Alter Rebbe’s Descendants Focus on His Life, Teachings and Nigunim

Over 200 Tzetzoim, descendants, of the Alter Rebbe assembled for their annual melaveh malka this past motzaei Shabbos. Among the attendees were Chabad Chassidim, members of other Chassidic groups as well, all united with the great privilege of numbering among the Alter Rebbe’s descendants.

Dvar Malchus
The gathering opened with remarks by Rabbi Shmuel Butman, chairman of the Association of the Descendants of the Alter Rebbe, and director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization.

Rabbi Butman noted the famous sichah of Shabbos Vo’eira 5744 when the Rebbe discussed the Alter Rebbe’s descendants and their annual gathering. In that sichah, the Rebbe focused on the nusach of the bracha we recite over Torah study. In contrast to other versions which state “May we, our descendants, and the descendants of our descendants,” the Alter Rebbe includes only “May we and our descendants.” The former version limits itself to only three generations, while the term “our descendants” on its own includes all future generations.

In the word וצאצאנו “Vetzeotzoeinu,” the Rebbe explains, the Alter Rebbe put in his son and successor, the Mitteler Rebbe, together with all descendants throughout all generations. We thus see that all the Tzetzoim, throughout all the generations, are included in one and the same word!

The Rebbe concluded that sichah by saying: “In order that the gathering of the descendants and their resolutions to follow in the Alter Rebbe’s ways be with additional success, they should take a bottle of mashkeh for the gathering from the present farbrengen, which has a special connection with the Alter Rebbe, being held the day before the anniversary of his passing.” The Rebbe then handed the bottle of mashkeh from his table to be used for the melaveh malka.

What is special about this year?
Rabbi Butman noted that that there are two aspects that are special this year. The first is that it is the year of Hakhel and the ultimate Hakhel is to gather all Jews together with the coming of Moshiach.

The year that concludes “R’du”
The second aspect is that this year is 210 years since the passing of the Alter Rebbe. Yaakov Ovinu told his sons רדו שמה “go down there” to Mitzrayim. Rashi says that the numerical value of the word רדו –R’du, is 210. Telling them that they will be in Mitzrayim for 210 years. This year is 210 years since the passing of the Alter Rebbe and the time for us to go out of Golus.

Studying the Alter Rebbe’s Teachings
Rabbi Butman announced the continuation of a worldwide initiative of dividing the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Oruch to be studied collectively in its entirety within the coming year.
Elegant folders were prepared with relevant pages according to the above division and distributed amongst the descendants who each committed to study parts of the Shulchan Aruch written by their ancestor—the Alter Rebbe.

It was impressive to see the descendants going home proudly with the folders they committed to study. “This is very special” said one of the descendants. “Each folder contains a unique section that you committed to study. This way, you feel a personal responsibility since if you don’t finish it, the entire collective study will be lacking.”

This was started at a Melave Malka of Tzetzoim several years ago, and proceeded in a worldwide effort. A website (Alterrebbe.org) has been set up where one can commit to study a section and download the relevant pages in PDF format. Throughout the year, several reminders will be sent to the participants regarding their commitment.

This campaign unites Jews across the globe in the study of the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchon Oruch.

Chalukah Alef Distributed 100%
At the time of this writing the entire Shulchon Oruch of the Alter Rebbe was already distributed 100% in “Chalukah Alef” – the first distribution. “Chalukah Beis” – the second distribution, is now at 35% with participants the world over. “Chalukah Beis was started for individuals who wanted to learn the same Halochos that were already previously “taken” by others.

Applying the teachings of the Alter Rebbe
Rabbi Dr. Bentzion Twersky, grandson of the Tzadik R’ Mordechai Dov of Hornesteipel, spoke of the special mission of the Alter Rebbe, and after him all Nesiim of Chabad, to worry for all Jews independent of their present status of observance.

The great privilege and responsibility
Rabbi Yochanan Twersky, a descendant of Reb Mordechai Dov of Harnasreipel and a Dayan in Beis Din of Kav Hayoshor, spoke about the great and sublime privilege of being a descendant of the Alter Rebbe. “this is a great privilege that comes with a great responsibility.”

The Shulchon Oruch of the Alter Rebbe basis for study in the Yeshivah world
In documented fashion, Rabbi Naftali Citron, Rov of the Carlebach Shul in Manhattan, proved methodically that many studies in the Yeshivah world have their roots in the Shulchon Oruch of the Alter Rebbe. Rabbi Citron is a great grand-son of Reb Schneur Zalman Schneerson, fifth generation of the Tzemach Tzedek.

Concluding and Beginning Anew
A siyum on the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch was made by Rabbi Shlomo Yehuda Segal, a Dayan in Crown Heights and descendant of the Alter Rebbe’s son Reb Moshe. He learned the final halacha and spoke about a related sichah of the Rebbe that discusses the desire of the Jewish people to be connected with Hashem at all times regardless of their situation.
Rabbi Michoel Seligson, an author and mashpia, son of the Rebbe’s doctor R’ Avrohom Aba Seligson z”l, a descendant of the Alter Rebbe, began the study anew by learning the first halacha and quoting the Rebbe’s explanation why the Shulchan Aruch begins with “Yehuda ben Teima says…” for every Jew is constantly thanking Hashem (related to the name Yehuda).

Alter Rebbe’s Nigunim
The Alter Rebbe teaches that a nigun enables a person to rise above and transcend any limitations they may find themselves in.
The descendants sang the ten nigunim of the Alter Rebbe with great awe and inspiration, led by Rabbi Yosef Zirkind with his sweet and pleasant voice. He is the son of Rabbi Yitzchok Zirkind z”l —son-in-law of Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Groner z”l. Rabbi Yitzchok Zirkind would regularly attend the annual gathering.

The music was played by the renowned musician Menachem Mendel Kraus who very ably accompanied the singer.

At this time the chairman announced what the Frierdiker Rebbe said that singing the nigun of the Arba Bovos, the “Four movements,” of the Alter Rebbe is like sending a Pan (personal petition) to the Alter Rebbe.

This was the highlight of the evening. “It is impossible to describe the unique atmosphere palpable in the room when the nigun was being sung,” said one of the descendants. It was an uplifting moment, when the participants felt elevated above the limitations of the physical world.”

Rabbi Butman concluded the evening by thanking his son Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Butman for his help in organizing the melaveh malka and blessed him that the merit of the Alter Rebbe should assist him in all his endeavors.

The descendants left the melaveh malka with the strong feeling that the Alter Rebbe, the first of the Chabad Rebbeim, began the work to prepare the world for Moshiach and that the Rebbe, the seventh, explicitly told us that we are standing in the final generation of golus and the first generation of the geulah, may it take place speedily!

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