Gimmel Tammuz
Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier
Harav Yitzchak Hutner once wrote a letter to a community with a description of what a rav should be.
A rav is like the clock in the town square. Why is the clock so high up? Simply, so that it can be seen from far and wide. But a deeper reason is that if it were too low, people would adjust the clock to their watches instead of adjusting their watches to the clock.
A rav must be relatable and approachable. But not adjustable.
On the 3rd of Tamuz we will be commemorating the Rebbe’s 31st yahrzeit.
The Rebbe was on a higher plane—holy and infallible, and at the same time practical, understanding, and down to earth. The reason so many people sought the Rebbe’s advice and guidance is because they knew he was approachable but not adjustable.
Even today, the Rebbe is undoubtedly the town square clock of our generation. The thousands of hours of talks, pages of Torah, personal audiences (yechidus) and personal and general letters are an endless source of guidance and inspiration. If we decide to make it so.
One of our readers shared with me that he recently asked a business acquaintance why he has a large picture of the Rebbe hanging in his house. “Because I’m a big fan of his!” he answered proudly. But in that case, our reader persisted, isn’t it wrong to hang it alongside that huge TV screen? After all, everyone knows that your Rebbe vehemently opposed having TVs in our homes. “Eh, the Rebbe is so big; he doesn’t mind.”
Pachad Yitzchak, Igros U’michtavim 132
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This man clearly recognizes the greatness of the Rebbe, which is why he wants the picture in his home. And in a most ironic way he’s right; the Rebbe is so big, so loving, and so understanding that he can tolerate the insolence—or ignorance—of placing his picture next to a TV. But there’s no question that the Rebbe would expect not only that he recognize the greatness of the town clock but that he adjust his personal watch to be in sync with it!
On another occasion, a reader shared a conversation that she overheard between two four-year-old girls.
“Why are you wearing that skirt? It’s not tzniusdik. It doesn’t cover your knees.”
“Well, what people wear is their choice. Just like we can choose if we like red or blue. I can choose if I like to wear long or short skirts.”
“Tznius is not a choice!” retorted the other little girl. “Why do you think my mommy hangs pictures of Rebbes in her house? To remind us to be tzniusdik.”
The Rebbe is our true guide and is always ready to show us the truth. It’s up to us to make the adjustments. Staying in our comfort zone and finding ways to fit the Rebbe in—adjusting his views to our preferences—is certainly easier, but it won’t help us much. However, when we remind ourselves that the Rebbe’s Torah and his guidance are everlasting truths from Hashem, and we make the effort to adjust ourselves to these truths, we will be placed on the right path and the goodness that follows will be self-evident.
A Gut’n Shabbos,
Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier
Thank you to the Moshe Group. With wishes for continued hatzlocha and brochah.
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