This week’s parsha of Chukas discusses the law of the Parah Adumah. Hashem told Moshe and Aharon to tell Elazar to take the ashes and use them to purify-be mitahr the tameh. This is a decree of the Torah. With this ritual of purification Elazar became impure when he left the camp until nightfall.
From this parsha we learn an essential message for each and every one of us. We need to go out of the comfort of our environment to help another Jew who has become tameh meis, who doesn’t feel his connection to Hashem and doesn’t feel alive. The pasuk says; “Atem Hadeveikim B’Hashem”, when one is attached to Hashem he is alive, as the pasuk continues; Chayim kulchem. Elazar HaKohen left the Beis HaMIkdash and made a Parah Adumah to purify those that had become impure and thereby disconnected from Hashem. This is the greatness of Ahavas Yisroel. He leaves his comfortable environment, where he can achieve the greatest spiritual levels, in order to help a tameh meis to become purified.
This is the approach of the Rebbe and the work of his Shluchim throughout the world. Shluchim go out all over the world to bring the wellsprings to purify so many.
When the Kohen sprinkled the blood of the Parah Adumah he needed to face the doors of the Beis HaMikdash. The Eastern Wall of the Beis HaMikdash was lower that enabled the Kohen to see over it into the opening of the Heichal while he sprinkled the blood. This teaches us that the place that every Chosid has his shlichus to be mekareiv others is on the outside. At the same time the message we must take is that in the midst of our involvement, we need to keep our focus that our true chayus, our ‘life blood’ is directed straight toward the Kodesh- “el pnei HaKodesh”. We cannot forget this even for a moment.
Just as this is the case for a Chosid on shlichus, so too this is true for every Yid, in whatever involvement brings him into the world, be it business or any worldly occupation. His service is to bring the outside world close to Hashem and all the while to keep his eyes and mind focused on Hashem- “el pnei HaKodesh”
So too, when strengthening our connection to the Rebbe, wherever a Chosid finds himself he must ask; “How does the Rebbe want me to respond to this, and what does the Rebbe want from me in this situation”
This week was the siyum Mishnayos of R. Yissochor Dov, Beryl Weiss. Many people speak of his great work in Tzedaka, whose greatness and proliferation across the globe is to such an extent that it cannot be fully known. I would like to speak about his hiskashrus to the Rebbe. He wasn’t born into a Chabad family. Through my Father he became mekushar to the Rebbe. Reb Beryl would speak of my Father’s influence on his hiskashrus.
Once, some people came to Reb Beryl to speak about an opportunity to invest in a mine in Liberia. Reb Beryl said that he would have to ask the Rebbe first, and then to only proceed with his bracha. They themselves were Chassidim of a different Rebbe and were very surprised. “What?” they asked; “What if the Rebbe says no?!” “Then it’s no!” said Reb Beryl clearly. Then he asked; “Aren’t you Chassidim? “Yes” they replied. “But we do our business, and then we only afterwards ask for a bracha” “What does the Rebbe know about such matters?” Later Reb Beryl went into Yechidus after Tishrei. Went he emerged they were waiting. Reb Beryl said; “The answer is no!” They said; “But Liberia is the Switzerland of Africa!” Reb Beryl replied; “The Rebbe said that it’s not a stable government and therefore not a safe place to invest. I can make a short term investment only!” They exclaimed; “What does He know?!” He answered “The answer is no!” Three years later the Liberian government collapsed and anyone with property there lost their investment.
In 5749-1989 on the second day of Shavuos the Rebbe spoke about growing a beard. On the previous day (the first day of Shavous) when they took out the Sifrei Torah, Reb Beryl looked at the Rebbe, and made a decision that it’s time to grow his beard. The next day at the Fabrengen when the Rebbe spoke about the beard. Reb Beryl understood that it meant him.
Reb Beryl realized that a Chosid always wants to do more. That to just stay the way he is, is incomplete; a Chosid must do more. When he got older he realized that a when Chosid learns something from the Rebbe he knows that it means him and that he must do something. After the Six Day War on Yud Beis Tammuz the Rebbe spoke about the Tzemach Tzedek shul needing to be rebuilt. My Father brought back a reel to reel tape of the Fabrengen from New York and played it for Reb Beryl. When Reb Beryl heard the tape he said that he wanted to give the Shul a Sefer Torah. He heard the Rebbe’s words and he wanted to do something to be part of it. A few years later the Sefer Torah was complete and he was able to give it to the Shul. He did it for the Rebbe. He did it without being asked because he knew it would make the Rebbe happy.
Once on Lag B’Omer he asked the Rebbe for a bracha that one of his children should merit having children of his own. The Rebbe responded “Why ask me? Ask the Rashbi, he is here”. Reb Beryl pointed to the Rebbe and said; “I’m asking a bracha from our Rashbi!”
After Gimmel Tammuz he went to 770, to the Rebbe’s Ohel and his room to daven. His hiskashrus was not weakened. Reb Beryl was not known as a Mashpia. He was known as a great Baal Chesed and a Businessman. He was known to love the Torah and learn. Reb Beryl was a Chosid.
Reb Beryl felt that the Rebbe thought of him. Reb Beryl would usually spend Hoshana Rabba by the Rebbe. One year on Hashana Rabba he wasn’t by 770. When he went for lekach the Rebbe told him “I didn’t see you”. Thousands of Yidden were there going around the bimah, and the Rebbe knew that he was not there.
On Yud Aleph Nissan 1981, the Rebbe asked him where he was for Birchas Hachama on Daled Nissan. The Rebbe noticed he wasn’t there. Reb Beryl replied that he sent his son Yonah Mordecai Sh’yichyeh. The Rebbe answered that he saw Yonah Mordecai but he didn’t see him, and that they should together for the next Birchas Hachama in Yerushalayim.
On Gimel Tammuz the Rebbe is looking for us…where are we….
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