A remarkable story illustrating the power of sitting together תּודְחַאְּב is told about a Chassid of the Rebbe of Lublin.
Once a year he would travel to his Rebbe to be in his presence for Rosh Hashanah. However, one year, upon arriving in Lublin before Yom tov, he was ordered by the Rebbe to return home immediately. The Chassid was filled with sorrow as he had lost the opportunity to spend the holy day with his rebbe, and was left wondering what he had done wrong that his rebbe had rejected him. Despite his sadness, he obeyed the Rebbe's instruction and began his journey homeward.
Along the way, the Chassid stopped at an inn. There, he encountered a group of Chassidim who happened to be on their way to Lublin. As was customary, they sat together, drank lechayim, and offered heartfelt blessings to one another. The Chassid joined them and related his encounter, expressing his sadness and confusion about why he had been sent away by the Rebbe.
Moved by his story, the Chassidim urged him to try once again and return with them to Lublin. Despite his reservations, the Chassid eventually agreed and made his way back, where he hoped to find answers to the questions that had been weighing on his heart.
Upon reaching their destination, they went to see their rebbe and receive his blessing. The aforementioned Chassid joined their group and also approached the Rebbe. To their surprise, the Rebbe did not seem disturbed by his return at all. In fact, it was apparent from his expression that he was pleased that the Chassid had come back.
The Chassidim couldn't help but wonder why their Rebbe had initially rejected the Chassid and now accepted him with open arms. The Rebbe soon explained that he now had come to see the fulfilment of the words of Chazal, which state that “when Yidden sit together and drink lechayim, Hashem forgives them their iniquities”. “When the Chassid had first approached me”, the Rebbe said, “I have seen in heaven that it was decreed on the Chassid that he should pass away. Since I could not help him, I have instructed him to return home immediately, so that he would at least not die in a foreign place, away from home. But now, because the Chassid joined you as you sat and drank lechayim together with תּודְחַא and אֲהַבַת חֲבֵרִים, the decree was ultimately annulled”. (ברכה לחיים אות כח)
It is obvious that with these words the Rebbe of Lublin was not quoting a Midrash verbatim, especially given the fact that the concept of ‘lechayim’ did not exist in the times of Chazal. He was surely referring to a certain source from which he deduced that through a spiritual gathering, great things can be accomplished. Even a simple gathering like sitting together and drinking lechayim can cause immense achievements up to the point of atonement for one’s sins.
With the correct mindset, every time ehrliche Yidden come together can be a tremendous opportunity which can be beneficial for us both, spiritually and physically.
(Reb Yehuda Tzvi of Razdil used to repeat this Midrash in the name of his father-in-law, Reb Hershele of Ziditchoiv. He would add that although he had never found a source for this Midrash, he trusted that it was authentic since Reb Hershele repeated it.)
When yidden come together, the main point of assembly is that they should all unify as one, and seek the one purpose, to find Hashem. Wherever a group of ten Yidden is assembled, the Shechinah rests. And when everyone listens to his friend, and is small in their own eyes, seeking to hear and learn from each other how to best serve Hashem, with such intention, the rule of “more than the calf wants to feed the mother cow wants to feed him” will apply, meaning that Hashem he will undoubtedly come closer to us and be with us, and He will open up for us all gates of mercy, salvation and an abundance of berachos.
גוט שב ת
