What's Your Only True Happiness?
“You know, sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.”
The story goes that Itzhak Perlman finished a violin concerto with only three strings and uttered that quote. It's not clear that the story is true but the sentiment is a worthy one.
Chabad shulchim convention group photo before COVID hysteria:
"There are some rabbis whose expertise lies in saving Jewish souls through teaching about Torah and its precepts and Judaism in general and bringing Godliness into all areas of life. This requires a nuanced approach combing a gentle touch with steadfast commitment among ways to promote Judaism." Lubavitcher Rebbe
Q:
What is the difference between Chassidim and the mussar movement?
A:
Chassidim have built their ideology mostly on the presence and the influence of a Rebbe. The Rebbe is a man who has a lot of authority and therefore he influences them, either by direct personal contact or indirect contact by means of the chief chassidim. I don’t know how it is today but in the olden days the chief chassidim used to go out from the Rebbe’s place and they used to travel back to their hometowns and every town had somebody who was considered the main authority of his Rebbe’s chassidus. And they used to gather in that little shtibel and he used to sit with them around the table at various times and on special occasions; sometimes there was a little whiskey and cake on the table too and he told them stories about the Rebbe and words from the Rebbe and inspired people. Some of them used to travel too. Some Rebbes traveled, but some were stationary, each one in his town. And so the Rebbe spread his influence by means of these sheluchim. And many times people came to him in the thousands for Yom Tov or even for a Shabbos and they were influenced.
Mussar was an entirely different movement. Mussar was a movement where people took the statements of Chazal or statements from mussar seforim and they studied them and they began saying it over to themselves in a way that little by little it penetrated. That’s one of the tenants of mussar, to repeat certain statements over and over, gradually letting it enter your mind more and more. Sometimes in one evening, let’s say in the yeshiva in a half hour, you might say the same thing, the same possuk or maamar chazal over a hundred times, but with a niggun, a melancholy and meditative niggun and sometimes people became quite excited over that. Motzei Shabbos they sat in the dark for an hour and they repeated maamarei Chazal to themselves aloud. And the end, before the hour was over, some people were in ecstasy.
I myself recall certain things I said to myself that I always had known before, but I repeated it so many times that it became illuminated in my mind and thereafter I could never forget them anymore. And so, mussar is a system of training the thoughts and also training the qualities of characters by various exercises.
TAPE # 467
Go to parshagems.com & listen to 2-min parsha insights.
F 6 The Rebbe Rashab
This Shabbos is Chof Marcheshvan, the 160th
birthday of the Rebbe Rashab, (and therefore the kapital tehillim said for him
is kapital 11). While at every yom holedes of the Rebbeim, I try to write
something about them, this time, I am coming with a much deeper appreciation of
the Rebbe Rashab and understanding of his life and accomplishments.
As I posted in previous posts, I have recently sent his
648 page biography to the printer, and in this weeks’ post, I would like to
share some of the points that I learned.
If you ask a Lubavitcher to describe the Rebbe Rashab, the
answer you will receive is that he founded Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, and is the
Rambam of Chassidus. His community activities were concerning the ongoing war
with the maskilim and their associates including the Czar’s ministers, who were
determined to undermine the chinuch of Jewish children. Furthermore he stood up
for the rights of every Jew, to live with dignity and be allowed to earn a
livelihood in the profession he so desired.
We also know that he was involved in the infamous Beilis
blood libel, providing the defense lawyers with assistance and in fact the
leading lawyer Gruzenberg, concluded his defense by addressing Mr. Mendel
Beilis and giving over the Rebbe’s message; “If the jury and judges will ignore
the truth and pronounce you guilty, realize you are not the first Jew to be
persecuted. Remember that our ancestors died to sanctify G-d’s holy name with
the words Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad.
All the above is true and is truly an impressive amount of
accomplishments. However, it is so incomplete, almost a distortion of his
accomplishments and by limiting it to just these few impressive things, we are
in fact minimizing, his true greatness.
Let us now fill in the picture a little bit, topic by topic.
TOMCHEI TMIMIM
He established Tomchei Tmimim and then opened up numerous branches
of it in Russia and even in Eretz Yisroel, which he called Toras Emes. But he
established much more than just a network of Yeshivos. In Lubavitch, some years
before establishing the yeshiva, he founded, Chevras Poalei Tzedek, a society
for workers. He hired a melamed to teach the storekeepers basic halachos and
explain to them what can be learned from the stories in Ein Yaakov (the stories
mentioned in the Talmud). These storekeepers, came early to shul, to say some
tehillim and learn before they davened and went to work.
Interesting to point out, one of the maskilim in Lubavitch
informed the officials that the Rebbe established an illegal society and he was
taken in for questioning. This was just one of the times he was threatened by
the authorities to be arrested. During the conference of rabbonim in 5670 (1910),
he was actually put under house arrest.
In 5662 (1902), he joined with the Slonimer Rebbe to promote
such societies throughout Russia, under the umbrella name of Chevras Machazikei
HaDas. Some years later in 5667 (1907), when he spent almost a year in Germany,
Rabbi Breuer discussed with him to make an international society of religious
Jewry. Rabbi Breuer felt that it would help the observant Jews in Germany and
elsewhere to remain firm, knowing that they too are part of a powerful and
large movement.
The Rebbe Rashab then helped him formulate His’agudas
Hayirei’im. This ultimately evolved into what the conference in Katowitz where
Agudas Yisroel was founded. However, for various reasons, the Rebbe ultimately
decided not to join.
Throughout most of his life, he was not in the best of
health and traveled to various health resorts in numerous countries. Although
he was going for health reasons, he used the opportunity to meet with numerous
rabbonim and discussed with them how to help Russian Jewry, both in the
spiritual sense and the materialistic sense.
One of the places that this was more noticeable than others
was In Uzbekistan (Samarkand) and Georgia. Throughout his nesius, he encouraged
his cousin, Reb Shlomo Yehudah Leib Eliezrov, who was a Rov in Chevron, and
visited Uzbekistan on behalf of the Sephardic Jews in Chevron, to remain there
for numerous years and become the Rov in the city of Samarkand.
He also sent Reb Shmuel Levitan to Kutaisi, Georgia to open
up a yeshiva there. His success was so great that over the next few years, the
Rebbe sent additional rabbonim and Tmimim who opened up yeshivos in nine other
towns and cities.
RAMBAM OF CHASSIDUS
Yes, many chassidim have learned the hemshech (series of
maamoirim) that he began saying on Rosh Hashanah 5666 (1905). Others have even
learned the three volume hemshech which he began saying on Shavuos 5672 (1912)
and continued saying until he left the town of Lubavitch over three years
later, due to WW1. In these hemshechim, he expounded and clarified numerous
deep concepts of Chassidus.
However, just like his great-grandfather and namesake the Mitteler Rebbe, who wrote seforim
geared to various levels of his chassidim’s understanding, the same is true by
the Rebbe Rashab. As noted he founded a society for the simple Jews who were
storekeepers, and wrote specifically for them Kuntres U’mayon.
Seeing a general lack of enthusiasm in davening, he wrote
Kuntres HaTefillah and then Kuntres Ha’Avodah and for the Tmimim he wrote a
handbook of what is the goal and purpose of the yeshiva, and wrote Kuntres Eitz
HaChayim.
So while he personally delved into the deepest concepts of Chassidus,
many of his teachings were geared towards the chossid or Jew that wasn’t so
knowledgeable in these concepts.
BATTLING THE MASKILIM and the ism’s
The battle with the maskilim, began in the days of the Alter
Rebbe and continuously intensified. The Rebbe Rashab personally pleaded with
Baron Gunsberg, not to open a school in Lubavitch. However, he turned him down
and made sure to build an impressive one in Lubavitch. Some years later, the
students of that school attacked the Yeshiva and even tried twice to
assassinate the Rebbe’s only son, who was the menahel of the yeshiva. Yes, it
wasn’t always pleasant.
But at the same time, when the Rebbe Rashab obtained
permission and assistance from the government to send matzos to the Jewish
soldiers in the Russo-Japanese war of 1905, although he once again refused to
assist the Rebbe, saying there is always a pesach sheini, the Rebbe decided to
appoint his son, Baron David as the chairman of this undertaking. Some years
later, he convinced him to save the Rom printing press, so that Russian Jewry
can have one Jewish press.
One of the major battles began after the maskilim persuaded
the philanthropic agency JKA to grant them a million francs to expand their
schools. The Rebbe spearheaded a battle against it and ultimately succeeded to
cut off this funding. However, being that over 650,000 francs were earmarked
for Russian Jewry and not spent, the Rebbe convinced them to use it to open up
a weaving factory, giving two thousand Jewish families a decent and honorable
source of income.
He also championed the cause that a Jew if he chose should
be allowed in an University, and be allowed to earn a livelihood.
COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES
I was under impression, that just as he appointed his son,
the Frierdiker Rebbe to be the actual administrator of the yeshiva, the same
thing is that when he appointed him as his personal secretary and made the
krisas bris (or the Akeida), he gave him the power to deal with all communal
issues. This allowed him to contemplate on Chassidus to his heart’s content. While
this is true to a certain sense, it gives a false narrative.
Yes, the Frierdiker Rebbe traveled and spoke on his behalf.
Yes, he was authorized to make decisions and often did so. But whenever, it was
possible to delay the answer for even a short time, the Frierdiker Rebbe would
ask, either, verbally or through a letter or telegram, for his father’s
guidance. He was involved in everything.
He worked tirelessly to help the Jewish soldiers who were at
the war front, and then organized assistance to help Jews settle in the big
cities, after the government evicted them from their homes at the onset of WWI.
He then bought a printing press and printed both Ashkenaz and Sephardic
siddurim, that a siddur should be available.
Another misconception is that until he fully accepted the
nesius on Rosh Hashanah 5654 (1893), eleven years after his father’s histalkus,
he wasn’t involved in communal affairs. For example, only after then, did he
actively participate in leading Colel Chabad. But, I found that in Tishrei of
5652 (1891), he successfully interceded on behalf of hundreds of Jewish
families who were incarcerated or threatened to be expelled from their homes.
BEILIS BLOOD LIBEL
The Rebbe’s involvement in this case was way more than I
imagined. Yes, he allowed the lawyer to use his vast library as reference to
refute the claims of the prosecutor. He advised the lawyer how to conclude his
summation at the end of the trial. But, he did much more.
He instructed the chossid Reb Mendel Chein, to be in Kiev
throughout the trial (ultimately six weeks), and assist the lawyer with his
knowledge of halacha in every matter possible. Furthermore, I didn’t realize
that the governments’ claim was that Mendel Beilis murdered on behest of the
Rebbe. They stated that Mendel Beilis doesn’t need a gentiles blood for his
matzos, but chassidim and especially tsaddikim do. So Mr. Beilis, what is your
connection Rabbi Schneersohn?
However, this wasn’t the only time the Rebbe was involved
with lawyers to help a Jew. In fact, the Rebbe established a fund and committed
to cover fifty percent of all lawyers fees to defend any Jew that was falsely
accused by the authorities.
HIS HEALTH
Until he became nineteen, the Rebbe Rashab was in robust
health. Although some officials desperately wanted the Rebbe Maharash’s son to
officially join the army, they all agreed that Reb Zalman Aharon’s health
precluded him from doing so. However, when the Rebbe Rashab became eligible for
the draft, they insisted on him doing so.
Ultimately the Rebbe Maharash was able to obtain an
exemption, however, the following year the Rebbe Rashab had a serious bout of
tuberculosis and that affected his health for the remainder of his life. If
that is what triggered his other ailments, such as a weak heart, is not clear.
But that is the reason why every winter, he went to various health resorts, and
in the summer he went to a country home. Numerous times throughout his life,
the doctors voiced their concern that they might not be able to help him.
Additionally, he had no feeling in one arm.
I mention all this to bring out his greatness. The
accomplishments noted above are only a fraction of what he did. It would take a
“giant” of a man to accomplish that. How much more so is this, when you are
dealing with someone who constantly had to be concerned about his health, and
was away from his home every year for a few months, in the winter and summer?!
But nevertheless, he threw everything to the side in order to help Russian (and
world Jewry) Jewry, collectively and individually.
This weeks’ post is l’zechus the complete and immediate
healing for my sister Chaya RivKa bas Cheyena and all those in need of a
brocha.
Rabbi Avtzon is the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim
and their chassidim and can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com
posted with permission
| Birth | 1766 Tkc"o Assaba | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| demise | 1828 (age 62 approximately) twenty-two Tishrei Tkf"t Strslh | ||
| Burial place | Streshla | ||
| Gentlemen | Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Ladi | ||
| His essays | Gates of work, work of the Levite, secret of saints | ||
| father | Rabbi Moshe Halevi Horowitz | ||
| offspring | Rabbi Michael David, Rabbi Chaim Raphael | ||
| |||
Rabbi Aharon HoLevi Horovitz MiStrashela (Staroszele) ( 1766 - twenty-two Tishrei , 1828 ) was a student of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi , and one deputy. Wrote a commentary to Tanya
Born to R. Moshe HoLevi Horovitz, in Asba, in the Vitebsk region . His family is attributed to Rabbi Yeshayohu HoLevi Horovitz (the Shelah HoKodosh)[1]. He was a member of the household and a definite disciple of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, and served as a guide for students . When his rabbi was imprisoned, he acted to release him and collected 60,000 rubles in exchange for his release. He would repeat Chassidus together with his own commentaries, which Rabbi Yehudoh Leib of Janowitz (brother of Rabbi Shneur Zalman and author of the book "She'eris Yehuda") did not like, as he was very precise in his brother's language and caused friction between them.[2], At one point his rabbi ordered him to leave Liadi and did not allow him to return for about three years[3], During this period he lived in the town of Orsha . Part of the method of Rabbi Dover Shneori, son of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, in understanding the "Book of the Tanya". Following this after the death of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi he established his own courtyard . His melodies appear as part of Chabad melodies . During his tenure as Rebbe he wrote annotations in the teachings of Hasidism, which are characterized by a simple and clear style, despite their preoccupation mainly with abstract issues: belief in the oneness of God , love and reverence for God . In 1825 he was banned due to gossip with Rabbi Dover Shneuri. He died in 1828 .
After his death, his son Rabbi Chaim Raphael took his place. After the death of his son, some of his followers returned to Chabad-Lubavitch, some turned to Rabbi Yisrael Dov Ber of Vilednik, a large group delved into his writings without a rabbi and guide and the rest dispersed to the Hasidim of the area.
Rabbi Aharon thought[4] That the words of the Torah recited by the next Rebbe do not have to be close and subject to the words of the old Rebbe but are only founded on them by adding annotations and innovations that deviate from the rules and issues discussed in the previous Rebbe's teaching, while Rabbi Dover believed that chassidic sermons must be kept within the framework of The first Rebbe.
Rabbi Aharon also believed that the center of a person's life is not the Rebbe but the Torah he passes on to his disciples. Therefore it is not necessary to adhere to the rabbi's way of life but to study his Torah, while Rabbi Dover considered the Rebbe to be the center of the Hasid's life. The Tzaddik saw it as a "revelation" of the Tzaddik.
Another issue in which his part is the issue of admiration, in the opinion of Rabbi Aharon an admiration of divine interest should be expressed outwardly in prayer in many voices and movements. On the other hand, Rabbi Dover in the Pamphlet of Admiration believed that admiration should be "divine admiration" meaning: that admiration should be only in the soul inward and should not show outward and prayer should be quiet and without movements, Rabbi Aharon called "admiration of flesh life" meaning that admiration is external Only and does nothing in man himself.
Two of his melodies appear in the Chabad Nigunim book and from there to the Heichal Hanegina project[5], Another melody of his is performed by Rov Yo'ir of Kaliv[6].
His books were not printed beyond or near their first editions, and were rare, but since the 1970s , they have been printed in many editions.[11], And widely distributed, by Rov Avrohom Moishe Krois (related to Rov Yoelish Krois, neighbor of Rov Yisroel Mayer Hirsch), a follower of Toldos Aharon. In addition, the Chabad Library in New York has many manuscripts of his unpublished teachings, articles and letters.
The relationship between his teachings and the teachings of his rabbi, Baal HaTanya, and that of his son, Rabbi Dover, employed many scholars and thinkers, inside and outside Hasidism. .
| concealmentThe period of Rabbi Aharon MiStrashela's life on the timeline |
|---|