Rav Biderman related the following story about one of the Slonimer Chassidim of the Rebbe the Yesod Ha’Avoda:
This Chassid traveled a far distance to be with the Rebbe for Shabbos. At the Friday night tisch the Rebbe asked him how he had traveled from his home and how his journey was. The Chassid answered that he had come riding on his donkey. The Rebbe was not satisfied and pressed his Chassid for further details, asking, “What would happen if you fell off your donkey while on the way?”
“I would get up, climb back on the donkey’s back and and continue on my journey,” replied the Chassid.
The Rebbe pressed him further, asking what would happen if he fell a second time. The Chassid answered, “I would pick myself up, climb back into the saddle and go on.”
This scenario repeated itself a few times, where the Rebbe challenged the Chassid to explain what he would do if he fell again, and the Chassid answering that he would get up and continue his journey, until the Chassid burst out in frustration, “Well, what should I do if not get up and go on? Should I just lie down on the floor and cry?”
This is what the Yesod Ha’Avoda had been waiting for. He turned to the Chassidim and said, “Do you hear what he is saying? What purpose does it serve to lie down defeated if we have fallen? Does it make sense to lie on the floor and weep? Rather, whenever we fall we must get ourselves up and keep going! Never give up – and keep fighting!”
