The Alter Rebbe had a chosid who was very wealthy and very generous with the wealth that Hashem had blessed him with. He especially supported the projects of his Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe, with an open hand and kind heart.
Unfortunately, this chosid was also “blessed” with a difficult wife. Not only was she stingy and very bothered by all of her husband’s charitable activities, she also never ceased to harass him mercilessly about them. She would constantly pester him about why he’s giving away so much of their hard-earned money, and she made his life a misery. He was, however, a true chosid, and he continued in his altruistic practice and paid her no heed.
Once the couple was standing on the porch of their home, and she was – as was her custom – nagging him about the large sums of money he had given to the Alter Rebbe. He was trying to ignore her, and pushing her away from him.
Then it happened. While he was pushing her away, in his attempt to place some distance between himself and her terrible tongue, he inadvertently pushed her off the edge of the porch and she fell to the ground below, dying instantly r”l (and also ending her heartless haranguing quite abruptly).
The chosid realized what he had done and he was shocked and heartbroken (despite the relief from her ranting), and he immediately ran straight to the Alter Rebbe and cried to him about what he had done. The Alter Rebbe returned with him to the scene of the tragedy (where the body of the woman still lay), and bent down over the woman and whispered in her ear in Russian “Spoiled child, get up already” (I don’t know the Russian).
And, miraculously, the woman arose and returned to life! [And no, I never heard whether or not she changed her behavior. Why would she?]
Of course, the story itself is a remarkable story. Any incident of techiyas hameisim is something so extraordinary that it is noteworthy even when performed by one of the prophets of old. But the story may have more direct relevance to each of us: You see, everyone of us possesses – within us – a chosid. It is that voice that consistently prods us to do good deeds and improve ourselves. It is that positive force that propels us to be better ourselves and that draws us ever higher.
R’ Yekusiel Liepler: The Chosid Within
[R’ Yekusiel Liepler was one of the prominent chassidim of the Alter Rebbe (we read about him in the Hayom yom of the upcoming week (6 cheshvon) as well as rosh chodesh kislev). He was a simple fellow, but he devoted his whole self to the Alter Rebbe.
(One day he clambered up a wall, looked in at the window of the attic in which the Alter Rebbe was studying, and cried out, "Rebbe, chop off my left side!" When he was then admitted for yechidus, the Alter Rebbe said, "Is it not written, And You give life to them all?!" From that time on, R. Yekusiel began to live a truly spiritual life; he actually saw spiritual light).
When R’ Yekusiel would experience moments of revelation, he would erupt into extreme joy and ecstasy, grabbing the first person he would see and dancing with him excitedly. Oftentimes, this person would be the gentile mailman, who grew accustomed to R’ Yekusiel’s idiosyncrasies (as he saw them).
Eventually, the period of revelation departed as abruptly as it had come, and R’ Kushe’s conduct reverted to (relative) normal.
When he felt the state of revelation approaching, he would say “der chosid kumpt” (the chosid is coming), and when it would end, he would say “der chosid is gegangen” [the chosid departed]]
However, in addition to our inherent chosid, we also possess within ourselves a... well... a whining wife. We have the internal voice that is always complaining: ‘Why are you spending so much money on tzedaka, you could give half that amount and still be considered generous?!’ ‘Why do you need to spend so much time learning, take it easy and relax a bit!’ ‘Why is it necessary to wake up so early? You are still so tired, and it is so early. Sleep a bit longer!’ What makes you think it is necessary to be so intense and extreme about your chassidishkeit? Chill out a little! Lighten up a bit!’
Inevitable a shoving match develops, or a tug of war, with each voice trying to get the upper hand. It is the quintessential conflict between the nefesh hoElokis and the nefesh haBehamis, with each trying its best to prevail.
R’ Aharon Strashela: The Power of Influence
[One of the greatest talmidim of the Alter Rebbe was R’ Aharon Strashela (a.k.a. Mesushelach). He had been a chavrusa and a very close friend of the Mitteler Rebbe (to the point that the Alter Rebbe remarked about them (ןירתןיעראלדןישרפתמ). However, later differences arose between them (some of which were discussed in an earlier email).
After the histalkus of the Alter Rebbe, R’ Aharon went on to head his own dynasty, drawing a number of the Alter Rebbe’s chassidim away from the Mitteler Rebbe. Besides being a great chosid, R’ Aharon was known to be extremely dynamic and very charismatic. He had a very strong pull on all who met him.
Once, 2 chassidim of the Mitteler Rebbe needed to attend a chasuna of a relative where they expected R’ Aharon to be present. They knew that he would recite a maamar there, and they were fearful that his tremendous charisma would overwhelm them and they would forget to return to Lubavitch. To protect themselves, they devised a plan: During the maamar they would grasp a handkerchief together, and if either would see that his friend is ‘coming too strongly under the influence’, he would tug on the hanky to catch his attention and bring him back.
Sure enough, during the simcha R’ Aharon said a maamar, and both chassidim were very much attracted to it. Each noticed the effect that it was having on his friend, and the both began pulling on the handkerchief simultaneously. The handkerchief couldn’t handle the pressure and tore in half, and both of them ended up remaining in Strashela.
We, too, are frequently in a similar predicament as the hapless hanky. Both of our tenants; - the chosid and the wife – are aggressively trying to pull away our “self” from the influence of the other, to the point that we sometimes feel that we are in danger of being torn in half ch”v].
In this wrestling match, one of two things can sometimes result: - one, as in the story, is that the chosid can totally defeat his opponent. He pushes her off the edge and vanquishes her. This is as the Alter Rebbe describes in Tanya “Harago betaanis”, - he eradicates his animalistic inclination by pushing it back, suppresses it and restricting it, until it is pushed into oblivion.
More often, however, the results are the opposite. The constant badgering of the nefesh haBehamis, its’ endless desires and wants and whining, will wear down the internal chosid to such a degree that, when the Alter Rebbe comes running over, it is the chosid that he sees lying lifeless on the ground r”l. Oftentimes, the constant struggle proves too daunting to us, and we find it much easier to just allow ourselves to be pushed over the edge of the porch.
But, never fear! Even when we feel like we are lying lifeless and defeated, there is still hope.
In fact, this is what the month of Tishrei was for. Regardless of what state we may have been in coming into Tishrei, these wonderful yomim tovim were there to renew, recharge and resurrect us. These special times and experiences of this chodesh kloli of the year were to inspire us, uplift us, embrace us and whisper into our ears: “Spoiled child, get up already”!
A child may feel hopeless, dejected and lifeless. He may lose all his optimism and zest for life. Suddenly his father/teacher/friend grabs him and engulfs him in a loving embrace. The boy is filled with a new hope in life. This is exactly what the Eibishter does to us with the mitzvah of Sukkah; - we are completely engulfed in his loving embrace, reaching its amazing climax on Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah.
During these yomim Tovim many chassidim try hard to be as much as possible in the daled amos of the Rebbe. We relive the Rebbe davening with us, dancing hakafos with us and farbrenging with us. We re-experience the inspiration and guidance that he gives us, as we picture him bending over us and whispering in our ear: “Spoiled child, get up already”!
But now is the time to “unpack” our pecklach. On Shabbos Noach we have to internalize all that we acquired over Tishrei, and figure out how to apply it to the coming year. Now is the time to actually act upon all the new strengths with which we were empowered, and ensure that we indeed take advantage of them
Undoubtedly, the most effective way to carry this out is through hachlotos tovos, through practical and concrete resolutions about what we will do – effective immediately – to increase and enhance our Torah and mitzvos, to actually get up.
Specifically, everyone of us needs to find ways to learn more chassidus. Whether you set up a new chavruso (in chassidus), attend a new shiur or just spend more time (and effort) learning a maamar solo, this is the most powerful tool to really understand and identify with the underlying message of all of the Tishrei yomim tovim; - Hashem Hu HoElokim Ein Oid Milvado!
Reb Itche the Masmid: The Power of Shiurim in Chassidus
[One simchas Torah, the celebrated chosid Reb Itche the masmid called over 2 of the elder chassidim who were present, and told them that he wanted them to join him in forming a beis din. He then proceeded to issue a “psak”;- anyone (of the balebatim present) who would not attend the daily shiur chassidus (in Toras Ohr and Likkutei Torah) that he was announcing, would not be איצומםתנש (would not survive the year ch”v).
All of the balebatim had to work many hours each day, and the shiur took place early in the morning, before the early shacharis. Yet no one ever missed the shiur chassidus that year. Everyone took R’ Itche the masmid seriously, and no one would take a chance with his “psak”.
If someone was nonetheless tempted to sleep in, his wife would throw him out of bed. All of the women knew of the ruling, and none of them wanted to take a chance at becoming an almono hr”l.
Surely one of the main messages of the story is that the practical way to draw the experience of simchas Torah into the following year is through increased shiurim in chassidus, and learning chassidus with mesirus nefesh (and to think, today people complain when a hanholo gives a bochur a knas of a few dollars for missing chassidus. Look at R’ Itche’s idea of a knas!).]
Let us all take to heart the message of this week, “bo el hateiva”, throw yourself into another word of Torah, of davening, of chassidus, and this will lift us up above the raging waters threatening to engulf us, and carry us aloft safely. Our techiyas hameisim, our personal revival, already took place; now it is our zechus and responsibility to take advantage of it, to actually live with the spiritual life of Yiddishkeit and Chassidishkeit!
L’chaim! May we all do our part to get up and fulfill the possuk קומי אורי כי בא אורך, and may the Eibishter in turn do His part to pick us up and complete the process of our resurrection – along with that of all of the neshamos from all generations - with the immediate hisgalus of Melech haMoshiach TUMYM!!!
Rabbi Akiva Wagner
