Lechatíchilah Ariber
- For a start, we should follow his foremost directive, which, as summarized in his famous saying, means conducting ourselves in a manner of lechatíchilah ariber.
Such was the Rebbe Maharash’s own unique way – a “ba’al-shem’ske conduct” – to the extent that lechatíchilah ariber became his appellation.
Even in Mundane Affairs
- We should apply this mode of conduct to our observance of Torah and Mitzvos and even to our mundane affairs – which are to be accomplished in the spirit of the instruction “Let all your deeds be for the sake of Heaven,” and “Know Him in all of your paths.”
- We should use this mode to conduct our personal affairs, as well as when interacting with others.
When Studying
- We should certainly apply this approach in relation to our increased study of the Rebbe Maharash’s teachings. (This should be accompanied by an increase in study of all areas of Torah – both its “revealed” dimension as well as its inner teachings that are explained in Chassidus).
- We should use this approach when studying alone, as well as when studying with others.
Hafatzah
- We should particularly apply this approach when studying and disseminating Chassidus to every Jewish man, woman and child – with the result that we flood the entire world with the wellsprings of Chassidus.
At the Outset
- The innovation approach of lechatíchilah ariber is mainly that the mode of ariber, “going over,” is not reserved for specific occasions and circumstances. In other words, it is not a mode that should only be considered subsequent to having accomplished an orderly and progressive divine service. Rather, we should apply it to begin with.
There are two modes of conduct that accord with the Torah – one is an orderly and progressive approach, the other a mode that springs over and defies the confines of order. One might have thought to begin with an orderly conduct and only then progress to the higher mode of ariber... As is emphasized in the beginning of the Rebbe Maharash’s adage: “The world says that if we cannot go underneath, then we should go over...” In other words, there is a mode of conduct that involves going “underneath,” and such a conduct is also valid according to Torah. Were that not the case, the Rebbe Maharash would not have compared the two modes of conduct in the first place [for why bother mentioning an invalid approach?!]. Rather, this first mode [is certainly valid, and] entails operating within the limitations imposed by the nature of the world (which was created as such by Hashem) – “The world says, etc.” The Rebbe Maharash’s innovation is that we should instead conduct ourselves in a manner that reaches beyond nature.
This then affects our subsequent conduct, so that all matters of divine service are accomplished in a manner of lechatíchilah ariber – including matters that pertain to a steady and orderly service, i.e., they too are accomplished in a manner of ariber!
This fact is underscored by the juxtaposition of Pesach [Pesach means “jumping over”] and the counting of the Omer: The very start of the Jewish people’s divine service (that began with the birth of the Jewish nation on the first Pesach [the exodus from Egypt]) was accomplished in a mode of “leaping and jumping.” They began with ariber. Only then did they use this mode to influence their steadily-progressive conduct represented by the daily counting of the Omer. This is alluded to in the birth of the [Rebbe Maharash,] architect of the mode of lechatíchilah ariber. Notably, he was born at the beginning of the month of Iyar, the month of the counting of the Omer. This teaches us that the mode of lechatíchilah ariber should also permeate our orderly divine service, as represented by the counting of the Omer. Further, within the month of Iyar, his birthday is on a regular day – well after the conclusion of the festival of Pesach, and only after the entire month of Nissan [in which we do not recite tachanun due to the influence of Pesach – Ed.] has passed, and even after Rosh Chodesh Iyar [for Rosh Chodesh is also a semi-festive day]. Rather, the Rebbe Maharash was born specifically on the 2nd day of Iyar. This serves to stress how even at the very outset (lechatíchilah) we should go ariber.
Ariber involves a mode of conduct that is “elevated and raised.” Moreover, we should act this way lechatíchilah, i.e., this “elevated” conduct should not come only after a while, following many accomplishments in divine service – but rather, we should act thus immediately, at the very beginning of divine service ... We could even suggest, with almost certainty, that the exactitude of the phrase “lechatíchilah ariber” also includes attaining the highest levels right at the very outset.
