On the Essence of a Fabrengen:
One Heartfelt Saying can Change Everything
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
Chassidim spend time going to fabrengens, especially during this month of Kislev, a month filled with the Yomim Tovim of Yud, Yud Tes Kislev and Chanukah. What do we accomplish by going to a fabrengen? Is the purpose of a fabrengen to hear a good lecture, or be entertained? Perhaps it’s the accomplishment of getting together in a friendly atmosphere, speaking with others and having a good time. After all it’s a much better to get together over mashke and herring than to watch football and eat turkey.
There are many important reasons for a fabrengen. We accomplish a lot by participating in fabrengens. In the coming weeks, we will try to explain the most essential aspects of fabrengens and why they are important in our lives today. In this article we will focus on the purpose of a fabrengen to move you to a place that you never have been. Although we are not on the level of the Chassidim of the previous generations, nevertheless the following story from Likutei Dibburim (v. 4 pg. 1588) illustrates the power of a fabrengen to break through to a higher level in the service of Hashem.
May each one of us merit to get involved in and take inspiration from the fabrengens, each person in his or her way to go to a new and higher level in their service of Hashem.
Chassidim of the Mittler Rebbe in the town of Shklov used to say that even an indirect remark from Michoel the Melamed was so strong that it readied a person ready to properly receive the words of the Rebbe in yechidus. Reb Shlomo Maneson was a chosid of Mittler Rebbe. He came from a wealthy background as well as being wealthy in his own right. He was educated and guided from the chassidim of the Alter Rebbe. After he would go into yechidus by the Mittler Rebbe, he would come out and make fabrengen and dance in the circle as was customary. Although he acted appropriately, nevertheless, there was something missing. They were not reflecting a true chassidishe warmth; it was a too “balabatish”.
Reb Shlomo, along with all other young chassidishe men in Shklov, would daven with great fervor and would attend the chassidishe fabrengens. One time, Reb Michoel the melamed, sat alone on the side by a fabrengen as he was beating his chest and his head while complaining about himself out loud. He said; “Ribbono Shel Olam, have compassion on me. Help me that I should have true vitality and pleasure in the words ‘Vehair Eineinu’ (Enlighten our eyes in your Torah, our hearts should cleave to your mitzvos, and unify our hearts to love and fear your name (said in the morning berachos of the Shema) ) just like the vitality and pleasure that Shlomo Maneson has when he says the words, “Haosher Vehakavod Milfanecha” (Riches and honor are in front of you. (said in morning prayer of “Viyavorech David”))”
Michoel the Melamed said what he did without any intention to disrespect Reb Shlomo. He was speaking to himself. He was thinking about himself and how unhappy he was with his level in service of Hashem. He was lamenting his lack of a “derher”, a feeling and insight to this request that ‘Veha’air Enieinu’ should be an absolute truth just like Reb Shlomo prayed for riches and honor. Nevertheless, when Reb Shlomo heard it, it made a huge impression on him. Soon there after he left for Lubavitch, spent time by the Mittler Rebbe in Lubavitch and became an altogether different person.
From this we see the impact of Chassidishe fabrengen. The eight years that Reb Shlomo traveled to Lubavitch and had Yechidus, for some reason did not have their full impact. Something was getting in the way. It was the indirect remark of Reb Michoel the Melamed that made such a strong impression on him, enough to break through what stood in the way, and made him ready and suitable for the words of the Mittler Rebbe.
The real depth of this story was the true emes of Reb Michoel’s service. The words that affected Reb Shlomo were not directed toward or intended to fix Reb Shlomo. Reb Michoel was motivated by his own lack of service and said a true and heartfelt request asking Hashem to enlighten his eyes in the Torah etc. This is what moved Reb Shlomo. Michoel had been by the Alter Rebbe when his chassidim had achieved a true avodah, an avodah without excuses. Love and fear by these elder chassidim was inscribed in the very way that they walked. When their avodah was incomplete, it affected them very deeply. The light of truth reflected in Reb Michoel’s feelings of deep pain in his request to Hashem to have a vitality and pleasure for Torah and Mitzvos, just like the vital pleasure that Reb Shlomo had in praying for wealth in honor had a general affect Shlomo that cancelled out his resistance. It nullified the blockage which held Reb Shlomo back in his life making him unable to receive the holy words from the Mittler Rebbe in his yechidus with true chassidishe warmth.
After telling this story, the Previous Rebbe, ended by saying that chassidim should be healthy and well and that by making fabrengens together, in the ways of the chassidim, they truly enliven their souls.
A true chassidishe fabrengen provides the “general nullification”. This means that a real fabrengen has the power to cancel out whatever stands in the way. From there each person must do what he needs to in his particular service in an orderly fashion, by turning away from the bad and doing what is good. Hashem Yisborach should make each one successful in his Torah and in his service of his heart. It should be with you and through you that we merit to carry out Hashem’s intention to make a dwelling place for Hashem in this lower world.