The Rebbe Rashab asked his father to explain his intention in using each expression. The Rebbe Maharash answered that “redden Chassidus” applied when those hearing the explanation were appropriate vessels to understand and utilize the teaching.
Zuggen Chassidus, on the other hand applied to those who were not fitting vessels to understand and utilize the teaching. Nevertheless, the Torah lesson would eventually have its effect, on them, or on their children, or even their grandchildren!
According to our Rebbe, we can learn two things from this answer.
- How precise and exact is every move and expression of a Rebbe, in general, and everything a Rebbe tells someone.
- The greatness of zuggen Chassidus by a Rebbe. Even though at the time the teaching is heard it is apparently not internalized or even grasped externally by the listener, we must say that it is received and internalized. The proof is that years, even generations, later the person who heard, or his son or daughter, or even his grandchildren will be affected by the teaching.
The reason is that the Rebbe’s Torah is not just an ordinary piece of information that goes in one ear and out the other, [Like material that passes through a funnel as described in Pirkey Avos]
Rather, when a Rebbe delivers a Chassidic discourse or talks to someone, it represents a G-dly idea that becomes essentially embedded in the one who hears it, dwelling within him, so to speak.
Regarding Torah, the Novi Yirmiya (23:29) states “Is not My word like fire?” Just as fire purifies, the Rebbe’s words not only purify and clarify the subject but also, the listener. Yet sometimes, its effect is only apparent years or even generations later.
