For Gimmel Tammuz, a day to strengthen one’s hiskashrus to the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach, we spoke with the Chabad rosh yeshiva in Tzfas, one of the Rebbe’s shluchim to Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Wilschansky. * How and when should we explain that the Rebbe is chai v’kayam? * How should we regard those who have adopted Chabad’s methods? * How can we achieve achdus? * Part 2
It makes sense that he should be more present in the supernal realms, given his ascent there, but in what sense is he more present in the physical world? The answer is…that the life of a tzaddik is not corporeal life, as is known, but spiritual life, which is faith, and the fear and love of G-d.
A lecture from the Maggid of Yerushalayim, Rabbi Sholom Schwadron (1912-1997) a”h about the statement of Chazal which says, “Yaakov Avinu did not die” and the difficulty people have accepting this literally. * What did the Rambam tell people who had doubts in emuna and what connection is there to what Rav Yochanan said, in his proof to Vespasian? * Word for word from the book, “L’Haggid.” * Presented for Gimmel Tammuz
The soul lives on eternally, and it maintains its connection with family members, in particular those who are especially dear. The soul suffers in their pain and rejoices in their joy.
A person might come and complain: This is “wild talk”! You are making claims that are historically unprecedented! How will the world react?! * Likewise with regard to the world’s argument that “they eulogized and embalmed him.”
His ongoing influence is reminiscent of the process by which plants reproduce, forming seedlings which mature into plants, which in turn produce a third generation of seedlings, ad infinitum – this process of continually affecting the world reflects the full sense of the Rebbe’s Rayatz’s eternal life, “hu ba’chayim.”
Thirty-five years have already passed since the histalkus of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe. G-d forbid to say that for thirty-five years he has not been among us. G-d have mercy upon us for such a mindset! * The opposite is true. For thirty-five years now the Rebbe has been present among us and within us “more than when he was alive,” and from year to year his vitality and activity in the physical world progressively gains force.
Why are you “casting away” my father-in-law, the Rebbe to “Siberia,” to “Solovki” – to Gan Eden?! We need him (and he may well need us) here!
What purpose is there in saying “nishmaso Eden” when it is easier and better to say “nishmaso bi – his soul resides within me”? So too with regard to the Rebbe: I don’t say “nishmaso Eden” but “nishmaso bi” [the soul of the Rebbe Rayatz resides within me]!
May Hashem yisbarech help that we will not need to rely on “let us render [for] bulls [the offering of] our lips.” Rather, the Rebbe himself, the Rebbe shlita, should lead us to greet Moshiach Tzidkeinu.
Incredibly, when he returned from there, his father, the Rebbe nishmaso Eden, asked him whether the cell was spacious enough to contain three people. His query proves that their visit was in the form of physical bodies…
The truth is that Moshe did not die. If the public accepts these words – all the better. However, if they have difficulty understanding it, then, when a child asks a question to his teacher and the teacher doesn’t know what to answer, he slaps him on the face and tells him: “when you grow up, you’ll understand!” So you should answer the Jew who asks questions: This is the fact, even if you don’t understand!
He is the son, grandson, and great-grandson of a number of Admurim from various Chassidic courts, but he got a taste of Chassidus and became a Lubavitcher Chassid. Today, he farbrengs and is mashpia in many places around Eretz Yisroel and inspires people to connect to the Rebbe, to write to him, and to live with Moshiach and Geula without cutting corners. * A fascinating interview with R’ Yisroel Schneebalg who tells how he came to Lubavitch and about the tremendous drift towards Chabad in the Chassidish and Litvishe worlds.
June 13, 2013