It’s not about who or what the Rebbe is or the greatness of the Rebbe. Each of us have to be able to define: What did I learn from this sicha? What did I learn from this maamar? How did this teaching change my mindset and way of life? How did this aspect of the Rebbe’s influence change my behavior and the way I live my life, so that I myself am a different person by virtue of being a chosid of the Rebbe?
Eich mit mir is about what the Rebbe means to me, and how my life is different because of him. It takes more effort and more toil, to internalize and personalize everything that we learn from the Rebbe’s Torah, in order that it be not merely lofty and holy words and inspirational ideas, but something that I truly understand and identify with, so that it can be something that I can live with and live by. But that provides the long term reassurance, not only do we return to life but we remain alive.
A visitor to the Rebbe once commented–upon realizing that the Rebbe was continuing a conversation of decades earlier–in surprise that that is amazing! The Rebbe responded immediately: “What benefit is it to the world that I am amazing?”
The Rebbe concerns himself with, and thinks about, and toils and davens for every single chosid. That is something that is truly amazing, and is part of the amazing connection that we have with the Rebbe. But that is the “mir mit eich”. It is up to us to work, each person “adaato denafshei”, each person according to his or her understanding and unique nature, to contemplate on and understand and appreciate in our own personal way what the Rebbe means to us, and what did I learn from him (from a sicha, a maamar, a farbrengen, a story etc.) today, and yesterday and so on. And that makes up our connection with the Rebbe!
L’chaim! May we all mark these special days of Kislev with both aspects that they contain, and may the Eibishter bring about the ultimate techiyas hameisim by resurrecting the entire Jewish nation, as well as providing reassurance that there will be no future death since we are entering the era of chayim nitzchiyim, through the immediate revelation of Moshiach Tzidkeinu TUMYM!!!
Rabbi Akiva Wagner
