Occupy 770!
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
In the aftermath of the fabrengen and activities for Gimmel Tammuz in Los Angeles, as I flew to the Ohel on Tuesday Gimmel Tammuz, I was thinking back on what happened in here LA. Baruch Hashem many people attended the fabrengen etc., but my heart was aching for those who, for whatever reason didn’t make it. Also, there were some who made it, but they ½ showed up, sort of like some do for a Bar Mitzvah for a few minutes, ‘too be seen’ just so he can say he was there. After all it’s, insert whatever day it is; Yud Tes Kislev, Yud Beis Tammuz etc., and I’m a Lubavitcher, so I’d better show up. Some of the fellows tell me why they aren’t putting themselves into the big events. They want a fabrengen that’s more tailored to their own group or age, with their personal friends. Otherwise they will be ‘yotzi’ by showing up for a while. They’re right, we do need fabrengens in small groups also and we need the different shteiblach that have popped up etc., it’s a good thing. Still something essential is missing with this kind of thinking.
Recently there has been a group of about 20 Yungeleit who have decided that they specifically do not want their own shteibel in Crown Heights (imagine that!). They call themselves “Occupy 770”. They have decided that this (770) is the Rebbe’s shul and this is where we should spend our time and where we should learn, daven and fabreng. We will be with our friends but we will also be with everyone.
In 1966 on the 13th of Nissan, the 100th year from the histalkus of the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek the Rebbe made a special farbrengen and spoke about mesirus nefesh. In 1843, the Russian government called upon the Tzemach Tzedek to attend a rabbinical conference to discuss possible changes in Jewish education and Jewish observances. During that conference the Tzemach Tzedek was arrested twenty two times because he spoke strongly and boldly how we must resist any compromises to Judaism or changes to chinuch al taharas haKodesh. The Russian authority asked him if what he was saying was not in essence treason against the government. The Rebbe replied with his iconic statement; “What is worse, treason against this worldly government (kingship) or treason against the Almighty’s Kingship?” The Rebbe said that he saw no purpose in eventually sitting in Gan Eden without Jews down here in this world that are able to fulfill the Torah and it’s mitzvos. After the conference he was asked by one of the great rabbonim of the time if the Rebbe had thought about what will become of his chassidim if he will go ahead with his mesirus nefesh. To this he gave two answers. First, my children will take over and secondly the unity of chassidim will keep us until Moshiach’s arrival. Today, in 2014, the second answer, the unity of chassidim is what we have.
To be continued.. A Guten Shabbos.