As
One Man, With One Heart
By
Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Ginsberg
Since
I view this column as a sort of farbrengen, I would like to
share some stories concerning some amazing answers I received from
the Rebbe MH”M through the Igros Kodesh.
I
would like to first point out that the Rebbe has many ways of
answering questions, not limited just to the Igros Kodesh.
The Rebbe said he would find a way to answer us. Sometimes the
Rebbe answers us through a sicha we hear or a video we see,
etc.
I
believe these stories have a lesson for others, in addition to the
main point, which is to see how the Rebbe is with us even in our
mundane affairs. This strengthens our emuna and our
personal connection to the Rebbe. Furthermore, it underscores the
necessity of connecting other Jews to the Rebbe, fulfilling his
directives, seeking guidance from him, and obviously – to
believe in his prophecies. Let us remember that on Shabbos
VaYeishev 5752, the Rebbe encouraged us to recount the miracles
occurring in our times, for this is connected with and brings the Geula.
*
* *
A
few weeks ago I was informed that a relative may have a certain
dreaded illness. I immediately wrote to the Rebbe and the answer
in the Igros Kodesh said to arouse and strengthen
faith and trust in Hashem.
I
was nervous about conveying this answer since the relatives are
Polish Chassidim and unfamiliar with our ways, and I didn’t know
how they would respond. I overcame my reluctance, however, and
called them, relating the Rebbe’s answer.
Their
response was restrained yet positive: Baruch Hashem,
so many people are taking an interest and asking for a bracha
for us. May it all work out well.
On
Erev Shabbos Kedoshim, they called to say that the relative had
been hospitalized in great pain and the doctors wanted to operate
immediately. The family did not want to rely on the opinions of
the local doctors and called in an additional top doctor to assess
the situation. If he thought surgery was warranted, he would be
the surgeon.
I
immediately reported this to the Rebbe and put my letter into
Volume 13 of the Igros Kodesh after proclaiming “Yechi.”
The answer, on page 183, reads: “...regarding her question about
her health and the doctors’ opinion to remove the tonsils, it is
customary to consult with two expert doctors in the field and then
will be fulfilled the statement of Chazal, ‘The Torah
gives the doctor permission to heal,’ as it is a Torah of life,
literally life in this world.”
The
Rebbe goes on to negate all despondency, and stressed that we see
in our times that situations that have seemed to be negative turn
out favorably. At the beginning of the page, the Rebbe also quotes
the Zohar, which states that when a person conducts himself
with bitachon and simcha, it is reciprocated from
Above.
In
another letter on the page, the Rebbe writes about increasing
times for learning, which is also beneficial for one’s health.
The Rebbe concludes with, “I await good news.”
I
wanted to convey the Rebbe’s instructions, but again I was
nervous…
I
remembered a famous story R’ Zalman Gurary told about his
friend’s daughter, who had developed a cyst. The doctors had
recommended surgery, which the father at yechidus asked the
Rebbe shlita if that is appropriate. The Rebbe told
him to postpone the surgery until the month of Adar and to
register his daughter in Bais Yaakov. When the father stated that
his daughter was receiving a good education in her current school,
the Rebbe replied, “My field is education and not medicine. Why
do you ask me about medical matters and not about education?”
The
father postponed the surgery but did not register his daughter in
Bais Yaakov. About a month later, R’ Gurary met a mutual friend
who told him that the cyst had blown up tremendously and was
infected. The girl had been hospitalized and now they could no
longer operate, and the father was very upset with the Rebbe,
“who had meddled in a medical matter, which isn’t his
field.”
R’
Gurary quickly reported the girl’s condition to the Rebbe and
the Rebbe responded, “Tell him to register his daughter in Bais
Yaakov!”
R’
Gurary felt very uncomfortable, aware of the father’s antagonism
and aware that the issue about schooling appeared irrelevant to
the situation, as the girl was ill in the hospital. However, he
summoned up his courage, called the father and told him the
Rebbe’s statement.
This
time the father conceded and registered his daughter in Bais
Yaakov, and miraculously the cyst opened and dried up, and the
girl was released from the hospital.
R’
Gurary went to thank the Rebbe and told him how the miracle
inspired so many other people, and the Rebbe responded, “The
biggest miracle was that you gave over the message at the right
time.”
After
reviewing this story in my mind I realized that I had better
convey the Rebbe’s message as soon as possible, despite my
apprehension. In the meantime we heard that the surgery had been
successful, but the patient was still very weak.
I
went to visit her in the hospital and took the Igros Kodesh
with me. I showed my question and the Rebbe’s answer to the
woman and her husband. The couple was shocked. “When did the
Rebbe write this?” They calmed down when they saw the date
(5716), and they understood the message.
Suddenly
the woman related another story. Nearly three years ago her older
brother was so sick that the doctors summoned his children from
Australia to say goodbye, r’l.
One
of that brother’s granddaughters is a neighbor of R’ Zalman
Notik in Yerushalayim. The granddaughter suggested that they ask
the Rebbe for a refua shleima via the Igros Kodesh.
The relatives asked her if she had become a Lubavitcher. She said
that although she was not a Lubavitcher, she felt there was
nothing to lose. They opened the volume and read about brachos for
health and long life.
The
woman stated that at this point, three years later, her brother is
hale and hearty. My reaction: The world is ready! We just have to
stop being embarrassed!
On
Lag B’Omer I wrote to the Rebbe (among other things) that my
relative had been released from the hospital, but she still needed
a bracha for a refua shleima. The answer I opened to
stunned me. I had opened Volume 18, page 378:
“Baruch
Hashem, Lag B’Omer ...regarding your phone call about the
medical treatment they started, may it be with great success l’refua
k’rova. One associates a merit with a meritorious day, the hilula
of Rashbi, which is a great day of rejoicing, as it is brought
in a number of places. The point [of the day] is to bring from the
“hidden parts of Torah” to the “revealed parts of Torah,”
which results in bringing from the “hidden parts of Yisroel,”
to the “revealed parts of Yisroel,” and from the “inner part
of chayus” to the “revealed part of chayus,” a
chayus of all the limbs – as the Torah of life commands
us that the body being healthy and whole is of the ways of Hashem.
With blessing for good news in all the above.”
I
showed this letter to my relative and other family members, which
caused a kiddush Hashem and a great kiddush sheim
Lubavitch. We hope that by publicizing this, her health will
continue to improve and we await her complete recovery.
In
addition, on the same page as the answer for my relative, there
was a detail that was even more amazing, and that was the main
reason the letter had a such a great impact on me. The Rebbe
responded to a certain point I had only thought about, but
hadn’t mentioned in the letter.
Recently
there have been attacks in other Chabad publications against those
who believe in Melech HaMoshiach. They protest the outrageous
attempt of the deranged Meir Baranes to murder a Lubavitcher
rabbi, but they imply strongly that those who believe that the
Rebbe is Moshiach wish to harm Lubavitchers who do not agree with
them. They are accusing a whole group of people because of the
actions of one unstable man!
I
wrote a letter stating my humble opinion that we must respond to
this kind of accusation by not allowing such publications into a Chassidishe
home. I was distressed. I was not afraid to openly present myself
on the right side. I was sure that the Rebbe would not want us to
remain neutral under the circumstances. This is a test for us all
– how far are we willing to go for the Rebbe and for his
directives even when the topic isn’t popular?
But
I was distressed because the negativity of the situation bothered
me, because the Rebbe doesn’t like the negative. However,
sometimes there just is no choice, and the Rebbe stresses that in
such a case we must painfully respond in the sharpest possible
manner.
In
the past there had been situations that had necessitated sharply
worded responses. Afterwards, I had written to the Rebbe,
describing the situation and our response, asking again for the
Rebbe’s immediate hisgalus and that at least at the final
moment all the Rebbe’s children should be unified. When I wrote
concerning my relative, I had been wondering if I should bring up
the topic about my response to the accusations. I decided against
it at that time. I didn’t want to bring up unpleasant matters on
Lag B’Omer and I was in a rush to get to the parade.
But
the Rebbe answers even our thoughts. On the same page where I saw
the answer about my relative, I received an answer about what I
had been thinking. This is what the Rebbe wrote on 18 Iyar 5719:
“I received your letter with the copy of what you wrote to Rabbi
_____. You certainly know that some newspapers printed in Yiddish
in the United States publicized a review lauding Freud’s
approach, similar to what you mention in your letter.
“I
have already said, based on one of the principles of Chassidus,
that there is no bad in the world without good. A large number of
those circles who read the paper can be describes as being
superficial. This tendency is terrible, for superficiality is even
worse than ignorance, as it usually leads to misunderstanding and
distorting issues.
“On
the other hand, the present situation contains much good. Due to
our great sins, most of the journalists’ articles would have
been better off not being written. Their damage is great and their
benefit is highly doubtful. The superficial aspect helps minimize
the damage and the loss, because most of the time these kinds of
articles are perceived as sensations – especially the topic
under discussion – and human nature is such that tomorrow they
will seek other sensations.
“It
is no doubt unnecessary to point out that in the paper in which
the article was written there are things that are greatly opposed
to traditional Judaism, even more so than the review about the
aforementioned... With respect and blessing.”
***
Each
of us has the ability to convey a clear message in a positive
manner, stressing what we as Jews and Chassidim have in common, as
we eagerly await the complete revelation of the Rebbe Melech
HaMoshiach shlita. Then we will all go together “as one
man, with one heart” to receive the Torah, and receive the
revelation of Moshiach in the true and complete Redemption, NOW!
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