitement over his character. Many of the Chassidim from Chernigov, Poltave, Kherson, Niezhin, Luben and Ramen came to Kiev. He set a rule that he would not accept people for Yechidus, however, he would instead go out to the assembled and speak with them briefly. Almost every day at 6 PM, he would say a Maamar, for half to three-quarters of an hour. There were many who complained about his refusal to receive people for Yechidus.
Reports of the journey arrived in Lubavitch, where it made a powerful effect, becoming the talk of the town. However, his refusal to receive people for Yechidus precluded any ability for ... to build tales of slander against him.
This journey lasted about 4 months. When he returned home for Rosh Hashono 5624, everyone assumed that he would certainly change from his old conduct and would start reciting Maamorim publicly, and befriending the guests. He didn’t however do so, conducting himself as had been usual in the past.
However, it was then known that possessed full ability, having extensive knowledge in Nigle and Chassidus, just that he didn’t want to reveal his greatness, preferring a different path.
In the beginning of 5626, his father instructed him to publicly recite Maamarim in Shul. Almost every Shabbos that winter, he recited a Maamar publicly.
R’ Pinchas Leib Mogidson told me, that when my grandfather, the Rebbe Maharash would recite Maamorim throughout the winter of 5626, during the duration of his father’s illness, each time he came out to recite a Maamor would preface with the following words, “On such-and-such day I heart from my father, the Rebbe, this Maamar”, and would then begin the Maamar. He would conclude the Maamar saying “Hashem should have mercy on us and all of Israel, send a speedy recovery to the Rebbe, and grant us the merit of hearing Maamarim from his holy mouth, until the coming of the righteous redeemer.”
My great-grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek, would send his attendant R’ Chaim Dov to be present while my grandfather would say the Maamar. Upon his return, he would ask him which Maamar had been said, and what had been the topic spoken about. Afterwards, he would usually comment, “From him - may he be well - I have Nachas.”
A few days before Purim 5626, the Rebbe Maharash was in Vitebsk on account of his health. While there, he said the Maamar “Chayav Inish Lbsumei Bpuraya”, but didn’t write it down.
On Tuesday, the 13th of Nissan, the Tzemach Tzedek was Nistalek.
I heard from R’ Yosef Mordechai [one of the more simple attendants of the Tzemach Tzedek, who served as attendant for 40 years. As a youth of 14 or 15, he was hired as an attendant. When he was 21, the Rebbe gave him a Brocho before his wedding, that Hashem should grant him a son who will be a Talmid Chochom. He asked “Only one?”, to which he replied “For you, one Talmid Chochom is enough”, and then blessed him with a long life. I, the author, saw the fulfilment of both Brachos: 1) I knew R’ Yosef Mordechai’s son, R’ Zvi who lived in Liadi, where he served as a Melamed, and would come to Lubavitch for Elul. He was learned, a Chossid, and immersed himself in Davening. All of his other three sons, and his two sons-in-law, were simple people. 2) R’ Yosef Mordechai lived a long life. In 5626, he was already 55-57, but he lived through the whole Nesius of the Rebbe Maharash, dying in 5660 at the age of 91. Until his last say, he was quick on his feet, all of his senses, sight and hearing, completely unimpaired, like a regular healthy man] that on the first night of Pesach a group of my cousin, R’ Shlomo Zalman’s friends gathered together, singing over the current situation.
On the first day of Pesach, they began campaigning that my great-uncle, the Maharil, should take the place of his father, the Rebbe...
The first Maamar which my grandfather, the Rebbe Maharash said as Rebbe, was the Maamar “Anochi Hashem Elokecho”, transcribed in Sefer Hamaamarim 5626.
The End
Footnotes
- Elsewhere it is explained that this trip was only externally for his health, while its true purpose was international communal activism.
- As mentioned in the previous Reshima published.
- Of the Jewish community.
- The Tzemach Tzedek.
- The passing of the Tzemach Tzedek, which allowed R’ Shlomo Zalman’s father, the Maharil to become Rebbe.
Published By Vaad Habochrim Melbourne. No part of this may be reproduced without the explicit permission of Vaad Habochrim Melbourne.
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Source: Kfar Chabad Magazine.
Translated by Elchonon Greenbaum. Edited by Mendel Sufrin. Special Thanks to Yoss Rosenbaum. Hebrew text reprinted with permission from Kehot Publication Society. The Rebbe photo is the property of JEM.
יחי אדוננו מורנו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד
