Being Connected, Staying Connected
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This Shabbos is the Shabbos before Yud Beis Tammuz, the redemption from prison and detention of the Previous Rebbe in 5687-1927. The Rebbe was arrested on the 15th of Sivan and was sentenced to death for building mikvehs and running underground yeshivos. On the 3rd of Tammuz his sentence was commuted by miracle from death to galus, detention in the city of Kostroma. On the 12th of Tammuz his sentence was again altered, this time he was granted full freedom. After Tishrei the Rebbe decided to leave Russia altogether because they knew that there was a possibility of another arrest.
On the 3rd of Tammuz, standing on the train platform on his way to Kostroma, the Rebbe delivered a short sicha. He started with the pasuk; “Yehi Hashem Elokeinu emanu- Hashem Elokeinu should be with us as He was with our forefathers, He should not forsake or abandon us”. The Rebbe said that Hashem should and will be with us, even though we are not on the level of mesirus nefesh of our forefathers. The nations of the world may be able to control our bodies but they cannot control our neshama. This is true in all matters especially with regard to education.
On Gimmel Tammuz in 5724-1964 the Rebbe asked in a maamar the following questions about the Previous Rebbe’s statements. How could the Previous Rebbe say that our mesirus nefesh was not as complete when his entire arrest and incarceration was mesirus nefesh? Just the event itself of standing on that train platform and speaking as he did was mesirus nefesh!? (There were KGB agents that were there at the train station monitoring every move the Rebbe made)
The Rebbe explained that mesirus nefesh has different levels.
There is a level where the person says; “I want to do mesirus nefesh”. At this level the mesirus nefesh is motivated by the person’s reasons and convictions.
At the next level the motivation for mesirus nefesh doesn’t come from a sense of conviction or obligation at all, rather the sole motivation comes from identifying as being a servant of Hashem. This is what Hashem wants. It makes no difference what mitzvah it is, he does every mitzvah with mesirus nefesh.
The Rebbe explained that because of his humility the Previous Rebbe thought that perhaps his mesirus nefesh was not on the level of his parents, the higher level of mesirus nefesh. At the end of the maamar the Rebbe said that we can all reach the highest level of mesirus nefesh, so much so that our entire being is feeling only what Hashem wants. The Previous Rebbe gave this to all the mekusharim, those that are and stay connected. Even those things that aren’t required to have mesirus nefesh according to the law, they can be, and they will be with mesirus nefesh for those who are connected, and stay connected. By the Rebbe even his prayer and request is a havtacha. Something similar to what he has, he gave to those that are connected, and those that stay connected.