Business is booming! Thank G-d we are blessed to help re-acquaint unaffiliated and disenfranchised Jews with their heritage. Thank G-d we are able to break some of the stigmas and help people get connected with their Jewish roots.
When I was a young child, 28 years ago on the third of Tammuz in 1994, The Rebbe - Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson passed away. At the time, all the pundits said Chabad is over! The New York Times reported, “Observers of the movement believe that some sort of leader will be needed if the movement is going to weather the factionalism…"
In this week’s Torah portion, Korach tried to create factions. However, the Talmud (Bava Basra 74a) tells of an Arab who showed Rabbah Bar Bar Chana where the ground opened and swallowed Korach’s family. Rabbah Bar Bar Chana heard the cries “Moshe Emes V’Toraso Emes V’Heim Badayim” - "Moshe is true and his Torah is true and we are liars".
28 years later, the Rebbe's vision continues to shine, but each and every one of us needs to sign up to join the movement.
How to ensure that the sparks of interest in Jewish life are fanned into a roaring fire that will never burn out?!
Be careful not to grab people by the throat and drag them to connect to Jewish life. Encourage them by schlepping them by their lapels.
Interestingly on the third of Tammuz in 1941, just days after the Rebbe (The son-in-law and eventual successor of the previous Rebbe) had arrived on the safe shores of America, the Previous Rebbe shared the following story:
The Rebbe prayed for many hours that Shabbat morning, as was his manner. In the meantime, the Chassidim recited kiddush and consumed a quantity of l’chaims. Later, when the Rebbe had finished and they sat with him to the Shabbat meal, Reb Yosef Yuzik asked:
Replied the Rebbe: “A Chassid is a lamplighter. The lamplighter walks the streets carrying a flame at the end of a pole. He knows that the flame is not his. And he goes from lamp to lamp to set them alight.”
Asked Reb Yosef Yuzik: “What if the lamp is in a desert?”
Continued the Chassid: “What if the lamp is at sea?”
For a long while the Rebbe thought. Then he said: “Yes, this is a Chassid.”
Answered the Rebbe: “That is because you are not a lamplighter.”
“First, you must reject the evil within yourself. Start with yourself: cleanse yourself, refine yourself, and you will see the lamp within your fellow. When a person is himself coarse, G‑d forbid, he sees coarseness;">Reb Yosef Yuzik then asked: “Is one to grab the other by the throat?”
Replied the Rebbe: “By the throat, no;">Each of us, needs to reject the evil within ourselves and work on ourselves, and then join the movement that the Rebbe encouraged.
Have an amazing Shabbos.
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
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