The Ultimate Purpose of It All
Many concepts have been presented throughout this book describing the nature of a Rebbe/tzaddik and his contribution to the spiritual elevation of world Jewry. Regardless of a Jew’s level of observance, whether unaffiliated religiously or a committed chassid, a tzaddik’s influence affects every Jew in varying degrees.
But how does a chassid know which Rebbe to follow? What draws him to one Rebbe over another? Finally, is there a deeper dimension to the Rebbe-chassid relationship than what has been discussed until now?
To understand all this, it is first necessary to explain the difference between the various chassidic Rebbes and the one factor that unites them all.
Different Paths of Inspiration
Each chassidic community has always had its own Rebbe — and the choice of a Rebbe for a certain community does not negate the choice of another for a different community. The Maggid of Mezritch had 120 students; each one a tzaddik in his own right. From the learning center in Mezritch, they spread out to different cities and towns, each establishing his own chassidic community and becoming its teacher. Although they were all tzaddikim of great spiritual capacity, they were all different from the other in the spiritual focus with which they taught and practiced Chassidism. Whatever path a Rebbe followed shaped the behavior and conduct of the chassidim under his leadership.
If all these spiritual giants, these tzaddikim, were of such impeccable spiritual stature, what exactly was the difference between them?
The answer can be gleaned from an expression in the Talmud in which one Rabbi asks another Rabbi, “Tell me, in which mitzvah was your father more observant?” An innocuous query at first glance, the question becomes puzzling upon learning that the father spoken of refers to a tzaddik who, no doubt, observed every mitzvah with 100% perfection.
What, then, was the deeper meaning of this question? In addition to the fact that he observed all the commandments flawlessly, there must have been some specific detail of this one mitzvah in which he devoted himself in greater measure than any other mitzvah.
The same is true of all tzaddikim: although, by definition, a tzaddik fulfills every mitzvah, there is some particular emphasis, some focus, that attracts a tzaddik in different ways. Just as different people are more specifically drawn to different areas of Jewish practice (e.g., a “doer” or a “learner”), a Rebbe would emphasize a certain area in his practice as well.
Certain Rebbes would devote themselves more to Torah study; others to prayer. Some had a special devotion to Shabbos while others emphasized the giving of tzedakah. For whatever spiritual reason, certain areas within Judaism inspired them in an exceptional way, and a Rebbe would devote his life in greater measure to that mitzvah over all others.
Our Patriarch Abraham, for example, was known for his emphasis on the performance of hachnosas orchim, welcoming guests into his home, and much is made of this in the account of his life in the Torah. Nevertheless, neither his son Isaac nor his grandson Jacob focused on this particular mitzvah in his Jewish practice.
Nobody would doubt that these great spiritual giants, Isaac and Jacob, observed the commandment of welcoming guests into their home, fulfilling the mitzvah as did their father and grandfather Abraham. But the Torah only records this quality in relation to Abraham because, while each tzaddik performed the mitzvah, Abraham’s primary source of inspiration came through this mitzvah. The primary source of inspiration for Isaac and Jacob came through the observance of other commandments.
In analogy, a person might be acquainted with a group of people and know that this one is inspired by art, this one by science, and another to expressing herself through music. If you would ask, which is the right mode of expression, could you find an answer?
Of course, when it comes to a natural inclination for particular talents or areas of self-expression, there is no right way. Each person has his or her own means of expression that helps bring out the strength of his talents in the optimum way.
Nevertheless, if a person is drawn to science, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t appreciate art or music. He may take great pleasure in looking at a beautiful painting or hearing an exquisitely orchestrated blend of voices. But he derives his main inspiration from science.
This concept applied to all of the Mezritcher Maggid’s chassidim (as it does the tzaddikim of today). They were all great tzaddikim, people of great spiritual capacity, who all followed the chassidic approach. Nevertheless, each one chose something within Jewish and chassidic practice from which to draw his main source of inspiration.
Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, one of the Maggid’s students, was renowned for speaking well of every Jew in an unprecedented way. Known as “the defender of the Jewish people,” whenever he saw anyone doing something wrong or pointing out another’s faults, he would always go out of his way to defend and justify whoever was being accused or criticized.
The Baal Shem Tov surely taught and stressed the importance of having love for, and finding the good in, every single Jew, and undoubtedly, every chassidic Rebbe exhibited this quality to the utmost. But why, in that generation, was Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev the only one credited with this particular attribute? Because this mode of behavior was the main aspect of Jewish practice that motivated and inspired him. Whoever studied with him and followed in his footsteps was also drawn to this particular path, receiving his main source of inspiration and vitality from the emphasis on this mitzvah.
So, too, the Alter Rebbe had a particular focus that characterized his path and that of those drawn to his Chabad movement. In his groundbreaking work Tanya, he describes his detailed approach of harnessing the mind to rule the heart; stimulating the heart and emotions in deeper levels of prayer through the intellectual understanding and in-depth study of chassidic teachings.
Other chassidic Rebbes were known for their emphasis in other areas, even though all of them were faithfully following the path of Chassidism, the path of the Baal Shem Tov.
One could attribute this to the nature of one’s soul, a kind of “spiritual chemistry,” in which one tzaddik’s spiritual chemistry would draw him to one area of Jewish practice while another tzaddik would derive his inspiration from an entirely different area.
Why would there need to be a difference in the spiritual chemistry of one tzaddik versus another? Surely G-d could have created all tzaddikim with the optimum — and therefore identical — approach!
Because, indeed, each tzaddik has a different spiritual mission in the world, and a tzaddik’s spiritual chemistry is designed to fulfill that mission. Since each generation has specific challenges to overcome and tasks to accomplish, a tzaddik is imbued with a certain spiritual chemistry to inspire the people to best conquer their challenges and fulfill their task.
The human body provides a good example of this phenomenon. The body is composed of many organs, each important in its own way, but all necessary to form a complete human being. Nevertheless, the function of the eye is different from the function of the ear. And the function of the ear is different from the function of the brain or heart, as is so with all the other organs. While every organ is important, and the function of each is necessary for the proper maintenance of the body as a whole, each fulfills a unique role in order to accomplish its specific purpose and mission.
Every tzaddik is like a different organ of the entire Jewish body with its own spiritual mission and function, each contributing a particular strength and purpose to make the whole “body” complete. No individual mission could be omitted and each plays a vital role in completing the entire mission. Thus they serve G-d by focusing and emphasizing on a very specific area in Torah and a specific area within the chassidic movement.
The Collective Soul
Throughout Jewish history, in every generation since the Beis HaMikdash there was always one tzaddik who was considered the Nasi, the leader and Rebbe, of the entire generation.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains in many places that the Alter Rebbe in his generation contained the neshamah, the soul, of all the souls of that generation, as did the Mitteler Rebbe who succeeded him. The same is true with all the Rebbes of Chabad, each one in his generation.
This can explain why the Alter Rebbe and the Chabad Rebbes who followed extended themselves way beyond the boundaries of their own community. Because their soul contained all the souls of that generation, it was their responsibility and mission to reach all these other people simply because they were Jewish, regardless of their affiliation or standing in the Jewish community.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, the collective soul of our generation, assumed the leadership of Chabad in 1950, establishing, under his personal direction, thousands of Chabad houses, yeshivahs, and Jewish day schools in almost every country in the world, from America to Armenia; Thailand to Siberia; China to Morocco. The Rebbe instituted an additional outreach effort in which yeshivah students are sent annually to corners of the world even more remote, to touch the lives of Jews who have had no opportunity to learn what it means to be a Jew. They make Shabbos meals, organize Torah classes, and give the Jews they are privileged to meet a sense of pride in their Jewish roots. As the collective soul, the Rebbe’s efforts concern every Jew in every corner of the world.
Much has been written and publicized about the Rebbe’s famous “Sunday Dollars Line,” where Jews from the most diverse communities — spiritually as well as geographically — would stand on line for hours just to receive a dollar for tzedakah and a blessing (sometimes with a request for advice) from the Rebbe.
The connection of a collective soul with every Jew goes well beyond the above-mentioned efforts. In fact, a collective soul feels the pain (and joy) of every Jew around the world in a real and tangible way. A young woman once told the Rebbe that she questioned his saying that he felt the pain of a particular tragedy she had undergone. He replied that one day, when she would get married and have a child, her child would begin teething. In the same way that she would feel the pain of her child teething, the Rebbe felt the pain of her particular struggle.
While tzaddikim are general souls with varying numbers of souls in their soul grouping, a collective soul, whose soul contains every soul and who is responsible for every single Jew, has an infinitely bigger mission.
Connecting to the Tzaddik
Although a tzaddik radiates spiritual light to the world, one can’t truly absorb or benefit from this light unless he or she is receptive to it. Sunlight is brilliant, but if the shutters are closed, the house won’t be illuminated by its light.
Similarly, one must be connected and open to a Rebbe in order to fully absorb and be affected by his light. Actively connecting to a Rebbe is the switch that allows that to happen. The Hebrew word hiskashrus means “connection,” and the full benefits of hiskashrus between a Rebbe and a chassid depends on the degree of the chassid’s efforts to connect.
How is that connection made? By studying a Rebbe’s teachings, requesting his blessings, relating stories about the Rebbe, singing his holy melodies (niggunim), and fulfilling his directives.
In Chabad, there are hundreds of volumes of the Rebbe’s teachings available for study; myriads of his directives guiding us in all areas of life. Increasing in the observance of these directives reinforces one’s hiskashrus to the Rebbe.
In addition to the above, there is the “crown jewel” — the one directive closest to the Rebbe’s heart and soul. As a natural corollary, the highest form of hiskashrus can be achieved when one follows the Rebbe’s most precious request:
The Rebbe reiterated hundreds of times the directive that every man, woman and child recognize his or her capacity, responsibility, and privilege to hasten Moshiach’s coming by spreading the wellsprings of chassidic teachings, learning about Moshiach, strengthening their belief in Moshiach, adding in Torah and mitzvos, adding in the realm of goodness and kindness, and publicizing this message to others. While Jews have always learned Torah and performed mitzvos, the innovation in the Rebbe’s request is that one’s every additional act of G-dliness be performed with the knowledge and intention that it is being done in order to bring Moshiach.
Dedicating ourselves to fulfilling the Rebbe’s wishes, and particularly his most heartfelt request, deepens the connection of a person — any person — to the Rebbe.
Why Now?
It is our great fortune to be part of this era in history when G-d has sent us such spiritual giants as the Baal Shem Tov and the chassidic Rebbes who followed to inspire Jews with a passion and love for G-d, profound joy in observing the mitzvos, and a path toward true unconditional love for every Jew. They have illuminated the world by teaching us the hidden G-dly wisdom in the Torah, performing phenomenal miracles, and pronouncing open prophecies — all with the goal of revealing G-d’s presence in the world.
Such a phenomenal outpouring of open G-dly light has not been seen since the times of the prophets. The question is, why now?
From one perspective, we are told that the ways and teachings of Chassidism were introduced to the world in the 1700s as a powerful antidote to the unprecedented low state of Jewish affairs at that time. Before the Baal Shem Tov was revealed as a tzaddik, the Jewish people were so spiritually weak that the “smelling salts” of Chassidism were necessary to revive them.
But from the opposite perspective, Chassidism has been revealed to us because of our unprecedented high spiritual position. With the approach of the seventh millennium since the Creation of the world — one millennium representing a day of the week and the seventh millennium representing Shabbos — the Baal Shem Tov revealed the light of Chassidism during the “last minutes before Shabbos” when we fervently prepare for our day of spiritual rest and rejuvenation. Because we are approaching the ultimate Shabbos, the era of Moshiach, we need the spiritually heightened awareness of G-d and the spiritual refinement that will prepare us for that. All the monumental spiritual accomplishments of the Rebbes and tzaddikim over the last three hundred years have only been a preparation — an orientation, so to speak — for something much greater.
What exactly are we being prepared for? A time when the world will enjoy the ultimate revelation of G-dliness, when G-d will present the world with a great spiritual king and leader, Melech haMoshiach, and the world will be filled with the knowledge of G-d, when all men and women will be inspired with the Divine gift of prophecy, evil will be completely eradicated, and there will be no wars, hate, or poverty.
Moshiach will be a collective soul, not only of this generation but — with the accompanying Resurrection of the Dead — of all the Jews of all the generations, and he will lead and inspire all Jews to see G-dliness in the most revealed way.
Regardless of our level of observance and our actions up until now, we have merited to experience this monumental era simply because of our great fortune to be born into it. Nevertheless, every person can enjoy additional merit by actively participating in bringing this about.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe has told us that the coming of Moshiach is imminent and that one single act can “tip the scale” to bring Moshiach now. It is our heartfelt prayer that the culmination of all the above should be now, that the Third Beis HaMikdash be built, that G-dliness permeate the entire world, and that we witness Moshiach leading the whole world to its complete Redemption.
