Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,
For the past few months, we have been sharing weekly insights from the Rebbe on the concept of Hakhel, based primarily on the Sichos of 5748, a year of Hakhel. That year the Rebbe used every opportunity to speak about Hakhel and Simcha (as it was Shnas Tismach). This week there is a “break” in the Sichos, as there was the Histalkus of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka and the seven days of observance of Shiva by the Rebbe.
This year, 5776, is 28 years from 22 Shevat 5748. It is a year that we receive “Ko’ach – strength” (the numerical value of 28) from the lessons and the sichos of 5748. In this spirit, I will start off with a conversation that took place during the Shiva of the Rebbetzin, which brings out the connection between the Rebbe (Melech) and the Chassidim (Am) and the Ko’ach that we receive from each other.
To preface: In all the articles that we wrote about the connection between the King and the people – that in the year of Hakhel, all the Jewish people (men, women, and children) need to come to the king – we highlighted the Ko’ach that the people receive from the king. The word Melech (king) is the acronym of mo’ach lev and kaved (brain, heart and liver) the three most vital organs in the human body. We explained at length that through connecting to – and hearing Torah from – the king, the Jew receives the strength to serve Hashem.
In this article we are going to explain the other half of the equation: The king actually gets his strength – to give us strength – from us! Chazal say “Ain melech belo Am – there is no king without a nation,” and Chassidus tells us that this means that the king actually receives his own ko’ach from the people that accept him.
With this introduction, let us return to a visit that took place in the Rebbe’s house during the Shiva for the Rebbetzin. It was in the middle of the Shiva and many people and dignitaries came to give Nichum Aveilim to the Rebbe. There was one person, Rabbi Binyomin Williger, who came as the personal shliach of the Klauzenberger Rebbe. The Rebbe had a short but powerful conversation with him (recorded in the Seifer Menachem Tziyon chelek beis):
The Rebbe asked Rabbi Williger about the health of the Klauzenberger Rebbe and told him that he should encourage the Chassidim to request from the Klauzenberger Rebbe to say Torah. Rabbi Williger responded that to say Torah the Klauzenberger Rebbe needs ko’ach. To which the Rebbe said “Chassidism give ko’ach (to the Rebbe)!”
This concept that Chassidim give Ko’ach is especially relevant to the relationship, Ko’ach and very life that we give to Moshiach. This infusion of strength is expressed in the proclamation “Yechi (also numerical value of 28) HaMelech – Long live the King.”
In the well-known sicha of Beis Nissan 5748 (Seifer HaSichos 5748, vol. 1, pgs. 350, 351, 354), which marked 68 years since the Frierdike Rebbe assumed leadership, the Rebbe discusses the concept of a Jewish king. The following are some of the main points of the sicha which shed light on this topic and explicate how we can express our acceptance of the king:
The relationship between the king and the people is manifested in two opposite ways. On the one hand, the king is totally exalted above the people which inspires awe and fear of the king. On the other hand, the relationship between the nation and the king is one of absolute connection. As the Rambam says, the king 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 the ultimate of closeness. Just like the body receives its life-force from the heart, the Jewish nation receives its life from the king.
Not only does the nation receive its life from the king, but the entire existence of the king is dependent on the nation, as is written, “There is no king without a nation.” The fact that the nation is removed from the king directly affects his malchus-sovereignty, for true sovereignty of a king pertains only to those who are removed from him.
Therefore, when the nation announces “Yechi HaMelech-Long live the king,” as was done in connection to Shlomo HaMelech and Dovid HaMelech, this affects not only the existence of the king, but the very life of the king as well.
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.