Linking the Past to the Future, From the Arrest and Liberation of the Previous Rebbe to the True and Complete Redemption, Today
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This Shabbos follows the Chassidishe Yomim Tovim of the Yud Beis and Yud Gimmel Tammuz. We celebrate the liberation of the Previous Rebbe in 1927 after his arrest for spreading Judaism in Communist Russia. A few months after the release of the Previous Rebbe he left for Latvia then Poland and finally arrived in America. Not only did the Previous Rebbe leave but our Rebbe also left Russia at the same time. Therefore this redemption from Communist Russia was not only for the Previous Rebbe but for the Rebbe as well.
What connection does the entire story of the arrest and liberation have to us today? In a fabrengen for the Yud Beis Tammuz the Rebbe related the story as told originally by the Previous Rebbe. In those rough and difficult times of the early 1920s when they were closing down the Shuls and Yeshivos, the Previous Rebbe fought a warriors battle together with a small army of Chassidim to uphold Judaism. In the midst of this battle the Previous Rebbe called a meeting with 9 Chassidim altogether completing it to a minyon. The Rebbe made a bris, a covenant to uphold Judaism to the last drop of blood with complete self-sacrifice.
In the fabrengen for Yud Beis Tammuz the Rebbe asked why the Previous Rebbe decided to relate this story. Today we live in America, no one is running after us to harm us if we go to Shul or to Yeshiva. What do we gain today by telling a story about their difficulties then and how do we apply it to us today? Certainly the Previous Rebbe didn't tell that story only to relate their greatness at that time, there must be a lesson for us.
The Rebbe explained that self-sacrifice doesn't mean only to give our life away for Hashem, that means sacrificing one's body. Self-sacrifice refers to the sacrifice of the soul, the essence and willpower from within us. When we are ready for self-sacrifice it's automatic and it applies to whether it is physical or spiritual. Therefore even in America it also applies. Self-sacrifice means to give our soul our will and our being to Hashem.
This type of self sacrifice was seen, clearly, by the Previous Rebbe in Russia where he was in physical danger to uphold Judaism. When the Previous Rebbe arrived in America the Rebbe wasn't a physical danger but there was a clear and apparent spiritual danger. At that time the Previous Rebbe was confined to a wheelchair and limited in speech, nevertheless the Rebbe came out in force with the statement “America is not different!” and went about the business of transforming America. The Rebbe sent young yeshiva students across America to build a day school network. This was considered a revolutionary idea at the time that was considered by many (who openly voiced their opposition) to be destined to failure. Nevertheless the Previous Rebbe continued unabated while defending these young students from criticism for having full beards and wearing their tzitzis on the outside; much to the consternation of many of the Jews in America at that time. The Rebbe persevered upstream and against the currents of the time, proudly without shame against the spiritually emptiness that was America at the time.
The Rebbe successfully broke through the cold ice of America. This is our example of what self-sacrifice is all about. This is what the Rebbe wants from us. The Rebbe wants that we should not be afraid, rather we should be filled with inspiration and desire that comes from learning Chassidus to go out and change and transform the world with goodness and kindness and bring Moshiach today.
In the year the Previous Rebbe was born (Yud Beis Tammuz 5640-1880), the 17th of Tammuz fell on Shabbos. The Rebbe Maharash said that since the fast is pushed off by Shabbos; ‘let it be pushed away all together’. There were many times that when the 17th of Tammuz fell on a Shabbos the fabrengen by the Rebbe was with great simcha (especially in 5724-1964). This year the 17th of Tammuz also falls out on Shabbos. Let us pray to Hashem that since it is pushed off, it should be pushed off entirely with the coming of Moshiach now.
A Good Shabbos