Gimmel
Tammuz Farbrengen In Seagate, NY
Gathered
near the shore of the Atlantic seaboard, near the lighthouse in
Seagate, a residential ocean-side community on the southern tip of
Brooklyn, New York, a group of Chassidim sat together in the
spirit of Gimmel Tammuz.
They
farbrenged in the study hall of Yeshiva Tiferes Menachem.
There was song and dance and l’chaim. Those who spoke at
the gathering spoke from the heart. They related essential and
inspirational ideas most important to us as Chassidim.
Rabbi
Yosef Yitzchok Greenberg, who headed the speakers, delivered a
vivid and heartfelt dvar Torah on the historical
significance of Gimmel Tammuz from the era of Yehoshua bin Nun,
for whom the “sun did not set,” to the times of the Rebbe
Rayatz, for whom the death sentence was miraculously commuted to
exile.
Rabbi
Greenberg underscored the latent virtue of Gimmel Tammuz
throughout history, especially as illuminated by the teachings of
the Rebbe MH”M, yielding a new appreciation of this day that
grants us the merit of accomplishing our mission in bringing G-dliness
down into the physical world, and leading the world towards the
complete Redemption.
Dr.
Dovid Sholom Pape spoke next, discussing the importance of
integrity with oneself and others. He related with amazement the
circumstances that allow leaders of the world to live openly
hypocritical lives and not be held responsible for their behavior.
He urged everyone to demand from ourselves and the world honesty
and integrity.
Dr.
Pape also discussed the story of the Meraglim, pointing out
that because the Meraglim thought of themselves as
grasshoppers compared to the inhabitants of the land, they were in
fact seen that way by the K’naanim. This underscores a
significant lesson from the parsha: what we think of
ourselves is how others will look upon us.
Dr.
Pape went on to speak about the practical application of this
important psychological outlook in everyone’s personal life,
stressing the importance of seeing ourselves as mountains, not
grasshoppers. With this stance of self-confidence, our integrity
will be apparent to even our enemies and they will naturally come
to respect us. Yidden in Eretz Yisroel must take this
approach to heart when dealing with the crucial issue of shleimus
ha’Aretz.
Rabbi
Shmuel Bluming spoke next. He discussed the issues of Gimmel
Tammuz, pointing out that whereas the positive aspects are
necessarily associated with Gimmel Tammuz, any negative concepts
are not. He discussed this idea at length, drawing from various
sources. In conclusion, he noted that as far as he was aware,
Gimmel Tammuz was the only day established by the Rebbe as a Yom
Tov, indicating its uniqueness.
The
gathering continued into the early hours of the morning, with
inspiring singing, dancing, and l’chaims. The
participants responded with heartfelt exchanges and words of
inspiration.
Whoever
was fortunate to be present was reenergized to continue to improve
their personal shlichus to bring the Redemption now!
