JEWISH LEADERSHIP 101

Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,

We are now in the month of Nissan, the month in which we read the parsha of the N’siim. Every day, for the first 2 weeks of the month, we read about the Korbanos brought by one of the leaders of the tribes of B’nei Yisroel. This also occurs right before 11 Nissan, which this year will be the 117th birthday of our Rebbe, the leader of our generation. It is therefore very appropriate to discuss the topic of Jewish leadership.

The year that the HaYom Yom was compiled, 5703, was a leap year in the Jewish calendar. We therefore have an additional month of the daily treasures of HaYom Yom. We recently passed the 23rd day of Adar. It is fascinating that both days of the 23rd of Adar (in Adar Rishon and Adar Sheini) speak very strongly about the roles of the Jewish leader.

For most people, the date of 23 Adar does not mean much and is not celebrated as a special day. Yet, historically, it actually is a very unique day. It is the day that the Yidden received the commandment to erect the Mishkan. Starting that day, for a week straight, they saw the ultimate leader of the Jewish people – Moshe Rabbeinu – show all the Yidden how the Avoda was done.

To understand the HaYom Yom of both 23 Adar Rishon and Adar Sheini, some historical background is necessary.

After his liberation from prison, the Frierdike Rebbe was forced to leave Russia with his family. Far away from the gravesites of his holy ancestors, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak then went to Eretz Yisroel where he saw other holy gravesites, local yeshivas and Torah centers, and met with rabbis and community leaders, leaving just prior to the massacre by Arabs of nearly 70 Jews living in Chevron. Following that visit, he planned a trip to the United States of America.

On 12 Elul 5689, he left Europe for America. The purpose of his visit was to assess the educational and religious state of American Jewry and to raise awareness of the plight of Soviet Jews. Hailed as “one of the greatest Jews of our age,” he was honored at an October 28 banquet in Manhattan by Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jewish leaders.  While in the United States, the Rebbe traveled outside New York to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Detroit, Boston, and Chicago.

On July 10, he met President Herbert Hoover at the White House.  As the Republican presidential candidate, Hoover had lobbied for his release. Lubavitch followers in America begged their Rebbe to leave Russia and stay in America, but the Rebbe declined, saying that America was an irreligious place where even rabbis shaved off their beards. He left the United States to return to Riga, Latvia on 21st of Tamuz, 5690.

Shortly after his return to Europe, in early 5691, the Frierdike Rebbe received a letter from a rabbi in America. He was a rabbi of a shul in Brooklyn; he was feeling burned out from what was a lack of success in inspiring his congregants to remain strong in their commitment to Yiddishkait. This feeling of despair was consuming him, and it really bothered him. This Rabbi turned to the Frierdike Rebbe for advice and guidance.

The Frierdike Rebbe (Igros Kodesh, Volume 2 page 306) encouraged him. The Frierdike Rebbe wrote to him the following (HaYom Yom 23 Adar 1): “The rabbis and the Torah scholars are called ‘the eyes of the community’ and ‘the heads of the thousands of Israel.’ When the head is healthy, the body is also healthy.”

The Frierdike Rebbe gave this Rabbi and us further guidance (HaYom Yom 6 Nissan): “Experience has shown that when one limits his speculation [about what to do] and works instead in a structured and determined way, [but simultaneously] according to the Torah’s pleasant ways — ‘the right hand draws near, while the left hand parries’ — he will certainly have an effect [on others]. This is particularly true with regard to [communicating] the fundamental principles of our faith.”

In 5696, The Frierdike Rebbe wrote a letter (Igros Kodesh, Volume 3 page 520) to a very prominent Lubavitcher Rav. In this letter, the Rebbe told a story of a Rabbi who came to the Rebbe Rashab. The Rebbe Rashab asked this Rabbi about the Mikva in his city. It seems that it was not being kept up properly. The Rabbi told the Rebbe Rashab that the responsibility of the upkeep of the Mikva was on another member of Anash.

The Rebbe Rashab responded to this rabbi, who took his Divine service seriously and was a diligent scholar (HaYom Yom 23 Adar 2): “At all times and at every moment, a rabbi must remember that he is standing on the threshold between those who bring merit to the people and those who lead them to sin, Heaven forbid — the threshold between the loftiest peaks and the lowest depths. All their concerns must touch the innermost point of his soul, for his very soul is at stake.”  When the Rabbi heard these piercing words of the Rebbe Rashab, he started crying uncontrollably to the extent that his tears were flowing on the floor.

The ultimate Jewish leader is Melech HaMoshiach. Regarding his leadership, the Rebbe writes (Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av): “The distinctive quality of Moshiach will be his humility. Though he will be on the highest level and will teach Torah to the Patriarchs and Moshe Rabbeinu, he will nevertheless possess ultimate humility and self-effacement, and will teach even simple folk.”

This is because (HaYom Yom 5 Teves): “When Moshiach comes, we will appreciate the distinctive quality of hodaa [i.e., acknowledgment of G‑d and belief in Him] and t’mimus — artless sincerity, the pure faith with which all [Jews] believe in G‑d, His Torah, and His mitzvos. When it comes to study, even the highest levels of understanding have their limits. Hodaa, by contrast, is a feeling that has no boundaries. The King Moshiach will endow us with an understanding of the superior worth, as expressed in action of sincere, heartfelt, earnest Divine service.”

Dear Chassidim!

We are quickly approaching the special day of Yud-Alef Nissan 5778.  We all must internalize the words of “When the head is healthy, the body is also healthy.” We must do all in our power to give a gift to the Rebbe and to ensure that “the head is healthy.” What can we do to add to the health and life of the Rebbe?

This has been discussed in our column many times, yet considering that we are in “Shnas HaChayim” of the Nesius of the Rebbe, we must review and repeat again: We have the power to add to the life and health of the Rebbe through our announcement of Yechi HaMelech!

In the sicha of Beis Nissan 5748, the Rebbe explains that the relationship between the melech and the people is manifested in two contrasting ways. On the one hand, the melech is totally exalted above the people, inspiring awe and fear of the melech. On the other hand, the relationship between the nation and the melech is one of absolute connection. As the Rambam says, the melech is the heart of the Jewish people. We are the limbs. The connection that exists between the heart and the limbs of the body is one of ultimate closeness. Just like the body receives its life-force from the heart, the Jewish nation receives its life from the melech.

Not only does the nation receive its life from the melech, but the entire existence of the melech is dependent on the nation, as is written, “There is no melech without a nation.” The fact that the nation is removed from the melech directly affects his malchus, for true malchus of a melech pertains only to those who are removed from him.

Therefore, the Rebbe continues, when the nation announces “Yechi HaMelech,” as was done in connection to Shlomo HaMelech and Dovid HaMelech, this affects the existence and life of the king.

We must let the world know about the existence of the ultimate Jewish leader, the Rebbe, and his special message (Shoftim 5751): “One must make known to all members of the generation that we have merited that G-d has chosen a person endowed with free choice, who is incomparably higher than the members of his generation, to be ‘your judge,’ ‘your counsellor,’ and the prophet of the generation. This chosen leader will provide the instructions and advice relevant to the service of all Jews and all people of the generation, in all matters of Torah and mitzvos, and daily conduct in the manner of ‘in all your ways, know Him’ and ‘all your deeds (should be for the sake of Heaven).’ [His counsel has] extended to the essential prophecy of ‘immediate Redemption’ and instantly ‘Behold he (Moshiach) comes.’”

We will then merit the fulfillment of the words in Chapter 117 in T’hillim, the new chapter of the Rebbe:  “Praise Hashem, all nations; laud Him, all peoples. For His kindness has overwhelmed us, and the truth of the L-rd is eternal. Praise Hashem!”

Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com