Tonight, is the very special day of Yud daled kislev. It is a day that the Rebbe himself defined, as “der tog vos hot farbunden mir mit eich un eich mit mir” [the day that brought about the connection between me and you, and you with me]. What more do we need to appreciate the specialness of this date.
But there is an obvious question: The Rebbe never expressed himself in empty phrases or meaningless prose (ch”v). We saw repeatedly that every single word uttered by the Rebbe was calculated and significant. Why then the seeming redundancy in the above statement? It is the day that brought about the connection between chassidim and the Rebbe. What is the significance of the 2 distinct aspects of the day; - “mir mit eich un eich mit mir”, why not simply between us?
The answer (lichura) – in the terminology of chassidus (and especially some Kislev maamorim) – is that there are indeed two distinct aspects to the connection, there is a connection למעלה למטה, “mir mit eich”, and a connection milmato limaalo, “eich mit mir”.
Which means (briefly, the nekuda): the main connection is because the Rebbe accepted and agreed to be our Rebbe. When we follow his directives, when we live our lives according to his guidance, then we are connected to him. And, obviously, that connection is the primary goal for us. But, there is another aspect to the connection, “eich mit mir”, the milmato limaalo. That is experiencing the connection with our own nature and our own chushim. It is a connection based on us, our personality and senses. It includes what we learn, about how chassidim would set aside time to focus on their own personal feelings of love and hiskashrus to the Rebbeim.
In the context of the above, perhaps we can add: The connection of “eich mit mir” needs to be based on the connection of “mir mit eich”. If you start with your rich hergeshim, as lofty and beautiful as they may be, if they are not based on the genuine preoccupation with “mir mit eich”; - with connecting with the Rebbe in the way that he defined, then they are of dubious value! What makes us connected is the decision of the Rebbe to be connected with us, and the way that he enables that connection to occur. What we can do is ensure that that connection is ours as well, that we work with our metzius to internalize it and live it and experience.
Let us, then, take advantage of these special days to ensure that the hisorerus influences and affects our conduct and behaviour. And may the celebration of the chasuna of Yud daled Kislev, nizkorim venaasim, be the hachono krova to the ultimate chasuna between the Eibishter and Yidden, with the geulah of Moshiach NOW!
L’chaim!!! הימים האלו נזכרים ונעשים, let us see to it that this day, once again, reinforces and strengthens the connection between the Rebbe with us, and between us with the Rebbe. And that should, in turn, strengthen our connection with the Eibishter Himself, a connection that should become clearly visible to all, with the immediate hisgalus of Melech haMoshiach TUMYM!!!
Rabbi Akiva Wagner
