Fervent Commitment
Why do Chassidim come to 770? For some, it is for advice, others for inspiration. But ultimately, it is to share with their leader and each other their strength, devotion, and attention to all matters, spiritual and physical. The Avner Institute presents tender encounters with the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe—the worried reactions to the Rebbe’s health and the willingness to do everything for the Rebbe’s recovery.
In loving memory of Hadassah Lebovic A”h
On the 9th of Adar, 5700 /1940, the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of blessed memory, came to the “lower hemisphere”—our material world. The following are a collection of stories told about the Rebbe by his Chassidim. (From the notes of Rabbi Avrohom Weingarten, a”h.)
Years in Thought
Rabbi Shmuel Levitin relates:
At the end of Cheshvan 5705/1944 the Previous Rebbe fell sick and remained in poor health for about three weeks. Thanks to the Almighty, by Yud-Tes (19) Kislev, the day celebrating the liberation of the first Lubavitcher Rebbe from Russian prison, his health improved, and he began writing letters.
During the Rebbe’s sickness, one of Rabbi Levitin’s daughters asked their father, “What can we do spiritually so the Rebbe will recover?”
Her father replied, “I don’t know.”
She asked again, “Would it be worthwhile for each one to bequeath some of his own years to the Rebbe?”
Her father replied, “That needs to be done in thought.”
According to Rabbi Shmuel Gurary, a few days after the Previous Rebbe fell sick, his secretary Rabbi Chaim Lieberman found a list of notes from the year 5681, when the Rebbe had suffered typhus. In this list were signatures of community members, the students and Chassidim, who offered years of their lives for the Rebbe’s health.
Upon Reaching this Season
On Thursday, 5 Teves 5705/1944, the Rebbe’s condition had improved, and he was permitted by the doctors to receive a few of the people closest to him. However, on one condition—that he not talk at all; only his visitors could speak. And he should be careful not to get excited.
On Tuesday evening, following the public fast day of the 10th of Teves, elder rabbis and distinguished community members entered the Rebbe’s room at the Rebbe’s request. The ones who entered were Rabbis Shmuel Levitin, Eliyahu (Yochil) Simpson, Yisroel Jacobson, Berel Chaskind, Yochanan Gordon, Shmuel Zalmanov, Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky, Moshe Dovber Rivkin, and Shneur Zalman Gurary.
This was a happy day for the Chassidim and community – so much so, that Rabbi Levitin emotionally recited the SheHechiyanu blessing, “upon reaching this season.”
Rabbi Gurary was sick at the time. Suffering greatly from kidney stones, he was told by his doctor that he needed an operation. At the sight of Rabbi Gurary, the Previous Rebbe asked, “How are you?”
Rabbi Gurary, unsure what to say, answered, “We had agreed not to speak because of the Rebbe’s weakness.”
“But I’m asking,” the Rebbe insisted.
Rabbi Gurary had no choice. He told the Rebbe about his health and the surgery which his doctor said was necessary.
The Rebbe replied, “Tell the doctor that an operation is unnecessary. Drink a cup of milk every day—not strong—and sometimes you can have a piece of herring, but not the way the herring is eaten, and you will be fine!”
Afterwards, Rabbi Gurary went to the doctor, who examined him and said, “I don’t see any kidney stones.”
Healing of the Feet
Rabbi Yisroel Gustman (then Rosh Yeshiva in Tomchei T’mimim – 770) wrote a request and a letter to the Previous Rebbe wishing him a speedy recovery. After his condition improved, the Rebbe wrote an answer to Rabbi Gustman with a very nice blessing. Given the sheer number of letters and requests to the Rebbe that went unanswered, Rabbi Gustman was especially appreciative.
At one of the farbrengens after the Previous Rebbe became sick, it was said that while in Poland he had suffered problems with his feet, which made walking difficult.
Rabbi Chatshe Feigin remarked, “Why does the Rebbe have a problem with his feet? Because the brain is fine and the heart is fine too, as far as the Rebbe himself. It’s only the feet, which are associated with the Chassidim, where there is a problem. So, the healing of the feet depends on the Chassidim!”
With the Light of His Truth
In Shvat 5705/1945 Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Hecht had a private audience with the Previous Rebbe. Ahead of time Rabbi Zalman was very nervous, but he emerged from the audience in high spirits.
The Rebbe said, “The doctors told me that my cure is in minimizing speech and in hearing good news.”
When asked by the Rebbe about the wedding of his brother Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda (J.J.) Hecht, which took place on 15 Shvat, Shlomo Zalman supplied the details, all of which gave the Rebbe immense joy.
The Rebbe raised his hands high and said, “Praised be G-d!”
Seared through his Heart
The Rebbe continued, “My father the Rebbe Rashab [Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn] was in Moscow, and from there he went to a meeting in Petersburg. About seventy heretics participated in this meeting and the Rebbe, my father, nullified them all with the light of his truth.
“A lawyer participated at this meeting. He had received authorization from the
government to attend, and he came with the proposal of doing away entirely with gittin (Jewish bills of divorce) and chalitza [ceremony freeing a childless widow to remarry], and to conduct mixed marriages.
“My father said, ‘Where does a Jew from birth get the gall to talk like this?’
“Hearing this, the lawyer burst into tears and admitted that on the previous Yom Kippur he had eaten ham. The Rabbiner Maza (Rabbi Yaakov Maza, a government-appointed rabbi) who was present, was very impressed at the lawyer’s repentance.
“Sometime later, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Chein met this lawyer and asked him what had brought him back to the proper path.
“The lawyer exclaimed, ‘The Lubavitcher Rebbe! His words seared through my heart. I saw a Jew sitting there who spoke the truth.”
The Previous Rebbe concluded, “The Rebbe Rashab lives now too! Where Chassidim live, that’s where the Rebbe is, but there must be commitment and devotion, and the rest he will already take care of.”
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