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Branches Of The Chassidic Menorah - Volume One Biographical Stories Based On The Essay Fathers Of Chassidus By The Previous Lu avitcher !e e" Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn #irst pu lished in the classical columns of $aTamim Translated by Shimon Neubort Published and copyright by Sichos %n English (718) 778-5 !" # in$o%Sichos&n'nglish(org # )*+ (718) 7!5- 1!, Translator&s %ntroduction -uring my early teen years. & $re/uently 0isited the home o$ a cousin 1ho is a $er0ent 2is3nit3er 4hassid( &n his li0ing room hung a picture o$ the 5chassidic tree5 - a $amous dra1ing o$ a tree. 1ith names o$ the chassidic 6ebbeim superimposed( The trun7. o$ course. is the 8aal Shem To0 and the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch( The main limbs o$ the tree are the 9aggid:s disciples( The branches and t1igs are their disciples and descendants. and their later successors( )ollo1ing the main limb o$ the *lter 6ebbe. that diagram only 1ent as $ar as the T3emach T3ede7; a later edition o$ the same diagram also includes the 6ebbe 9aharash( 8ut 1ithin this chassidic tree. these nesi:im o$ 4habad appear to occupy only a small cluster. almost lost among other branches and t1igs( *nd yet. the 4habad branch o$ 4hassidus has played a central role in the de0elopment and dissemination o$ the 4hassidic 9o0ement. $ar beyond the proportion o$ space it 1as granted on the tree( <nce. shortly a$ter & began to 0isit 5Se0en-Se0enty5 regularly. & o0erheard a con0ersation among chassidim o$ 0arious $actions. each promoting his o1n $amily:s 6ebbe and his o1n brand o$ 4hassidus( Since no one else present mentioned =uba0itch. & attempted to >oin the con0ersation as the =uba0itcher representati0e( 9y remar7s 1ere /uic7ly cut short by the others( Though each claimed that his o1n 6ebbeim 1ere superior to the others. all seemed to agree that =uba0itch 1as something separate and di$$erent. and had no place in a discussion o$ 5mainstream5 $actions o$ 4hassidus( 54habad is a separate philosophy and a di$$erent 1ay o$ li$e $rom all other types o$ 4hassidus.5 ob>ected one 8el3er 4hassid( 5The 8aal ?aTanya 1as. a$ter all. only one o$ the 9aggid:s many disciples. and the youngest at that( @hy do you =uba0itchers act as i$ you ha0e a monopoly on the 8aal Shem To0A5 demanded a chassid o$ Barlin-Stolin( 8eing by $ar the youngest person present. & /uic7ly retreated and le$t the others to continue the con0ersation( To tell the truth. the points they had brought up troubled me as 1ell( 9y o1n roots lay in the 4hassidus o$ Calicia and 8u7o0ina. and to me =uba0itcher 1ays and customs appeared strange and 5unchassidic(5 Dears later. 1hen & had become (1hat these days passes $or) a $ull-$ledged =uba0itcher. the /uestions raised long ago no longer bothered me. but they remained unans1ered( *nd then. the periodical ?aTamim 1as reprinted( & no1 came upon the Pre0ious 6ebbe:s essay 5)athers o$ 4hassidus.5 - and the accompanying introductory letter - 1hich ans1er these 0ery /uestions( *nd the /uestions had been as7ed by none other than the 6ebbe himsel$E &n this essay. the Pre0ious 6ebbe presents us 1ith an historical o0er0ie1 o$ the 4hassidic 9o0ement. its $ounding. de0elopment. and dissemination - $rom the beginning through 1,FG( =i7e much o$ the Pre0ious 6ebbe:s historical 1or7. it is 1ritten $rom a biographical perspecti0e( &t $eatures the se0en generations o$ Nesi:im. $rom the 8aal Shem To0 through the 6ebbe 6ashab. 1hich the Pre0ious 6ebbe calls the se0en 58ranches o$ the 4hassidic 9enorah(5 &ncluded are stories illustrating the 1ay o$ li$e o$ young Torah scholars o$ @hite 6ussia during the de0elopment period o$ 4hassidus( Hn$ortunately. only the $irst three branches o$ the 9enorah 1ere actually printed in ?aTamim( )urther publication ceased 1ith the impending outbrea7 o$ @orld @ar &&( Some o$ the material prepared $or later issues remained in the Pre0ious 6ebbe:s library. and later became a0ailable to chassidim in type1ritten $orm ($or eIample. 5the -ebate in 9ins75)( This 0olume contains the $irst part o$ the essay 5)athers o$ 4hassidus.5 the Pre0ious

6ebbe:s letter concerning the essay. and additional supplementary material( The remainder o$ the essay and more supplementary material 1ill appear (1ith C-d:s help) in 2ol( F( 8ranches o$ the 4hassidic 9enorah continues our series o$ translations o$ the Pre0ious 6ebbe:s historical and biographical narrati0esJ The 9a7ing o$ 4hassidim. and =in7s in the 4hassidic =egacy( =i7e those translations. the present 1or7 $irst appeared in my 1ee7ly column 58iographical S7etches5 in 8eis 9oshiach 9aga3ine( *s printed in ?aTamim. the Pre0ious 6ebbe di0ided the essay into numbered sections. indicating that he considered the order to be important( @e ha0e there$ore departed $rom our pre0ious practice. and re$rained $rom rearranging the teIt( &nstead. headings ha0e been inserted to guide the reader in na0igating the narrati0e $lo1( @e ha0e also di0ided the teIt into chapters (most o$ the chapter brea7s and titles do not appear in the original teIt)( & ha0e added some eIplanatory $ootnotes and bibliographic re$erences; these are enclosed 1ithin brac7ets( )ootnotes 1ithout brac7ets appeared in the original teIt( The map o$ 'urope has changed many times in the past F5G years. and many o$ the geographic names used in the teIt ha0e since been changed. or ha0e disappeared $rom the map altogether( <ther names are o$ Diddish origin. and ne0er appeared on standard maps( There$ore. & ha0e added a guide to Ceographic Terms to orient the reader in this area( & ha0e also added an ancestral tree o$ the Pre0ious 6ebbe . as an aid in $ollo1ing the compleI interrelationships in the $amily o$ the 6ebbeim( & am grate$ul to 6abbi Dose$ Dit3cha7 Beller $or pro0iding me 1ith a copy o$ the manuscript o$ 5The -ebate in 9ins7.5 and other help$ul bac7ground material( 9y pro$ound than7s also to the sta$$ and administration o$ Sichos &n 'nglish - 6abbi 'liyahu Touger. 1ho e$$ected the $inal editorial re0ie1; 6abbi Donah *0t3on. 1ho managed - and obtained $inancing $or - the entire pro>ect; and Dose$ Dit3cha7 Turner. 1ho prepared the $inal printed teIt( * recurring theme in the 6ebbe:s teachings is that the study. dissemination. and practice o$ the 8aal Shem To0:s teaching is the $inal step in the messianic process - a process that has been ongoing since the 4reation. and no1 reaches its imminent climaI( 9ay our study o$ the li$estyles o$ our 6ebbeim and their disciples. lead us to a deeper study o$ their teachings. so that 1e may $ollo1 the path they ha0e set out $or us - the path leading to the messianic age and the a1a7ening o$ those 1ho 5d1ell in the dust.5 immediately N<@( Shimon Neubort Motzoei Shabbos, 18 Elul 5757 (Birthday of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter ebbe! "ro#n $ei%hts, Broo&lyn, '( Pu lisher&s #ore'ord <ne 1intry e0ening in 55!1. the gaon 6abbi Dose$ Balbo and se0eral other o$ the leading Torah scholars $rom the city o$ Sh7lo0 1ere studying in the beis hamedrash o$ the Perushim( * young man carrying a small pac7 entered the study hall and 1ent to the $urnace to 1arm himsel$( &t 1as ob0ious that he 1as 1eary and drained $rom his >ourney( *$ter gi0ing the guest some time to compose himsel$. one o$ Sh7lo0:s more prominent scholars greeted the guest and engaged him in a Torah discussion( The guest:s uni/ue manner o$ eIplanation impressed him and he called some o$ his colleagues to listen to the guest:s insights( *s the hours passed. the circle o$ scholars surrounding the guest 1idened( ?e began to eIpound on di$$erent Talmudic passages. to the absolute satis$action o$ all his guests( 6a0 Dose$ Balbo had no 1ords to praise the guest:s approach to study( 5This is true scholarship.5 he eIclaimed( 5&t eIpands the mind. rather than constricts and narro1s its $ocus. as do most approaches to pilpul(5 )or the neIt t1o days. the guest 1as as7ed to lecture in 0arious rabbinic $orums throughout Sh7lo0( *ll o$ the scholars o$ the city including the ra0 o$ the city. 6a0 ?enoch Schic7. 1ere impressed 1ith the guest:s 0ast 7no1ledge and clarity o$ thin7ing( )or the entire time he 1as in Sh7lo0. the guest did not re0eal his identity( =ater it became 7no1n that he 1as the *lter 6ebbe( This narrati0e re$lects the approach ta7en by the *lter 6ebbe in the contro0ersy

bet1een the misnagdim and the chassidim( The *lter 6ebbe did not $ight against anyone( Though he stood in the midst o$ a 0ery stormy con$lict. he ne0er launched an attac7( ?is energies 1ere not $ocused on negati0ity at all( &nstead. he studied and he taught( Kuietly. lo0ingly. 1ith genuine care. he reached out to e0eryone( ?e respected the positi0e /ualities. that others - e0en his opponents - possessed( ?e reali3ed that it 1as not by diminishing 1ho they 1ere that he 1ould 1in them to his side. but by sho1ing them the positi0e 0irtues 1hich 4hassidus possessed( ?e 1as con0inced that e0en his antagonists. 1hen eIposed to the approach he taught. 1ould appreciate that he met their standards o$ Torah leadership( *nd he $elt that there 1ould be many 1ho 1ould understand ho1 this ne1 approach broadened their hori3ons and ele0ated their -i0ine ser0ice( &n the essay 5)athers o$ 4hassidus.5 1hose translation is presented here. the Pre0ious 6ebbe emphasi3es these themes. demonstrating ho1 the *lter 6ebbe countered the opposition 1hich 4hassidism met at its inception. and ho1 he pa0ed the 1ay $or the t1o approaches to be reconciled( (orms )nd Beyond The (orm <ne o$ the standard arguments 1hich their contenders ha0e presented to chassidim o0er the years is that study and obser0ance are benchmar7s that can easily be e0aluated( Dou can see 1hether a person obser0es. ho1 much he has studied. and 1hether he there$ore /uali$ies to ser0e as a mentor( They 1ould argue that the lo0e and $ear o$ C-d. and the inspirational spiritual ser0ice 1hich 4hassidism emphasi3es. by contrast. are intangible /ualities. 1hich you cannot /uanti$y or e0aluate( There$ore. i$ they are accepted as the criteria $or leadership. a common person - and $or that matter. a scholar - can be misled in his appreciation o$ 1ho is a proper spiritual guide( The *lter 6ebbe:s response to this challenge 1as not to re>ect the norms 1hich the others suggested( &nstead. he sho1ed eIcellence in those areas. and simultaneously. emphasi3ed that this eIcellence comes as a result o$ a more comprehensi0e approach that is based on a di$$erent standard. a higher and more $ar-reaching appreciation o$ Cd and our obligation to ser0e ?im( Turning #ire *ithin * reader may be $eel challenged by a conceptual di$$iculty 1hen reading this essay( )or the essay 1as 1ritten by the Pre0ious 6ebbe in response to /uestions $rom the 6ebbe regarding the di$$erences in approach bet1een 4habad 4hassidus and the approach to 4hassidus $ollo1ed in 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia. and the $act that on the sur$ace. the intellectual thrust o$ 4habad appears to be a departure $rom the 8aal Shem To0:s approach( Ne0ertheless. instead o$ $ocusing primarily on that issue. the essay appears to shi$t the stress and elaborates on the con$lict bet1een the chassidim and the misnagdim and the *lter 6ebbe:s approach to it( &t is true that both issues di0ided the 9aggid:s students along almost the same lines( The leaders o$ 4hassidus in 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia 1ho placed the emphasis on the spiritual po1er o$ the t3addi7. 1ere the same 1ho called $or harsh spiritual measures to be employed in the con$lict 1ith the misnagdim( *nd con0ersely. the ma>ority o$ those 1ho accepted the *lter 6ebbe:s emphasis on indi0idual -i0ine ser0ice. appro0ed o$ his e$$orts to educate rather than combat the misnagdim( This 1as not. ho1e0er. a matter o$ a mere consensus( &nstead. one position 1as the outgro1th o$ the other( The leaders o$ 4hassidus in 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia sa1 the out1ard eIpression o$ spiritual 0itality as the highest goal( *nd since their $ire 1as directed out1ard. 1hen con$lict arose. they sought to meet it head on( The *lter 6ebbe. by contrast. placed the emphasis on an in1ard thrust. reali3ing the spiritual potential that each indi0idual himsel$ possesses( * person in0ol0ed in such -i0ine ser0ice is not daunted by eIternal challenge( &ndeed. any such challenges are considered as prods to cause him to loo7 deeper inside himsel$ and $ind a more po1er$ul truth. con$ident that the integrity o$ his approach 1ill ultimately be recogni3ed by his ad0ersary. $orL1M 5The uni/ue dimension o$ truth is that accord is re$lected $rom e0ery side(5

+%n Those ,ays" )t This Time+ The *lter 6ebbe:s conduct is not >ust a story o$ the path. but a legacy $or our time( <ur people is not a single homogenous entity. but a blend o$ many indi0iduals each 1ith his o1n nature and tendency( This di0ersity need not lead to di$$erence( <n the contrary. the most comprehensi0e conception o$ unity in0ol0es $orging an organic 1hole $rom di0erse entities( Ne0ertheless. human nature being 1hat it is. there are times 1hen inner di$$erences 1ill result in eIternal di0ision( ?ere the *lter 6ebbe:s eIample o$ lo0e and truth is most rele0ant( There is no need to sacri$ice an iota o$ one:s principles; on the contrary. i$ they are genuine. they cannot be sacri$iced. $or truth is unchanging( <n the other hand. there is no place $or con$lict( Teach patiently; pro0ide a sincere eIample o$ proper conduct( People 1ill respond. $or 5The uni/ue dimension o$ truth is that accord is re$lected $rom e0ery side(5 9ay this approach lead 0ery speedily to the ultimate eIpression o$ lo0e and truth. the coming o$ the 6edemption. 1hen 5those 1ho repose in the dust5 1ill 5arise and sing(5L FM *nd 1e 1ill again hear teachings $rom the 6ebbe. the Pre0ious 6ebbe. the *lter 6ebbe. and all the other t3addi7im( 9ay this ta7e place in the immediate $uture( Sichos In English 11th )ay of 'issan, 5758 Preface By The Editors Of $atamim-./ 8elo1. 1e present an eIcerpt $rom a letter by the 6ebbe ShlitaL M 1ritten to one o$ his rabbinic sons-in-la1.L5M re$erring to the essay 5)athers o$ 4hassidus.5 1hich he 1rote 1hile he resided in 9arienbad( LThe letter is datedM F! 9enachem *0 5",1 L*ugust ". 1,!1M(L"M (((regarding your in/uiry about the history o$ Toras 4hassidus 4habad. its establishment. de0elopment. and disseminationJ 9y $irst thought 1as that the preparation o$ an essay on this important and lo$ty sub>ect could be more easily underta7en i$ & 1ere at home. 1here & could use the resources o$ my library o$ sacred manuscripts( ?o1e0er. & 1as also a1are o$ the busy daily routine & 7eep at home. and the large amount o$ 1or7 & am burdened 1ith( @hat 1ould most li7ely occur upon my $ortunate return home. is that & 1ould be beset by my usual daily schedule. and & 1ould not $ind the time $or this >ob( 4onse/uently. & deemed it better to 1rite at least a $e1 lines. containing a general o0er0ie1 o$ the se0en generations o$ the )athers o$ 4hassidus. representing the se0en 58ranches o$ the 4hassidic 9enorah(5 This may then ser0e as the mortar and bric7s $rom 1hich a $inished essay on our sub>ect could later be constructed( & chose a /uiet noo7 that a$$orded pri0acy $rom the tourists hi7ing around the hills o$ 9arienbad( This spot 1as $urnished 1ith a table and a chair( & 1rote $or siI or se0en hours each day. until (1ith C-d:s help) & managed to compose a brie$ outline o$ the history o$ the establishment o$ Toras 4hassidus 4habad. its eIpansion. and its dissemination(((( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! alba%, Sefer Mil*hemes $aShem, )is*ourse ,, the *on*lusion of *h- 15, *ited in .itzurim /e$aaros 0eTanya, 1- 1231. (Ba*& to te+t ! (eshayahu 3,4151. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom $aTamim, /ol- 3, 1- 1771. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, the :revious ebbe-; 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, the ebbe-; 1- (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The letter #as re1rinted in 9%ros .odesh of the ebbe ayatz, /ol99, 11- 753<757 (no- 5=1!-; The #irst 1eneration0 The Baal Shem Tov 23 -uring one o$ my saintly $ather:s most holy addresses. deli0ered on 1, Bisle0 5""! L-ecember 1,. 1,GFM. 1e 1ere pri0ileged to hear the $ollo1ingJ

The 6ebbeLFM possessed a soul deri0ed $rom *t3ilus( No1 it is true that all souls ha0e their source in the 1orld o$ *t3ilus( This is 1hat is meant by the passage. 5the soul 1hich Dou ha0e gi0en 1ithin me is pure.5L!M 1hich e0ery Ne1ish man and 1oman recites each morning( This. ho1e0er. means only that the source o$ e0ery soul is in the 1orld o$ *t3ilus( *s $or the 6ebbe. by contrast. e0en the soul as mani$est 1ithin his body 1as a soul o$ *t3ilus( This is something eIceptional. and deser0es to be 0ie1ed 1ith special respect( 8esides this. he 1as a natural born mentor. leader. and commander( ?e possessed all the instincts. $aculties. and abilities that a mentor. leader. and commander must ha0e( 9oreo0er. he eIcelled mar0elously in these areas( )rom the 0ery beginning. organi3ation and acti0ity played a ma>or role in the chassidic camp( '0en be$ore the 8aal Shem To0 re0ealed himsel$. 1hile his identity 1as still hidden. he and his $ello1 hidden t3addi7im 1ere eItremely 1ell organi3ed( They established centers in 0arious locations. and each pursued his endea0ors in his o1n center( )rom time to time. they 1ould send detailed reports to the 8aal Shem To0:s head/uarters( The names o$ se0eral o$ these early hidden t3addi7im (e(g(. 6eb 9ordechai. 6eb Behos.((() appear in papers and letters $ound in the recently-disco0ered archi0es(L M *ccording to tradition. the principal mission in 1hich the 8aal Shem To0 and his companions - the hidden t3addi7im - 1ere engaged 1as to encourage the Ne1ish people and to strengthen their hearts( The years 5 G8-G, L1" 8M 1ere years o$ terrible decrees against the Ne1ish people( Tens o$ thousands o$ people perished. and all their money and property 1ere lost( *$ter these tragedies. the Ne1ish population began to concentrate in large cities and settlements. $or they 1ere a$raid to continue li0ing in smaller colonies( 9ost o$ these Ne1s 1ere unemployed and po0erty stric7en( Their po0erty 1as accompanied by a deep depression o$ their spirits because o$ their bitter eIile( The spiritual status o$ the Ne1s in those days remained on the highest le0el o$ piety( Ne0ertheless. the Ne1ish regional councils 1ould dispatch itinerant preachers and sermoni3ers( These 1ould tra0el $rom city to city and $rom settlement to settlement. reprimanding the Ne1s( Their style o$ preaching 1as to spea7 1ords o$ mussar tempered 1ith parables( )or the most part. they 1ould thro1 $ear into the listeners. telling them that C-d 1as punishing them because o$ their 1ic7ed deeds( &n their sermons they 1ould remind the audience o$ 1hat had happened to their parents and grandparents during the years o$ the cruel decrees (may C-d ha0e mercy)( Their 1ords depressed the spirits o$ the Ne1s e0en $urther( 43 *t that time - about the year 5 8G L17FGM - the 8aal Shem To0 and his companions. the hidden Lt3addi7imM. began a campaign to persuade the Ne1s o$ Podolia and the surrounding territories to mo0e $rom the cities and the larger settlements to 0illages and small settlements( There. they 1ere to 1or7 the land and engage in other manual labor. 1hile the 1omen learned to spin yarn and to raise cattle. $o1l. 0egetables. and the li7e( The 8aal Shem To0 and his companions. the hidden t3addi7im. 1ent about their mission - reassuring the Ne1s. raising their depressed spirits. and eliminating their $ears and anIieties( They persuaded the Ne1s to li0e in small 0illages and rural colonies. and engage in manual labor( They accomplished these tas7s in a 1onder$ully organi3ed manner (according to the standards o$ those days)( The *lter 6ebbe told his grandson the T3emach T3ede7 that his o1n LspiritualM grand$ather.L5M the 8aal Shem To0. had said that the $irst goal o$ the tas7 he and his companions. the hidden t3addi7im. undertoo7 1as to heal the bodies o$ the Ne1ish people( <nly a$ter1ards could they heal their spirits and souls( Thus. during the entire time that the 8aal Shem To0 remained hidden. all his e$$orts 1ere $ocused on helping the Ne1s earn their li0elihoods( ?is main e$$orts 1ere directed at the simple $ol7 (1ho constitute the body o$ the Ne1ish people)( <nly a$ter he had

re0ealed himsel$ did he use his e$$orts in behal$ o$ the students and Torah scholars (1ho constitute the soul and spirit o$ the Ne1ish people)( -uring the abo0e-mentioned discourse. my saintly $ather recited to me the teaching that he had heard $rom his saintly $ather. 1ho had heard it $rom his saintly $ather the T3emach T3ede7. 1ho heard it $rom his grand$ather the *lter 6ebbe( The teaching is based on the 0erse.L"M 5*nd on the 0ine there 1ere three t1igs((((5 The Sages o$ blessed memory teach usL7M that the 50ine5 re$ers to the Ne1ish people( The main theme o$ the teaching is that the grape 0ine di$$ers $rom all other trees in t1o respectsJ i) e0ery part o$ the 0ine - e0en the lea0es - ser0es some purpose 1ith respect to the $ruit; ii) e0ery part o$ the 0ine possesses some 0ital characteristic not $ound in the other parts( '0en the lea0es possess a $eature that is superior to the $ruit. $or they ser0e to protect the $ruits( &t is ob0ious that the entity o$$ering protection must possess po1ers greater than - and superior to - the thing 1hich is protected(L8M .3 -uring all the years that the 8aal Shem To0 remained hidden. he and his companions. the secret t3addi7im continued 1or7ing to1ard the goal mentioned abo0e in an organi3ed manner( @hen the 8aal Shem To0 $inally re0ealed himsel$. he established public centers( 'ither he sent one o$ his close disciples to li0e in a particular center. or else he 1ould establish the center in a place 1here one o$ the disciples already li0ed( @e $ind that by the year 55GG L17 GM. our master the 8aal Shem To0 1as surrounded by mighty disciples and geonim. $ighting the battles o$ the Torah( 8esides his disciples and colleagues 1ho 1ere hidden t3addi7im. there 1ere 1orld-class geonim 1ho 1ere openly his disciples( They also 1or7ed in a highly organi3ed and energetic $ashion. each at his appointed tas7. in the location designated $or him by the 8aal Shem To0( @ithin about $i$teen years. the 8aal Shem To0:s outstanding organi3ation. his C-dly program o$ aha0as Disrael. and the mesirus ne$esh dedicated to the campaign o$ his holy disciples. bore $ruit( The 8aal Shem To0:s teachings spread throughout the land( )urthermore. he had captured the hearts o$ the Ne1ish people - not only in Poland. but also in =ita( The 8aal Shem To0 held se0eral debates 1ith the )ran7ists. and $inally pre0ailed o0er them( (This is documented at length in the abo0e-mentioned archi0es()L,M This 0ictory earned the 8aal Shem To0 and his holy disciples a concealed hatred on the part o$ the )ran7ists( Ne0ertheless. the highly-organi3ed discipline Lo$ the 8aal Shem To0:s campaignM pro0ed ad0antageous( <n e0ery $ront. the -i0inely-inspired success in disseminating the 8aal Shem To0:s teachings 1as apparent( The 8aal Shem To0:s passing had a po1er$ul impact 1ithin the chassidic camp( *t the same time. the misnagdim planned a ma>or o$$ensi0e against them( The )ran7ists too. 1ere roused to oppose the 8aal Shem To0:s disciples. and they carried out se0eral plots against them( @ere it not $or their organi3ation and their steel discipline. the chassidim 1ould ha0e been unable to maintain their position( 53 *s & mentioned in my pre0ious letters. 1hen my saintly $ather the 6ebbe L6ashabM spent the summer o$ 5"55 L18,5M in the 0acation resort 8ali07a. he arranged a speci$ic time to ta7e his stroll( This occurred each day eIcept 9onday. 1hen he 1ould tra0el to =uba0itch to 0isit his mother. the 6ebbet3in L6i07ahM. and to recei0e the 0isitors 1ho had come to =uba0itch( The time spent during these strolls 1as 0ery dear to me( <n those occasions )ather 1ould tell me stories o$ things that happened to him during his youth. the holy addresses he had heard $rom his saintly $ather the 6ebbe L9aharashM. as 1ell as things he had heard $rom the elder chassidim( -uring the three summer months ($rom the middle o$ Si0an to the middle o$ 'lul) o$ the siI years 5"55 to 5""G L18,5-1,GGM. )ather 1ould ta7e me $or a 1al7 that lasted t1o hours (sometimes e0en three hours or more) each 1ee7day. eIcept 9onday (as & already mentioned)( 9y $ather:s 1edding too7 place in the city o$ *0ruch (in the territory o$ 2ohlynia). 1here

his $ather-in-la1. the saintly 6ebbe. 6eb Dose$ Dit3cha7L1GM li0ed( )or 0arious reasons primarily because o$ his poor health - my saintly grand$ather the 6ebbe 9aharash 1as unable to ma7e the trip to *0ruch to attend the 1edding( -uring one o$ our 1al7s in the summer o$ 5"55. )ather told me the details o$ that story( 9y $ather 1ent on at length about the greatness o$ my saintly grand$ather (his o1n $ather-in-la1) 6eb Dose$ Dit3cha7. his outstanding diligence in study. his philanthropic nature. and (most o$ all) his humility( ?e also repeated to me e0erything his $ather the 6ebbe 9aharash had told him about the greatness o$ his o1n brother. my grand$ather 6eb Dose$ Dit3cha7( 9y saintly grand$ather. the 6ebbe 9aharash. said to his son. my saintly $atherJ Dour $ather-in-la1 is a master o$ a0odah( @hen he still li0ed 1ith his o1n $ather-inla1. 6eb Daa7o0 Disrael o$ 4her7assy. he 1as once as7ed ho1 he da0ened( 9y brother replied that - as much as possible - he prayed bet3ibbur. Lunderstood to meanM 51ith the congregation(5 <nce. a$ter my uncle 6eb Daa7o0 Disrael had $inished da0ening. he sent $or his sonin-la1 (1ho 1as my brother and your $ather-in-la1). re/uesting that he come to see him( The messenger returned saying that L6eb Dose$ Dit3cha7M 1as still da0ening( * 1hile later he sent $or him again. and again the messenger returned to say that he 1as still da0ening( The se/uence 1as repeated a third time( @hen he $inally $inished his prayers and 1ent to see his $ather-in-la1. he said to himJ 5-idn:t you tell me that you pray bet3ibburA5L11M To this. my brother repliedJ 59y saintly $ather Lthe T3emach T3ede7M said to me in the name o$ his grand$ather the L*lterM 6ebbe. that praying bet3ibbur means gatheringL1FM all the -i0ine spar7s that one has re$ined. and ele0ating them through his da0ening( LThis is 1hat & meant 1hen & said thatM as much as possible & try to pray bet3ibbur( 63 4ontinuing his stories. )ather repeated to me 1hat he had heard $rom his o1n $ather. the 6ebbe 9aharash. during the month o$ 'lul 5"!5 L1875MJ @hen & 1as nineteen years old. & became seriously ill (may 1e be spared)( -r( ?eibenthall. the specialist $rom 2itebs7. 1as brought to my bedside t1o or three times( *$ter & 1as out o$ danger. & 1as ordered to remain in bed $or about three months( 'ach day. my saintly $atherL1!M 1ould come to 0isit me. sitting at my bedside $or t1o 1hole hours. and sometimes e0en three or $our hours( <n most o$ those 0isits. he 1ould tell me stories o$ e0ents that had happened to him 1hile he li0ed in the home o$ his grand$ather. the *lter 6ebbe( ?e also repeated to me the stories he had heard $rom the *lter 6ebbe. concerning his days in 9e3ritch at the court o$ the 9aggid o$ blessed memory( The *lter 6ebbe told the T3emach T3ede7 that during the period immediately $ollo1ing his arri0al in 9e3ritch. 5the nights 1ere not long enough to set do1n on paper all that he had heard during the day(5 ?e 1as especially care$ul to 1rite do1n the stories he had heard $rom his master and 6ebbe. and $rom the members o$ the ?oly Society( 9ost o$ these stories concerned e0ents o$ the time 1hen the 8aal Shem To0 1as still at their head. and each story contained a lo$ty message on some topic o$ a0odah in ser0ing C-d( The *lter 6ebbe possessed many bundles o$ papers - including both those he had 1ritten himsel$. and those obtained $rom his $ello1 members o$ the ?oly Society during his stay in 9e3ritch( *las. most o$ these - about t1enty bound noteboo7s and ten bundles o$ loose papers - 1ere destroyed during the $ire that bro7e out in =iadi in 557G L181GM. 1hile the *lter 6ebbe 1as 0isiting 8erditche0( 9ost o$ these 1ere original manuscripts by the *lter 6ebbe. but some 1ere only copies( The sacred manuscript o$ his Shulchan *ruch 1as also burned. and only part o$ it sur0i0ed( The 8aal Shem To0. eIplained the *lter 6ebbe. carried out his leadership 0ery stringently. 1ith strict discipline. and in a highly-organi3ed $ashion( L?e and his

$ollo1ersM 1ere a1are o$ 1hat the misnagdim 1ere doing at all times( &n those days. a trip $rom 9e3hibu3h to Sh7lo0 or 2ilna too7 se0eral 1ee7s( Ne0ertheless. there 1as constant communication. by means o$ tra0elers 1ho >ourneyed bac7 and $orth( @hat is most ama3ing. is that no outsiders 1ere a1are o$ this at all(

(otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,? $aTamim, /ol- 3, 11- 177<1=22. (Ba*& to te+t ! The Alter ebbe, Baal $aTanya3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8@uoted from the Sha*haris 1rayerA Siddur, 1 ,-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8)urin% the revolution in 1518, ar*hives of manus*ri1ts that had been hidden in "herson #ere dis*overed and made available to the 1ubli*- These in*luded numerous letters and brief notes by the Baal Shem Tov and the Ma%%idEa*h issue of $aTamim featured a se*tion devoted to the 1ubli*ation of these letters-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! The Alter ebbe used to *all the Baal Shem Tov his ?%randfather,? for as a dis*i1le of his dis*i1le 8the Mezrit*her Ma%%id;, he #as indeed his s1iritual %rand*hild- 8?)is*i1les are *onsidered as *hildren? (Sanhedrin 15b-!; 6. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Bereishis =2412-; 7. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8"hulin 53a-; 8. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The intent a11ears to be that the sim1le Be#s, #ho &ee1 the Torah and observe its mitzvos, are in some res1e*ts su1erior to the %reat s*holars #ho study it-; 9. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The follo#ers of (aa&ov 6ran& (173,<1751!, #ho misled many Be#s by *laimin% that he #as the messiah, and en*oura%ed them to en%a%e in sinful 1ra*ti*es to lift u1 the s1ar&s of C<dliness found #ithin the for*es of evil-; 10. (Ba*& to te+t ! This #as the holy eb (osef (itz*ha&, son of the ebbe the Tzema*h Tzede&, and son<in<la# of the saintly ebbe eb (aa&ov (israel of "her&assy- 8$e #as the :revious ebbe>s maternal %randfather, and a brother of the :revious ebbe>s 1aternal %randfather, the ebbe MaharashA the :revious ebbe #as named after him-; 11. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8$is father<in<la# had understood the remar& a**ordin% to its strai%htfor#ard meanin%, i-e-, that he 1rayed #ith the *on%re%ation- And the *on%re%ation had finished the 1rayers mu*h earlier-; 12. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A 1lay on #ords4 the $ebre# #ord betzibbur has the root ?Tzibur?, #hi*h also means ?%atherin% to%ether-?; 13. (Ba*& to te+t ! 9-e-, the Tzema*h Tzede&Second 1eneration0 The Maggid Of Me7ritch 83 *$ter our master the 8aal Shem To0 passed a1ay. his son 6eb T30i 1as elected the Nasi and mentor( ?o1e0er. by the time the $irst year had passed. the ?oly Society noticed that their master and 6ebbe:s son 1as not strong enough $or the >ob( The circumstances o$ the time re/uired a person o$ great $ortitude and energy. 1ho possessed the spiritual tools needed $or the top leadership( This situation pro0o7ed much 1orry( -uring the Dom To0 meal o$ the second day o$ Sha0uos - the day $ollo1ing the 8aal Shem To0:s $irst yart3eit - the t3addi7 6eb T30i sat at the head o$ the table( ?e 1ore the holy garments o$ his $ather the 8aal Shem To0. and 1as surrounded by all the members o$ the ?oly Society( *$ter $inishing his Torah discourse. he stood up and declaredJ 5Today. my saintly $ather appeared to me( This is 1hat he said5J *s o$ today. the ?ea0enly *ngelic 4ourt and the assistant angels - 1ho once attended me - trans$er their allegiance L$rom youM to our master and 6ebbe. the holy and a1esome 6eb 8ereniuLFM ben *0raham(

There$ore - my son - relin/uish your position as Nasi to him. in the presence o$ the entire ?oly Society( =et him sit in my place at the head o$ the table. 1hile you - my son - ta7e his seat( Bno1 that because o$ this you 1ill all ha0e success. $or he possesses a 5double measure o$ prophecy(5L!M @ithout $urther delay. 6eb T30i turned to the holy 6eb -o0 8er and 1ished him ma3el to0E ?e too7 o$$ his outer cloa7 and ga0e it to our saintly master 6eb -o0 8er( Then. he sat do1n in 6eb -o0 8er:s seat( The saintly 6eb -o0 8er immediately too7 the seat at the head o$ the table. 1hile all members o$ the ?oly Society stood up to hear the Torah discourse that 1ould be deli0ered by the ne1 Nasi( *ccording to tradition. the $irst discourse he deli0ered 1as a homiletic commentary on the 0erse 5Their appearance and their 1or7 1as as i$ it 1ere a 1heel 1ithin a 1heel(5L M The saintly 6ebbe. the T3emach T3ede7. told his son. my grand$ather. the 6ebbe 9aharash. that the discourse 5Their appearance and their 1or7((( 5 printed in Torah <r. Parshas Disro is the same as that $irst discourse deli0ered by the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch 1hen he accepted the position o$ Nasi during the $esti0al o$ Sha0uos 55F1 L17"1M( The *lter 6ebbe heard it $rom the saintly 6ebbe 9enachem 9endel o$ ?orodo7. author o$ P:ri ?a*ret3. 1ho had been present at the time( 8ut the *lter 6ebbe transcribed it according to his o1n style( No1 e0en 1hile the t3addi7 6eb T30i 1as still the Nasi. the holy 6eb -o0 8er 1ould o0ersee the general management( 8ut their cooperati0e e$$orts had become so 1ea7ened that the rumor spread in the camp o$ the misnagdim - the house built by our master the 8aal Shem To0 1as about to collapse (C-d $orbid)( ?o1e0er. 1ithin three months o$ the 9aggid:s appointment as Nasi. they rein$orced all the centers 1here they 1ere at 1or7 - those in 2ohlynia and Podolia. as 1ell as those in =ita and Poland( *t the main head/uarters. 1here the 9aggid himsel$ li0ed. they pursued their tas7s 1ith great diligence( 93 -uring the leadership o$ the 6ebbe the 9aggid. their e$$orts 1ere doubled. and the organi3ation became e0en better( *s time passed. the campaign 1as carried out in e0en broader $ashion. by the hundreds and thousands o$ disciples and chassidim li0ing throughout the country( *lready in the 8aal Shem To0:s day. se0eral o$ his disciples 1ere tra0eling around =ita( * $e1 o$ them e0en settled in the to1ns o$ ?omel. 8obrois7. -ubra0na.L5M and the surrounding 0illages( *s already mentioned. the 8aal Shem To0:s disciples 1ere 0ery organi3ed in their 1or7( 9ost o$ them 1ere great Torah scholars. and 1hene0er they arri0ed in a city. they 1ould sit do1n in the beis hamedrash and engage the local Torah scholars in con0ersation( Thus they pursued their campaign o$ promoting the 8aal Shem To0:s program( @hen the 9aggid $irst began his leadership. he intensi$ied the campaign in =ita( ?e sent to =ita disciples 1ho 1ere mighty 1arriors in the study o$ Toras ?a4hassidus(L "M Hn$ortunately. they did not succeed at their appointed tas7( =ater. he sent disciples 1ho 1ere also mighty 1arriors in the re0ealed aspects o$ the Torah( ?is disciples tra0eled throughout =ita $or about t1o years. and they succeeded in capturing the hearts o$ a substantial number o$ ne1 Torah scholars( They also inspired the hearts o$ the earlier ones. including the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ 9ins7 and the holy 6eb Dissachar -o0 o$ Babilni7(L7M These then tra0eled to 9e3ritch( The tra0elers spent a hal$ year 1ith the 9aggid in 9e3ritch be$ore returning home( @hen they returned home. they 1ere $illed 1ith the glory and splendor o$ Toras ?a4hassidus. so that they too began a campaign o$ promoting the 8aal Shem To0 and the 9aggid:s program among the Torah scholars o$ 9ins7 and Babilni7( * year a$ter the holy disciples 6eb 9enachem 9endel and 6eb Dissachar -o0 returned $rom 9e3ritch. a message arri0ed $rom the Ne1ish regional councils o$ 8rys7 and Slut37. proclaiming a cheirem against all Torah Scholars 1ho adhered to the agenda o$ the 8aal Shem To0 and the 9aggid( 8y this time. 4hassidus 1as already 1ell 7no1n( )rom day to day the number o$ Torah scholars 1ho had some 7no1ledge o$ Toras ?a4hassidus increased( Thus. the society o$ those 1ho espoused the study o$ 4hassidus gre1. and by the year 55F5 L17"5M three

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public centers had been establishedJ i( in =uba0itch. under the leadership o$ the abo0e-mentioned holy 6eb Dissachar -o0; ii( in Barlin. under the leadership o$ the holy 6eb *haron; iii. in ?orodo7. under the leadership o$ the abo0e-mentioned holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ 2itebs7(L8M *t about that time. the holy 6eb *0raham o$ Balis7L,M gathered to himsel$ numerous young scholars and taught them Toras ?a4hassidus( ?o1e0er. since he possessed an eItremely eIcitable and emotional nature. the results 1ere less than satis$actory( 4hassidim called his disciples the Tol7 chassidim; this 1hole a$$air is 1ell 7no1n among chassidim(L1GM (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,? $aTamim, /ol- 3, 11- 1=2<1=3- A11arently, this *ontinues #hat the ebbe ashab told the :revious ebbe durin% their #al&s in the *ountry, Duotin% #hat the Tzema*h Tzede& told the ebbe Maharash durin% his illness2. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8?Bereniu? is used by :olish and E&rainian Be#s as a familiar form of the name )ov Ber- The Baal Shem Tov and his dis*i1les affe*tionately referred to the Ma%%id as ? eb Bereniu-? Similarly, the Ma%%id and his dis*i1les referred to the Alter ebbe as ? eb Falmaniu-?; 3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8:ara1hrased from Mela*him 99 345-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8(e*hez&el 141,A 6rom the $aftarah of the first day of ShavuosA Siddur, 1- =25-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See The Ma&in% of "hassidim, Si*hos 9n En%lish , Broo&lyn, 155,, #hi*h des*ribes ho# one of the Baal Shem Tov dis*i1les, eb Morde*hai, *ame to settle in )ubravna and *onverted the inhabitants to "hassidus-; 6. (Ba*& to te+t ! These #ere the Baal Shem Tov>s *hassidim in 0ita- Amon% them #ere the holy eb Mena*hem Mendel of Mins& (author of :>ri $aAretzA he #as born in a small villa%e near Mins&, and later moved to Mins& itself 8this eb M-M of Mins& #as later &no#n as eb M-M of /itebs& or eb M-M of $orodo&;A amon% the Torah s*holars of Mins&, he #as *onsidered a youn% %enius! and the holy eb (issa*har )ov of .abilni& (a small villa%e in Ghite ussiaA he later be*ame a ma%%id in the villa%e of 0ubavit*h!- But they #ere unha11y #ith the #ay the *am1ai%n #as *arried out, and durin% the first three years they %re# indifferent to it7. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See The Ma&in% of "hassidim, A11endi+ B-; 8. (Ba*& to te+t ! E1on his return from Mezrit*h, he moved 8from Mins&; to the *ity of /itebs&, #here he resided for several months- Then, follo#in% the Ma%%id>s instru*tions, he moved to the to#n of $orodo&, #here he remained until the summer of 5577 81777;, #hen he and his follo#ers emi%rated to Eretz (israel8More about him a11ears in the ne+t *ha1ter;9. (Ba*& to te+t ! A small villa%e in Ghite ussia, near 0iozna10. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See The Ma&in% of "hassidim, 11- 5<7-; Third 1eneration0 The )lter !e :3 -uring the t1el0e years o$ the 9aggid:s leadership Toras ?a4hassidus eIpanded and reached a 0ery high crest. spreading throughout a 0ast territory( 8ut a$ter he passed a1ay in the year 55!! L177!M. the situation deteriorated rapidly( Cra0e danger no1 threatened the structure that the 8aal Shem To0 had $ounded and built. and that his disciple the 9aggid had enlarged( *ll the disciples 1ent into deep mourning o0er the passing o$ their master and 6ebbe. and they held many deliberations and consultations o0er 1ho should be cro1ned Nasi. as his successor( The *lter 6ebbe -8aal ?aTanya - di0ulged discreetly to the more important disciples. some o$ 1hat the holy 9aggid had said to him on 18 Bisle0 55!! L-ecember 1 . 177FM. e

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the day be$ore he passed a1ay( ?e had instructed Lthe *lter 6ebbeM to use his utmost in$luence to arrange that his son. 6eb *0raham. should accept the position o$ Nasi( &$ he 1ere un1illing to accept. then the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel =it0a7LFM 1as to be appointed( -uring 4hanu7ah. a committee o$ three disciples 1as appointedJ i) the holy 6eb Dehudah =eib ?aBohen. author o$ <r ?aCanu3; ii) the *lter 6ebbe. 8aal ?aTanya; iii) the holy 6eb 9eshulem Ousia o$ *nipolia( LThese threeM 1ere empo1ered to approach the t3addi7 6eb *0raham - son o$ the 9aggid - and present to him a document. signed by all o$ his $ather:s disciples. certi$ying that they had become 6eb *0raham:s adherents( )rom the $irst day that the *lter 6ebbe arri0ed in 9e3ritch. he met 1ith the 9aggid:s $a0or. and 1as granted all sorts o$ pri0ileges( 9y saintly $ather told me the $ollo1ing. 1hich he heard $rom his $ather. my saintly grand$ather the 6ebbe 9aharash. 1ho heard it $rom his o1n $ather. the T3emach T3ede7J 59y grand$ather Lthe *lter 6ebbeM told me that 1hen he $irst came to 9e3ritch. he learned more $rom 1hat 1as not said or done. than $rom 1hat 1as said or done(5 ?e then eIplained 1hat he meant by that( The )lter !e e&s narrative0 'ach o$ the 0eteran disciples had a certain day o$ the month 1hen it 1ould be his turn to act as our master:s personal attendant. $ollo1ing the se/uence that our master himsel$ had established( @hen & arri0ed in 9e3ritch. C-d granted me the pri0ilege o$ being included in this list o$ attendants( *$ter a $e1 1ee7s. & already $elt at home. and my master and 6ebbe besto1ed upon me the pri0ilege o$ studying 1ith his holy son L6eb *0rahamM( & noticed that on Thursday and )riday our master and 6ebbe:s butler 1as busy 1ith the house7eeping chores in preparation $or Shabbos( There$ore. & stationed mysel$ in our master and 6ebbe:s main room. so that & could act as his 0alet and pro0ide any personal ser0ice he might need( The $irst time this happened. my master hesitated to use me in a ser0ile position( 8ut 1hen he sa1 ho1 greatly & desired this. he permitted me to ser0e him( )rom that time on. & 1as al1ays stationed in my master and 6ebbe:s main room on Thursday and )riday( <nce. my master called me into his pri0ate room and as7ed me 1hat sort o$ guests had come $or Shabbos. and on 1hat le0el he should deli0er his Torah discourse be$ore them. so that it 1ould be appropriate $or their abilities( ?e then recited a Torah discourse to me( & remar7ed that a discourse on that le0el 1ould be too di$$icult $or the guests to assimilate; he then recited a second. and then a third and a $ourth discourse to me( &t 1as not until the $i$th discourse that & deemed it appropriate $or the guests 1ho had come $or that particular Shabbos( The same thing happened to me se0eral times more 1hile & remained in 9e3ritch( ;3 8y the time my master and 6ebbe instructed me to compose the Shulchan *ruch. most o$ the chassidim 1ho used to come to my master and 6ebbe 1ere already a1are o$ the great $a0or besto1ed upon me by my master and 6ebbe( There$ore. & 1as a$raid o$ the e0il eye (C-d $orbid). and & disclosed this to my master and 6ebbe( @hen my master heard 1hat 1as 1orrying me. he stood up. placed his holy hands upon my head. and blessed me 1ith the blessing o$ the Bohanim(L !M *$ter he had blessed me. he spo7e to me at length about composing the Shulchan *ruch( )rom that time on. the entire ?oly Society treated me 1ith lo0e and brotherhood( @hen my master and 6ebbe passed a1ay. the disciples held a lottery to determine 1ho 1ould be pri0ileged to participate in the taharah( =ater. a second lottery 1as held to determine 1ho 1ould ha0e the pri0ilege o$ 1ashing each o$ his indi0idual holy limbs( &t $ell to my lot to 1ash his holy head( & 1as petri$ied by this a1esome pri0ilege; and at the same time. & 1as terri$ied 1ith $ear o$ possible >udgement and condemnationL M (C-d $orbid)( & $elt un1orthy. apprehensi0e. and a$raid in the presence o$ my colleagues and associates( *$ter all. they 1ere my seniors both in age and in length o$ ser0ice to my holy master and 6ebbe(

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*s & stood there in con$usion and 1orry. & recalled that my holy master had sent $or me and my associates. the holy 6eb =eib ?aBohen and the holy 6eb Ousia o$ *nipolia( ?e had then said to me. 5Tell me eIactly 1hat happened 1hile & 1as asleep(5 The e0ent he re$erred to 1as the $ollo1ingJ The holy 6eb PinchasL5M opposed our master and 6ebbe:s practice o$ deli0ering LchassidicM Torah lectures be$ore the multitudes( ?e maintained that one had to be 1ary o$ disseminating such high and lo$ty sub>ects( <n that 0ery day. the holy 6eb Pinchas had disco0ered t1o hand1ritten sheets o$ paper.L"M and he 1as /uite annoyed by this( @hen & sa1 6eb Pinchas: annoyance. & told him the 1ell-7no1n parable about the prince 1ho became seriously illJ The physicians stated that no medicine 1ould cure his illness. but there 1as a magical remedy helpJ they must grind certain >e1els into a po1der Land dissol0e this in 1aterM( They should then gi0e Lthe princeM some o$ this 1ater to drin7( The 7ing commanded that this should be done( They searched the palace $or that 1onder$ul magical >e1el. but 1ere unable to $ind it( 9ean1hile. the prince:s illness gre1 1orse( @ise men 1ere consulted. and it 1as disco0ered that the 7ing:s cro1n contained a >e1el unli7e any >e1el $ound in the cro1ns o$ other 7ings( This >e1el possessed the magical po1er to cure the prince:s illness( The 1ise men:s disco0ery 1as reported to the 7ing( 9ean1hile the prince:s illness had become 0ery gra0e( The physicians said that e0en 1ere they to pour the potion do1n the prince:s throat. it remained doubt$ul that he 1ould be able to ingest it( Thus. the precious >e1el $rom the 7ing:s cro1n 1ould go to 1aste. 1ithout a cure( The 7ing then repliedJ 5The royal cro1n is indeed precious. $or it symboli3es the splendor and ma>esty o$ its o1ner. and the magni$icence o$ its 1earer( This precious >e1el is the glory o$ the 1hole cro1n. con$erring royalty upon it( 8ut all this is nothing compared 1ith the li$e and the being o$ the prince( &t is 1orth1hile to grind up the precious stone. e0en i$ the outcome is in doubt( )or >ust possibly. a drop may enter the prince:s throat and cure him o$ his illness(5 @hen & $inished telling 6eb Pinchas this parable. he began to smile. saying. 5Dou are rightE This parable does >usti$y the approach o$ deli0ering chassidic Torah lectures be$ore the multitudes( )ortunate is the 6ebbe 1ho has such disciplesE5 @hen my master and 6ebbe later as7ed me 1hat had happened in the beis hamedrash 1hile he 1as asleep. & told him the 1hole story in brie$( 9y master and 6ebbe then repliedJ Dou ha0e sa0ed my li$eE @hile & slept. & sa1 a great ?ea0enly accusation (may C-d ha0e mercy) against me and against the teachings o$ my master the 8aal Shem To0( 8ut >ust then. & sa1 you standing there and arguing in our de$ense( Dour arguments 1ere accepted( &. my teachings. and the teachings o$ my master the 8aal Shem To0 1ere then ac/uitted(L7M 2<3 The situation then 1as such that the top leadership re/uired a person o$ prophetic spirit. 1ho 1ould be able to debate the misnagdim and state his case clearly( ?e 1ould also ha0e to be capable o$ ignoring the charomim and other proclamations that 1ere being issued by the misnagdim against the chassidim( )or this purpose. they decided to appoint an 'Iecuti0e 4ommittee and a Ceneral 4oordinator( ?e 1ould be empo1ered to spea7 in the name o$ the holy 6eb *0raham and the entire ?oly Society. and to act on his o1n 1hen issuing - to the 0arious centers any instructions he deemed ad0isable( *t its neIt general meeting. the ?oly Society elected the *lter 6ebbe as their Ceneral 4oordinator and spo7esman( ?e 1as empo1ered to set the general agenda $or the 1or7 o$ the 0arious centers. and $or the campaign throughout the country( )rom time to time. he 1as also to 0isit the places 1here the 9aggid:s disciples li0ed( )or about three years - $rom 55!! to 55!" L177!-7"M - the *lter 6ebbe 1as busy

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tra0eling to 0arious places to in0estigate the condition o$ the 9aggid:s disciples. and the 1or7 they 1ere doing in the 0arious centers. to insure that it $ollo1ed the agenda set by the 'Iecuti0e 4ommittee( Some o$ these trips 1ere made openly. and some 1ere in secret( *t that time. he secretly 0isited Sh7lo0. 9ins7. and 2ilna(L8M The *lter 6ebbe spent siI 1ee7s in 2ilna during that secret mission( ?e 1ould 1ander $rom one beis hamedrash to another. disguised as a 0isiting tra0eler( '0en on Shabbos. he 1ould eat nothing but bread and 1ater( The gaon 6eb Dehudah =eib. the *lter 6ebbe:s brother. told my great-grand$ather the T3emach T3ede7 that 1hile the *lter 6ebbe 1as in 2ilna. he discussed pilpul 1ith all the great Torah scholars( 8ut he re$rained $rom engaging the Caon 6a0 'liyahu in discussion. $or $ear that he 1ould be recogni3ed( ?e did. ho1e0er. submit se0eral /uestions to him through t1o o$ his adherents( 5& soon learned 1hom & 1as dealing 1ith. and >ust ho1 great his 7no1ledge o$ the Torah 1as.5 said the *lter 6ebbe to his brother( -uring these tra0els. the *lter 6ebbe ac/uired numerous disciples( &t 1as his custom to see7 out outstanding Torah scholars and discuss pilpul 1ith them. until they begged him to arrange a program o$ study $or them( * $e1 years later. some o$ them came to him in =io3na( There$ore. 1e $ind that among his later disciples. some came $rom 0ery distant places( These 1ere the disciples he had ac/uired during the a$orementioned >ourneys( The *lter 6ebbe:s main concern 1as. ho1e0er. the young Torah scholars o$ =ita( -uring the three to $i0e years that he spent in these tra0els. he ac/uired students 1ho came to him in =io3na - a$ter they had completed the course o$ study he had arranged $or them in their o1n hometo1ns( &t 1as 1ith these students that he established the $irst and second chadorim. to be described later(L,M 223 &n the year 55!" L177"M all o$ the 9aggid:s disciples met at a general con0ention( &t 1as then decided thatJ i( 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ ?orodo7 1ould mo0e to the ?oly =and; ii( the *lter 6ebbe 1ould be the leader o$ all the chassidim in =ita; iii( the *lter 6ebbe 1ould be the Ceneral 4oordinator( &n the same year. the *lter 6ebbe established the $irst center - in his hometo1n o$ =io3na( * proclamation 1ent out that young scholars 1ho 1ere being supported by their parents or their parents-in-la1. 1ere in0ited to 0isit =io3na $or t1o or three months and recei0e a program o$ study( 8y order o$ the ra0. their room and board 1ould be pro0ided at communal eIpense( &n those days. =io3na 1as one o$ the to1ns 1here people made a prosperous li0ing. $or its citi3ens carried on trade 1ith the cities o$ 6ussia proper( *lthough =io3na itsel$ 1as still part o$ the Polish 'mpire. it 1as 0ery close to the 6ussian border.L 1GM and traded 1ith the cities o$ the 6ussian interior( The residents 1ere mostly 0ery simple $ol7. 1hose main occupation 1as commercial enterprise( 243 The *lter 6ebbe:s proclamation spread li7e 1ild$ire. and 1ithin a short time about $our minyonim o$ young scholars gathered in =io3na; they came $rom the nearby cities and to1ns o$ 2itebs7. 8eshen7o0itch. ?orodo7. Dano0itch. 6udnia. Balis7. =uba0itch. Ne0el. and the li7e( The young scholars 1ere all under the impression that in =io3na they 1ould $ind the same system that had pre0ailed in the pre0ious centers o$ =uba0itch and ?orodo7( There each o$ the young students had been permitted to study independently. 1hate0er Torah sub>ect he chose( Croup study 1as. $or the most part. reser0ed $or learning the chassidic teachings o$ our master the 8aal Shem To0 and his disciple the 9aggid( To their surprise. they soon disco0ered that the *lter 6ebbe had instituted a ne1 systemJ i( they 1ere no1 re/uired to study Cemara in depth. 1hole groups studying a single sub>ect( The groups 1ere organi3ed according to their abilities. and they 1ere re/uired to study together $or no less than $our hours a day; ii( sometime during the 1ee7 they 1ere re/uired to study a predetermined

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curriculum. 1hich they 1ere to 7no1 thoroughly; iii( a more cursory study o$ Cemara 1as also re/uired - not less than one page per day; i0( t1ice a 1ee7 - the days and times to be determined - they must discuss their studies amongst themsel0es; each 1ould present the di$$iculties that had arisen during his study. and suggest possible solutions( The administrator o$ this program 1as the *lter 6ebbe:s brother. the gaon and t3addi7 6eb 9ordechai; 0( they 1ere re/uired to study ?alachah in depth. $ollo1ing the abo0e schedule. $or no less than t1o hours per day( Shulchan *ruch 1as to be studied no less than one chapter per day (a 0ery long chapter could be di0ided and studied o0er t1o days). completing the $our sections o$ the Shulchan *ruch in order( The administrator o$ this program 1as the *lter 6ebbe:s brother. the gaon and t3addi7 6eb Dehudah =eib( 'ach 1ee7 at a speci$ied time. these t1o brothers 1ould report to the *lter 6ebbe about the young scholars: progress in their studies. and 1hether each one:s conduct $ollo1ed the indi0idual program that the *lter 6ebbe himsel$ had assigned him( 9y great-grand$ather the T3emach T3ede7 told his son. my grand$ather the 9aharash. all about the abilities and pro$iciencies o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s brothers. 6eb Dehudah =eib. 6eb 9ordechai. and 6eb 9oshe( They all possessed 1onder$ul talents. and displayed ama3ing diligence in their studies( 'ach one had some special ability( The gaon 6eb Dehudah =eibL11M 1as outstanding at issuing halachic rulings( @hene0er he studied a topic. no matter ho1 compleI it 1as. he managed to deri0e some practical application in ?alachah $rom each logical point o$ the discussion( ?e had a mar0elous 7no1ledge o$ the detailed la1s $ound in all $our sections o$ Shulchan *ruch. and their sources in the Talmud 8a0li. Derushalmi. and 6ishonim( 8ut beyond all this. he 1as adept at disco0ering no0el rules o$ la1 by means o$ his ingenious logical deductions( The gaon 6eb 9ordechaiL1FM had a 1onder$ully incisi0e mind. employing straight$or1ard. yet 0ery pro$ound. logic( @hen he studied some topic. he 1ould progress $rom the simpler to the more complicated aspects o$ the problem( ?e 1ould re0ie1 each topic $i0e or siI times( 'ach time. he 1ould disco0er e0er more penetrating no0el ideas. as though ascending a ladder rung by rung( @hen he discussed pilpul. it 1as a pleasure to listen( The gaon 6eb 9osheL1!M had a 1onder$ul talent $or eIplaining things( L@hen he spo7e. it 1as as i$M his mouth spouted precious >e1els( @hen he lectured on a Torah topic regardless o$ 1hether it 1as re0ealed Torah or 4hassidus - he 1ould gi0e the most 1onder$ul and ele0ated interpretations( 6eb Dehudah =eib and 6eb 9oshe concentrated mainly on the study o$ 4hassidus( 6eb 9ordechai. on the other hand. concentrated mainly on the Talmud and Pos7im( 6eb Dehudah =eib told my great-grand$ather the T3emach T3ede7 that all three brothers had a regularly-scheduled study session together. three times a 1ee7J Sunday. Tuesday. and )riday( L'ach session lastedM $i0e or siI hours. continuously( The abo0e-mentioned $i0e years lasted $rom 55F, to 55! L17",-177 M( Some1here in my diary & ha0e 1ritten at great length about the eIcellence o$ those study sessions. as related by 6eb Dehudah =eib to my great-grand$ather the T3emach T3ede7( The *lter 6ebbe created t1o special classes. called 5the $irst cheder5 and 5the second cheder(5 These chadorim 1ere eIclusi0ely $or the most outstanding students. and the $irst cheder 1as higher than the second cheder( The young scholars in the t1o chadorim studied indi0idually. each according to the program that the *lter 6ebbe had set $or him( The *lter 6ebbe 1ould deli0er pri0ate chassidic discourses especially $or the t1o chadorim( These teachings that he deli0ered be$ore them 1ere called by chassidim 5pri0ate teachings(5 &n those days. there 1ere three types o$ lecture on 4hassidusJ i( community teachings - deli0ered mainly on Shabbos and Dom To0; ii( public teachings - deli0ered once or t1ice a month be$ore an assembly o$ the students o$ the t1o chadorim. and the other young scholars 1ho sat there studying; iii( pri0ate teachings - deli0ered t1ice a month (generally on 1ee7days) be$ore the t1o chadorim(L1 M

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2.3 -uring the year 55!7 L1777M. the schedule 1as interrupted. because the *lter 6ebbe desired to >oin those members o$ the ?oly Society - headed by the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ 2itebs7 - 1ho 1ere departing $or the ?oly =and( 9y uncle. the chassid 6eb Oalman *haron.L15M related to me 1hat he had heard $rom his great-uncle. the t3addi7 6eb L9enachemM Nachum.L1"M in the name o$ his greatuncle. the t3addi7 6eb Dehudah =eibJ 5The *lter 6ebbe 1as greatly tormented o0er his decision 1hether to ma7e the >ourney to the ?oly =and( Se0eral times he sa1 a 0ision o$ his master and 6ebbe. the 9e3ritcher 9aggid (1hile a1a7e - not in a dream). pleading 1ith him not to lea0e the country( Ne0ertheless. he decided to depart( -uring 4hol ?a9oed Pesach. he announced that immediately a$ter Pesach he 1ould begin his >ourney( ?is conduct on that *charon Shel Pesach 1as di$$erent $rom that o$ other years(5L17M *t the beginning o$ &yar. the *lter 6ebbe departed $rom =io3na. along 1ith his entire $amily. and his brothers 6eb Dehudah =eib. 6eb 9ordechai. and 6eb 9oshe - and their $amilies( *ccompanied by many students o$ the t1o chadorim. they made their 1ay to the city o$ 9ohile0 on the -nester( -uring this >ourney. se0eral students o$ the chadorim - 1ho had already studied in =io3na $or a year - remained in the 0illages through 1hich they passed( 'ach o$ them set himsel$ up in a place 1here he could ma7e his li0ing( The chassid 6eb Oalman Oe3merL18M told the chassid 6eb ?illel o$ Paritch that se0eral o$ the elder chassidim o$ his day 1ere the 0ery ones 1ho had been students in the chadorim that the *lter 6ebbe had established in 55!"( The students o$ the chadorim 1ere greatly saddened by the ne1s that the *lter 6ebbe 1as departing $or the ?oly =and( They 1ept bitter tears be$ore him and begged him not to abandon them( 8ut the *lter 6ebbe replied that. according to the Talmud. one must gi0e priority to his o1n needs(L1,M @hen the students sa1 that the *lter 6ebbe and his $amily 1ere determined to lea0e. they decided to accompany them on his 1ay( &n e0ery place through 1hich they passed. the *lter 6ebbe deli0ered a pilpul in public( 'ach ended 1ith 1ords o$ mussar and instructions $or their program o$ a0odah in 1orshiping C-d( &n certain places (according to 6eb Oalman Oe3mer). the *lter 6ebbe deli0ered separate lectures on pilpul and mussar( These lectures made a mighty impression on the local Torah scholars( '0ents then e0ol0ed so that se0eral students o$ the chadorim remained in those places( 9y holy grand$ather 6eb Dose$ Dit3cha7 repeated to Lhis son-in-la1M. my saintly $ather. 1hat he had heard $rom 4hernobyler chassidim in the name o$ their elders( They spo7e about the young scholars. students o$ the =io3na chadorim. 1ho accompanied the *lter 6ebbe on his 1ay to the ?oly =and( 253 6eb Oalman Oe3mer told 6eb ?illel LParitcherM the details o$ an e0ent that 1as 1ell 7no1n among chassidim. concerning a $amous ?alachic in/uiry Ldealing 1ith the la1s o$ niddahM in the city o$ 9ohile0 on the -nester( ?e himsel$ had heard the $ollo1ing details. $rom the students 1ho had been present at the timeJ The in/uiry 1as 1ell 7no1n throughout the 0icinity. because o$ the many responsa sent bac7 and $orth among the rabbonim concerning the matter( * 1oman had been unable to puri$y hersel$ $or o0er t1o years( *ll had declared that the 1oman in /uestion 1as unclean( 8ut 1hen the in/uiry 1as presented to the *lter 6ebbe. he declared that - in spite o$ the general rule that in the present time. 1e are not /uali$ied to distinguish one type o$ blood $rom anotherLFGM - in this particular case he 1as certain that the blood 1as pigeon:s blood( The *lter 6ebbe ad0ised her $ather that 1hen the neIt opportunity came $or her to puri$y hersel$. she should go to li0e some1here $ar $rom her o1n home and her $amily:s home( She should remain con$ined to her room. and no one - eIcept her $ather and mother - should 7no1 her 1hereabouts. nor should anyone come to 0isit her( @hen she 1ent to immerse hersel$. no one but her mother 1as to accompany her. and no other 1omen 1ere to be present at the mi70eh( The 1oman:s $ather $ollo1ed all o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s instructions( To the ama3ement o$

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the 1oman and her mother. 1hen the time $or her puri$ication arri0ed. e0erything proceeded normally and she 1as able to immerse hersel$ at the proper time( ?er husband. ho1e0er. 1as an outstanding. C-d-$earing Torah scholar( ?e 1as a$raid to rely on this. and so he decided to 1ait until the $ollo1ing month( -uring that summer. there 1as an epidemic o$ cholera (may 1e all be spared) in the 0icinity o$ 9ohile0( The rabbis decreed that e0eryone must obser0e precautions against becoming in$ected( They also too7 the opportunity to arouse the populace to teshu0ah and repentance $or sins committed against C-d. and those against their $ello1 Ne1s( 9any residents o$ the city became 0ery $rightened by this( * certain 1oman then came to the 4hie$ 6abbi o$ the city in tears( *s part o$ her teshu0ah. she con$essed to him that she had committed a gra0e o$$ence against the a$orementioned 1oman( &n order to cause that 1oman su$$ering. she had arranged it so that the 1oman 1as unable to puri$y hersel$ $or the past t1o years( @hen the 1oman ma7ing the con$ession 1as a young girl. a match had been proposed bet1een hersel$ and the man 1ho 1as no1 the other 1oman:s husband( )or 0arious reasons the match did not 1or7 out. and the man had e0entually married the other 1oman( She hersel$ had been compelled to marry a simple man( Since then. she had borne a grudge against the other 1oman. and had decided to a0enge hersel$( There$ore. she had pretended to be her good $riend( 8ut 1hene0er her time to puri$y hersel$ 1ould arri0e. she 1ould slaughter some bird or pigeon. and stain the other 1oman:s garments 1ith the blood( 263 The *lter 6ebbe also 0isited the Podolia-2ohlynia region during that same year. 55!7. remaining there the entire summer(LF1M The chassid 6eb Oalman Oe3mer told 6eb ?illel LParitcherM - in the name o$ the elder chassidim - that our masters 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ 2itebs7 and 6eb *0raham o$ Balis7 1ere greatly saddened by the $act that the *lter 6ebbe and his $amily had come to 9ohile0( They attempted to persuade him not to lea0e the country( The *lter 6ebbe remained in 9ohile0 together 1ith 6eb 9enachem 9endel and 6eb *0raham $or about three 1ee7s( -uring this time se0eral young scholars. 1ho 1ere the *lter 6ebbe:s disciples. arri0ed( 6eb 9enachem 9endel and 6eb *0raham 1ere /uite pleased 1ith them( @hen they heard the young scholars begging the *lter 6ebbe not to abandon them. they $orbade the *lter 6ebbe to lea0e the country( They reminded him o$ 1hat he had said to the 9aggid. and they promised him that he 1ould ha0e success Li$ he remainedM( The elder chassidim related that $or a $ull 1ee7 be$ore 6eb 9enachem 9endel and 6eb *0raham le$t 9ohile0 $or the ?oly =and. the *lter 6ebbe met 1ith them pri0ately. $or many hours each day( *$ter 6eb 9enachem 9endel and 6eb *0raham and their entourage actually departed $or the ?oly =and. the *lter 6ebbe 1ent into seclusion $or t1o 1ee7s( *$ter that. 1ord 1ent out that the *lter 6ebbe 1as returning to =ita( The geonim and t3addi7im - the *lter 6ebbe:s brothers - returned to =io3na 1ith their $amilies as soon as they heard that the *lter 6ebbe 1as returning to =ita( There 1as as yet no de$inite 1ord about eIactly 1here the *lter 6ebbe 1ould be li0ing. but there 1ere 0arious theoriesJ i( he 1ould return to =io3na( LThe basis $or this rumor 1as that the *lter 6ebbeM had o$ten praised that to1n. saying that $rom the day he had $irst settled there. the residents had obeyed all his instructions concerning charitable donations and proper conduct; ii( 6eb 9enachem 9endel had as7ed the *lter 6ebbe to settle in ?orodo7 and become his successor; iii( the holy 6eb *0raham had as7ed the *lter 6ebbe to settle in Balis7 and become his successor( LThe basis $or this rumor 1as that 6eb *0rahamM had spo7en in praise o$ the local residents; i0( because o$ the 1or7 needed in the campaign to disseminate the teachings o$ the 8aal Shem To0 and his disciple the 9aggid. it 1ould be better i$ the *lter 6ebbe settled in one o$ the large cities such as 9ins7 or Sh7lo0. or in one o$ their nearby suburbs(

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283 The residents o$ =io3na 1ere 0ery simple $ol7. as already mentioned( Ne0ertheless. they 1ere C-d-$earing people and de$erential to Torah scholars( They appreciated the bene$its they had gained on account o$ the young scholars 1ho had mo0ed to their community to be 1ith the *lter 6ebbe( They 1ere 0ery 1orried that the Torah institutions o$ their to1n 1ould cease to eIist Li$ the *lter 6ebbe mo0ed else1hereM( @hen they $irst heard that the *lter 6ebbe. his three brothers 1ith their $amilies. and a large number o$ the Torah scholars and students o$ the chadorim 1ere LplanningM to lea0e $or 'ret3 Disrael. the se0en members o$ the =io3na 4ity 4ouncil con0ened a mass meeting( The agenda o$ the meeting 1as to $ormulate plans $or strengthening the Torah institutions in their city( *$ter much discussion. the assembly passed the $ollo1ing resolutionsJ i( all the houses in 1hich the *lter 6ebbe. his brothers. and their $amilies resided. 1ere to re0ert to community o1nership( They 1ould be held in escro1. until it became 7no1n 1hether they 1ould be returning to their homes; ii( the community undertoo7 to pro0ide a $ull year:s room and board $or any young scholars and students o$ the chadorim 1ho chose to remain in =io3na; iii( the residents o$ the to1n undertoo7 the support o$ an additional $i$ty bochurim 1ho might come to =io3na. to study under the guidance o$ the young scholars and students o$ the chadorim( The *lter 6ebbe sa1 the lengths to 1hich the citi3ens o$ =io3na 1ere prepared to go in order to 7eep the Torah scholars in their midst. and their heart$elt and inspired attempts to obtain C-d-$earing. scholarly. and chassidic bochurim as husbands $or their daughters( 4onse/uently. he instructed the students o$ the chadorim and the young scholars to $ul$ill the re/uest o$ the local residents. and to study 1ith the ne1 bochurim 1ho 1ould no1 arri0e( ?e also prepared the curriculum $or their study( The chassid 6eb 9endel Dit3cha7. the shochet o$ 2itebs7. repeated to me 1hat he heard $rom his grand$ather (a $ollo1er o$ the *lter 6ebbe) 1ho had been present 1hen the *lter 6ebbe. his three brothers. and their $amilies. departed $rom =io3na along 1ith about thirty students o$ the chadorimJ *ll inhabitants o$ the city assembled in the courtyard o$ the large beis hamedrash( They set up a plat$orm in the courtyard. and a1aited the arri0al o$ the *lter 6ebbe. 1ho 1ished to bid the to1nspeople $are1ell and to bless them be$ore they parted( The *lter 6ebbe ascended the plat$orm and spo7e a $e1 1ords( ?e then blessed the entire community o$ =io3na. and instructed them to continue to support Torah scholars and to treat them 1ith 7indness( L?e then blessed themM that they might deser0e sons and sons-in-la1 1ho 1ere rabbinic scholars( 293 The decision o$ the =io3na community to pro0ide room and board $or an additional $i$ty bochurim to study Torah 1as /uic7ly publici3ed( @ithin a short time. a large number o$ bochurim $rom the surrounding regions arri0ed in =io3na( The students o$ the chadorim 1ho had remained in =io3na obeyed the *lter 6ebbe:s instructions. dedicating their e$$orts to caring $or the scholarly bochurim and monitoring their progress( The residents o$ =io3na thus $ound (at least a partial) consolation $or the departure o$ the *lter 6ebbe and his $amily $rom the city( @hen the *lter 6ebbe:s brothers returned to =io3na La$ter the *lter 6ebbe decided not to go to 'ret3 DisraelM. they $ound the group o$ young scholars and students o$ the chadorim busy studying 1ith diligence. and pursuing their a0odah according to the program that their brother. the *lter 6ebbe. had set out $or them( The great diligence 1ith 1hich the bochurim pursued their studies - and the eItent to 1hich they yielded to the authority o$ their teachers and mentors - made a po1er$ul impression upon them( The inhabitants o$ =io3na had learned that the *lter 6ebbe 1as about to return to =ita( The rumor spread that 6eb 9enachem 9endel had re/uested him to settle in ?orodo7. 1hile the holy 6eb *0raham had suggested that he settle in Balis7( There$ore. they con0ened another mass meeting(

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The se0en members o$ the 4ity 4ouncil decreed that all members o$ the community 1ere to participate in this meetingJ rich and poor. men and 1omen( '0en the poor $ol7 had contributed to1ard the support o$ the Torah scholars. and e0en the 1omen had labored in caring $or the scholarly 0isitors( Thus. e0eryone 1as to attend this mass meeting( The men assembled in the large beis hamedrash. 1hile the 1omen assembled in the 1omen:s gallery( The *lter 6ebbe:s three brothers also attended the meeting( They con$irmed that 1hen they had le$t 9ohile0. their brother the *lter 6ebbe had already decided to return to =ita( 8ut he had not yet decided 1hich city he 1ould settle in( Since he 1ould be returning in 1intertime. he 1ould $irst come to =io3na. 1here he had a house( *$ter1ards. he 1ould decide 1here he 1ould $inally settle( 2:3 The assembly reacted 1ith gladness and re>oicing to the good ne1s that the *lter 6ebbe 1as coming to =io3na( 8ut at the same time. they 1ere 0ery disturbed by the possibility that the 6ebbe might choose some other place $or his permanent residence( There$ore. the assembly adopted the $ollo1ing resolutionsJ i( to send a committee to 1elcome the 6ebbe and beg him to settle once again in =io3na( They also undertoo7J ii( to support an additional hundred young scholars. 1ith room and board $or a $ull year; iii( to host thirty-$i0e guests - 1ho 1ould come $or Shabbos - $or three days each 1ee7J )riday. Shabbos. and Sunday; i0( to host $i$ty guests 1ho 1ould come $or Shabbos 9e0orchim; 0( to host the same number $or each $esti0al o$ the year; 0i( to host $i0e hundred people during the 1hole month o$ Tishrei( The se0en members o$ the 4ity 4ouncil. and the prominent members o$ the congregation. approached the *lter 6ebbe:s brothers and begged them to >oin the committee 1ho 1ould be sent to 1elcome the 6ebbe. and to present the abo0e resolutions to him( The brothers sa1 ho1 eager the citi3ens o$ =io3na 1ere. and ho1 much trouble they 1ere prepared to go to. to persuade the *lter 6ebbe to settle in their to1n( They there$ore agreed to >oin the committee( They chose their brother 6eb Dehudah =eib to tra0el 1ith the committee and 1elcome the *lter 6ebbe( The *lter 6ebbe accepted the in0itation o$ the people o$ =io3na. and the committee returned 1ith great >oy to in$orm the citi3ens that their mission had been success$ully accomplished( The *lter 6ebbe and his entourage (they occupied se0eral do3en 1agons. $or during this trip he had ac/uired additional students 1ith outstanding abilities and broad 7no1ledge o$ the Torah) tra0eled 0ery slo1ly. going $rom to1n to to1n( @here0er they 1ent. they stopped o0er $or a day or t1o( The *lter 6ebbe le$t 9ohile0 on the -nester at the beginning o$ 'lul 55!7 L1777M. and 1as still en route during 6osh ?aShanah and the other $esti0als o$ 55!8( ?e did not arri0e in =io3na until the middle o$ Sh0at 55!8( L@hen he arri0ed.M a proclamation 1ent $orth to all nearby and $ar-a1ay places in the pro0ince. stating thatJ i( no guests 1ere to come to to1n be$ore the $esti0al o$ Sha0uos; ii( young scholars 1ho 1ished to come and recei0e a program o$ study must $irst be eIamined in locations to be designated $or that purpose; iii( the places 1here the young scholars could be eIamined 1ould be made 7no1n 1ithin a month:s time(LFFM (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,? $aTamim, /ol- 3, 11- 1=3<1=52. (Ba*& to te+t ! This #as the name by #hi*h the holy eb Mena*hem Mendel of /itebs&, author of :>ri $aAretz, #as &no#n in Mezrit*h- 8Translator>s note4 0itva& is a (iddish familiar form of ?0ithuanian-? 9n :oland and the E&raine, someone from eissin and other nearby territories (as #ell as from 0ithuania 1ro1er! #as often *alled a 0itvisher, or 0itva& in the familiar form- By the same to&en, in 0ita,

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3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

8. 9.

10. 11. 12.

13.

14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

someone from the E&raine (as #ell as from :oland 1ro1er! #as often *alled a :oilisher, or :ola& in the familiar form- "ommon 1eo1le o**asionally used the terms 0itva& and :ola& in a dero%atory sense, but this #as *ertainly not true of the dis*i1les of the Ma%%id, #ho used these terms as to&ens of affe*tion-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8"f-, Bamidbar, ,4 33<37A Siddur, 11- 3,8, 3,5-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Ghi*h #ould result if he #ere inadvertently to *ommit some im1ro1er a*t that #ould affront his master>s di%nity durin% the taharah-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 eb :in*has of .oretz, a dis*i1le of the Baal Shem Tov and *ollea%ue of the Ma%%id-; (Ba*& to te+t ! "ontainin% trans*ri1tions of our master and ebbe>s le*tures on "hassidus- These sheets #ere bein% blo#n about in the *ourtyard, by the #ind(Ba*& to te+t ! The Alter ebbe>s brother, the %aon eb (ehudah 0eib, told my %reat<%randfather the Tzema*h Tzede& that this re1ly of the Ma%%id mi%ht not be an e+a*t Duote- The 1resent #ordin% differs some#hat from the #ay he heard it Duoted in Mohilev by the holy eb Mena*hem Mendel of $orodo&, #ho re1eated it in the name of eb (ehudah 0eib .ohen, #ho had been 1ersonally 1resent at the time(Ba*& to te+t ! 9t #as #ith s1e*ial deli%ht that the Alter ebbe related the details of these tri1s to his son, the Mitteler ebbe(Ba*& to te+t ! There #ere t#o se1arate 1eriods #hen the *hadorim #ere established- The earlier *hadorim #ere established in 557, 8177,;, #hen the Alter ebbe #as a11ointed the head of the *hassidim in 0ita- The later ones #ere established in 5578, #hen the Alter ebbe returned from his Hourney a**om1anyin% the holy eb Mendel on his #ay to the $oly 0and(Ba*& to te+t ! 'ear #hat is no# Smolens& "ounty(Ba*& to te+t ! $e #as a rav in (anovit*h, (Ghite ussia!- Ine of his seforim has been 1rinted, She>aris (ehudah(Ba*& to te+t ! $e #as a rav in Irsha (Mohilev "ounty!- $is family surname #as :osner- $e 1assed a#ay on 1 Adar 5587 86ebruary 13, 1837; and #as buried in .a1ust(Ba*& to te+t ! $e #as a rav in Bayev (Mohilev "ounty!, in 0ie1li (/itebs& "ounty!, and in udnia (near 0iozna!- $e 81assed a#ay and; #as buried in udnia, #hile the Alter ebbe #as still livin%(Ba*& to te+t ! This s*hedule lasted only about one year, from mid<557, 8177,; to mid<5577(Ba*& to te+t ! The eldest son of the ebbe Maharash(Ba*& to te+t ! Son of the Mitteler ebbe(Ba*& to te+t ! Some#here in my diary 9 des*ribed in detail the Alter ebbe>s usual *ondu*t on A*haron Shel :esa*h(Ba*& to te+t ! Ine of the foremost dis*i1les of the Alter ebbe(Ba*& to te+t ! 8Bava Metzia ,3a-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See *ommentary of osh, 'iddah, end of *h- 3A Beis (osef, (oreh )e>ah, *h- 188-; (Ba*& to te+t ! The reason for his 1rolon%ed visit to that re%ion is not &no#n(Ba*& to te+t ! 8See the *ha1ter ?The Alter ebbe>s Adherents, and $is I11onents? in Su11lement A of this volume- That te+t a11ears to be a dire*t *ontinuation of the 1resent te+t, thou%h it #as not 1rinted at this 1la*e in $aTamim-;

Torah Scholarship %n !eissin 2;3 *s & pointed out in the attached letter. this essay is merely the ra1 material $rom 1hich a proper treatise on the history o$ 4hassidus may be composed (1ith C-d:s help)( &n the chapters so $ar. 1e ha0e discussed the stages by 1hich 4hassidus de0eloped and matured during the $irst t1o generations - our master the 8aal Shem To0:s generation and the 9aggid:s generation - and the beginning o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s generation( &n order $or us to ha0e some appreciation and perception o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s holy

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a0odah in $ormulating the teachings o$ 4habad. 1e must $irst understand the condition o$ the Torah scholars o$ those days in the territory o$ 6eissin( This 1as the place 1here the *lter 6ebbe had chosen to li0e and to disseminate his approach to the teachings o$ the 8aal Shem To0 - the approach 7no1n as 4habad( @e must also be a1are that at that time there 1ere already 0isible a $e1 blossoms that had sprouted $rom the seeds so1n by the 8aal Shem To0 and his contemporary hidden t3addi7im. and later by his disciples and their disciples. headed by our master the 9aggid( These $actors - the condition o$ the Torah scholars o$ those days in 6eissin. and the $ruits o$ the labor o$ the 8aal Shem To0. his disciples. and their disciples - together $acilitated the *lter 6ebbe:s tas7( & 1ill no1 insert here se0eral stories that & ha0e 1ritten in my diary. 1hich & heard at 0arious times( They illustrate the general condition o$ the Torah scholars in 6eissin. the campaigns o$ the 8aal Shem To0 and his contemporary hidden t3addi7im. the greatness o$ the personalities o$ the disciples o$ the 8aal Shem To0 and the 9aggid. their broad 7no1ledge o$ the Torah. the lo$ty nature o$ their a0odah. and their utter dedication to the tas7 o$ disseminating the teachings o$ the 8aal Shem To0 and the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch( 4<3 These teachings 1ere 0ery gradually brought to the region o$ 6eissin (also called 5@hite 6ussia.5 by 1hich 1e mean the three counties o$ 9ins7. 9ohile0. and 2itebs7)( These three counties possessed large Ne1ish populations( Some li0ed in the county seats. some in to1ns. some in small 0illages. and some in rural settlements( 8ecause the soil in these three counties 1as - $or the most part - in$erior to the soil in the H7rainian territories. most o$ the residents o$ these counties 1ere poor( They 1ere $orced to 1or7 0ery hard to support themsel0es and their $amilies(LFM ?o1e0er. at the beginning o$ the $i$th century o$ the siIth millennium Labout 1" GM the light o$ Torah began to mani$est itsel$ in these counties too( &t 1as imported by tra0elers 1ho came $rom the 2ilna region in one direction. the Oamut region in the another direction.L!M and the Bie0 region in a third direction( @ithin t1enty years. glimmerings o$ the light o$ the Torah 1ere e0ident e0en among nati0es o$ the three counties o$ 6eissin( 9any o$ these 1ere young scholars 1ho had become sons-in-la1 o$ 1ealthy Ne1s 1ho 1ere patrons o$ Ne1ish institutions in the local cities( The Torah scholars 1ere supported by their in-la1s 1hile dedicating themsel0es eIclusi0ely to Torah study( They began to disseminate the light o$ the Torah in their hometo1ns through 0arious means( Some established societies $or the study o$ *ggadah. 9idrash. and the basic la1s( @hat 1as more important. they established Torah educators and yeshi0os to teach the bochurim 1ho 1ished to study Torah( @ithin a 0ery $e1 years. the competition bet1een the scholars impro0ed the le0el o$ Torah study( *lso. competition bet1een those 1ho 1ere engaged in these tas7s increased the number o$ eIcellent students 1ith superior abilities( &n those days people generally remained at home. and rarely tra0eled about $rom one place to another - much less ma7ing a long >ourney $rom one county to another( 8ut. the Torah scholars 1ho $ounded and administered the yeshi0os also stri0ed $or the academic success o$ the students( 8ecause o$ this. much e$$ort 1as spent encouraging the best students to go to study in the yeshi0os o$ the 2ilna. Oamut. and Bie0 regions( Typically. a student 1ould spend three to $i0e years at the yeshi0ah( @hile at the yeshi0ah. each student 1ould (in addition to his diligent study o$ Torah) 7eep his $amily in mind. attempting to $ind appropriate husbands $or his sisters( Thus. in time. many hundreds o$ Torah scholars came to settle in the three counties o$ 6eissin( -uring the second hal$ o$ the $i$th century La$ter 1",GM. the city o$ 9ins7 1as the pro0incial capital o$ @hite 6ussia. and one o$ the largest centers o$ Torah and education( &n its yeshi0os. many hundreds o$ students o$ superior ability 1ere trained. some o$ 1hom 1ere considered to be illuyim( Through them. many smaller yeshi0os 1ere $ounded in 0arious 0illages throughout the pro0ince(

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423 @ithin $orty years o$ the introduction o$ Torah scholarship to the cities o$ 9ohile0 and 2itebs7 counties by the students o$ the 9ins7er yeshi0os. institutions o$ Torah learning 1ere already established (by the grace o$ C-d) in e0ery to1n. 0illage. and hamlet( This 1as all than7s to the ele0ated spiritual status o$ the Ne1s o$ that time. and their lo0e o$ Torah and all things holy( -uring the decade o$ 5 8G-5 ,G L17FG-17!GM. one could $ind. throughout the pro0ince o$ 6eissin. thousands o$ laborers - cobblers. carpenters. agricultural 1or7ers o$ $ield and garden. businessmen in stores and mar7ets - all o$ 1hom 1ere Torah scholars o$ high degree( They had once been yeshi0ah students. and no1 continued to study Torah. each according to his abilities( 9ost o$ them could repeat se0eral orders o$ the 9ishnah and se0eral hundred pages o$ Cemara. $luently. by heart( <ur master the 8aal Shem To0 and his contemporary colleagues. the hidden t3addi7im. 1ould 0isit these yeshi0os 1hene0er the opportunity presented itsel$( They 1ould thus so1 the seeds o$ the light o$ Toras ?a4hassidus. and demonstrate ho1 one could ser0e C-d through aha0as Disrael( =ater. our master the 9aggid and his disciples -the ?oly Society - too7 o0er this tas7( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,? $aTamim, /ol- =, 11- 757, 7582. (Ba*& to te+t ! 86or this reason, Torah s*holars #ere rare in that re%ion in those days-; 7- (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Translator>s note4 it is diffi*ult to determine the e+a*t meanin% of this 1assa%e- Both /ilna and Famut lie in the same %eneral dire*tion (north#est! from the three *ounties of eissin-; !e =it7cha> )i7i>

& 1ill no1 insert an item $rom my diary( The sub>ect deals 1ith an account the $amous gaon and ra0. 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 o$ 2itebs7. shared 1ith my saintly grand$ather. the 6ebbe 9aharash( 443 The $amous chassid 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 1as born in 55F8 L17"8M in the to1n o$ Smilo0itch( ?is $ather. the mighty gaon and t3addi7. 6eb Deshayah 9asmid. 1as already 0ery old at the time( Thus he 1as brought up in the home o$ his uncle (his mother:s sister:s husband). the gaon and t3addi7. 6eb Oelmele Stut37er( The chassid 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 ser0ed as a ra0 $or se0enty-$i0e yearsJ $i$teen years in the 0illage o$ <stro0na (near 2itebs7) and siIty years in the city o$ 2itebs7 itsel$( There 1as much lo0e and eIceeding adoration bet1een my saintly grand$ather the 6ebbe 9aharash and the chassid 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7( 9y saintly great-grand$ather the T3emach T3ede7 had greatly $a0ored him. and 1ould call him 5the baal hora:ah and pose7. 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7(5 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 1as granted this title. because he had sat be$ore the *lter 6ebbe $or the eIpress purpose o$ clari$ying all his uncertainties in determining the practical ?alachah o$ the la1s in the $our sections o$ the Shulchan *ruch( &n the collection o$ sacred letters stored in my library o$ holy hand1ritten manuscripts. there is a letter 1ritten by the holy hand o$ my saintly grand$ather. the 6ebbe 9aharash( &t 1as 1ritten during the month o$ 9ar4hesh0an 5"FG (185,M. and contains an in/uiry about some ruling o$ practical ?alachah 1ritten at the behest o$ his o1n $ather. the T3emach T3ede7( 4.3 My saintly grandfather" the !e father0 e Maharash" related the follo'ing to my saintly

& 1as a child about eight years old 1hen & $irst met the chassid 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 o$

22

2itebs7; this meeting 1as o$ much signi$icance to me( &t occurred during the month o$ Bisle0. 1hen 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 arri0ed in =uba0itch $or the celebration o$ the 1,th o$ Bisle0( The courtyard 1as co0ered 1ith deep sno1. and only a $e1 paths had been cleared bet1een my $ather:s house and the large minyan building in the courtyard (or. $or that matter. bet1een any t1o houses in the courtyard)( @hen & sa1 that the lamps had already been lit in the shul. & hurried o0er there(LFM @hen & arri0ed at the shul. & sa1 my great-uncle 6eb 4hayim *0rahamL !M and my uncle 6eb 9enachem NachumL M dancing in a circle 1ith three other elders( Se0eral do3en men. along 1ith all my brothers and their children. stood around them singing and clapping their hands together to the rhythm o$ the song( & had great lo0e $or my uncles. 6eb 4hayim *0raham and 6eb 9enachem Nachum. $or they 1ere al1ays telling me stories o$ things they had seen in the *lter 6ebbe:s home. and in the home o$ my saintly grand$ather. the 9itteler 6ebbe( They also repeated things they had heard $rom the elder chassidim( &t happened more than once. that 1hen & returned home a$ter 0isiting my great-uncle 6eb 4hayim *0raham - and $ound some preteIt to see my $ather - he 1ould in/uire 1here & had been( & 1ould then repeat to him 1hat & had heard $rom 6eb 4hayim *0raham( This ga0e him much pleasure. and he instructed me to go there more o$ten( 9y great-uncle 6eb 4hayim *0raham 1as then in poor health( Though he 1as not yet 0ery old (about siIty-$our or siIty-$i0e). he occasionally su$$ered $rom angina. and 1as unable to endure many layers o$ clothing; thus. & $re/uently $ound him 1earing only a chalat.L5M and 1ith only a yarmul7e on his head( 8ut 1hene0er he began telling a story about his $ather. the *lter 6ebbe. or Lthe *lter 6ebbe:sM mentor. the 9aggid. or Lthe 9aggid:sM mentor. the 8aal Shem To0. or his brother. the 9itteler 6ebbe. he 1ould immediately 1rap himsel$ 1ith his gartel. and co0er his head 1ith a hat o0er the yarmul7e(L"M 8e$ore beginning any story. 6eb 4hayim *0raham 1ould ma7e the $ollo1ing declarationJ Se0eral times. & heard my holy $ather. the *lter 6ebbe. say that 1hene0er the disciples heard a Torah teaching $rom their 6ebbe and master Lthe 9aggidM. they considered it to be the <ral Torah( 8ut 1hene0er they heard a story told by their 6ebbe and master. they considered it to be the @ritten Torah( 9y uncle. 6eb 9enachem Nachum. 1ould ma7e a similar declaration be$ore he told a story( 453 @hen & sa1 my uncles 6eb 4hayim *0raham and 6eb 9enachem Nachum dancing. & pushed my 1ay through the cro1d and ran to them( Ta7ing hold o$ the gartel o$ one o$ the elders. & >oined them in the dance( & obser0ed that my nephe1 (the son o$ my brother 6eb L4hayimM Schneur Oalman). 1ho 1as $our or $i0e years my senior. 1as en0ious o$ my bra0ery and ner0e in >oining the dance; but & paid no attention to him( * month earlier - during the month o$ 9ar4hesh0an - & had been sic7 1ith tonsillitis( 9y legs 1ere still a bit 1ea7. and a$ter dancing a little 1hile & began to $eel pain( & then stopped dancing and stood to one side. 1atching the circle and the dance( =i$ting my eyes. & obser0ed my great-uncle 6eb 4hayim *0raham - and sa1 tears running do1n his chee7s( ?is eyes 1ere tightly closed. his $orehead 1as creased. and his lips muttered something. as i$ he 1ere reminiscing o0er old memories( @hen the dance ended. one o$ the elders - 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 o$ 2itebs7 - 1ent o0er to 6eb 4hayim *0raham; they hugged and 7issed each other( ?e also hugged and 7issed 6eb 9enachem Nachum( ?e held them in his arms and said to themJ 5@e are celebrating an e0ent that 1e 1itnessed 1ith our o1n eyes( )i$ty-eight and a hal$ years ago. & sa1 the *lter 6ebbe $or the $irst time( That 1as in 9ins7. during the summer o$ 55 ! L178!M. 1hen he held a Torah debate in the 0ery capital city o$ the misnagdim. the :cedars o$ =ebanon and mighty 1arriors o$ the Torah(:L 7M *nyone 1ho didn:t 1itness that scene in 9ins7. has ne0er seen Torah luminaries o$ such great stature( 5That assembly 1as the greatest Torah gathering o$ the generation( The assembly in 9ins7 1as attended by all the Torah giants o$ the entire pro0ince. as 1ell as a choice

23

selection o$ geonim $rom the regions o$ 2ilna. Slut37. and Sh7lo0( 5*s $or me.5 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 continued telling 6eb 4hayim *0raham. 5& 1as pri0ileged to recei0e a 1ritten certi$icate o$ rabbinic ordination $rom the *lter 6ebbe. signed by his holy hand( ?e then blessed me 1ith long li$e and 1ith success in my rabbinic endea0ors(5L8M 463 8e$ore he e0en $inished spea7ing. 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 began to dance 1ith great >oy( ?is gestures 1ere the 7ind usually mani$ested by people still in their early youth. 1ho ha0e reached the highest le0els o$ ecstasy( Suddenly. it 1as announced that my $ather. the 6ebbe. 1as on his 1ay. and there 1as immediate silence( & ha0e al1ays been luc7y; e0en as a child. & 1as 0ery $ortunate to $ind $a0or 1ith others( Thus. e0en the elder chassidim 1ould $a0or me 1ith discussions and stories( No1. ha0ing heard $rom the chassid 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 that he had actually seen my great-grand$ather the *lter 6ebbe in the early days o$ his reign. that he had been a student in the *lter 6ebbe:s chadorim. and that he 7ne1 many stories. & became his $riend( @hene0er he 0isited =uba0itch. & 1ould spend many long hours in his company( -uring the t1enty-three-year period 5"G! to 5"F" (18 !-18""M. & heard him discuss many topics and tell many stories( 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 had an outstanding memory( @hen describing an e0ent that had occurred during his early youth - eighty or eighty-$i0e years earlier - he could still name the eIact place. and the people in0ol0ed. in all their detail( )rom his manner o$ speech. it 1as e0ident that the scene 1as replaying itsel$ be$ore his eyes( The !e e Maharash&s narrative is interrupted" and !e o'n story0 =it7cha> )i7i> tells his

& 1as born to my $ather. the gaon 6eb Deshayah 9asmid. during his old age( ?e 1as se0enty-siI years old at the time( 9y $ather had been a student at the yeshi0ah o$ the gaon and t3addi7 6eb Dechiel - author o$ Seder ?a-orosL,M - in ?alos7(L1GM @hen my $ather 1as thirteen years old. he 1as already considered an illuy( *t the age o$ $i$teen. he became the son-in-la1 o$ the 1ealthy 6eb 'lia Oalman o$ Stri7e07a (a rural settlement near 9ins7). and 1as supported by his $ather-in-la1 $or three years; then. his 1i$e died (may 1e be spared)( )ather remained celibate $or the neIt $i$ty-se0en years. 1hile continuing his diligent study o$ the Torah( 9ost o$ this time 1as spent in Bocheno0. 1here he 1as one o$ the ten scholars supported by the 4ommunity 4ouncil( <ne day. he studied a passage in the tractate 8erachosL 11M dealing 1ith the story o$ Bing 4hi37iyahu and the Prophet Deshayahu. 1here the Sages eIpound the 0erse.L 1FM 5)or you 1ill die. and you 1ill not li0e(5 LThe Sages eIplainMJ 5Dou 1ill die5 - in this 1orld; 5Dou 1ill not li0e5 - in the @orld to 4ome( )ather then began to 1eep. and 1as deeply distressed( <n that 0ery day. one o$ his relati0es came and in0ited him to accompany him to 9ins7 to attend his son:s 1edding( <n the 1ay. they passed through Smilo0itch. 1here )ather deli0ered a public lecture( *ll 1ere ama3ed by his broad 7no1ledge and his piety( The local gaon. 6eb 8aruch. had a daughter 1ho had already lost t1o husbands(L 1!M The compleIities o$ the rele0ant la1 1ere discussed at length. and in the end the ma>ority opinion held that she 1as permitted to remarry( @hen )ather passed through Smilo0itch on the 1ay bac7. a match 1as proposed bet1een him and 6eb 8aruch:s daughter - my mother( The 1edding too7 place in 55F7 L17"7M. a$ter 1hich )ather mo0ed to Smilo0itch( 9other had a house and a 0egetable garden. a co1 and a goat. and a grocery store( Thus. )ather could continue his diligent Torah study in a$$luence( & 1as born in 55F8( 9y $ather 1as 0ery much opposed to the 1ays o$ the ne1 5cult o$ 9e3hibu3h(5 ?o1e0er. he 1as a great masmid. constantly uttering 1ords o$ Torah. day and night; e0en 1hile 1al7ing to and $rom the shul or the beis hamedrash. he 1ould repeat Torah passages by heart( There$ore. he re$used to spea7 about this sub>ect( 8ut he did declare - in no uncertain terms - that the cult o$ 9e3hibu3h must be dri0en to obli0ion( 9y mother bore my $ather $our sons and one daughter. but the only ones to sur0i0e 1ere mysel$ and my sister Oelda Citta. the 1i$e o$ the chassid 6eb Oalman =eib o$ Hlla(

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The 6ebbeL1 M once said about him. 5?is intellectual capacities are as broad as the entrance to the antechamber o$ the 8eis ?a9i7dash. and his emotional capacities are as broad as the entrance to the sanctuary o$ the 8eis ?a9i7dash(5 *las. he too died in the epidemic that bro7e out a$ter the 1ar(L15M 483 )ather trained me to be as diligent in my studies as he himsel$ 1as( )rom the time & 1as siI years old. he super0ised me closely. to be sure that & 1ent to bed and got up at the proper times( ?e also accustomed me to da0en 1ith the sunrise minyan. and ne0er to s7ip brea7$ast( )ather taught me a pro$ound pilpul. 1hich & deli0ered in public on the day o$ my bar mit30ah. in the presence o$ the geonim and elder Torah scholars( *mong them 1as my uncle (9other:s sister:s husband). 6eb Oelmele Stut37er( L9y maternalM grand$ather. the gaon 6eb 8aruch. 1as only about se0enty years old( 8ut he 1as al1ays su$$ering $rom 0arious ailments. and he passed a1ay about a month a$ter my bar mit30ah( ?e 1as succeeded by his son. my uncle 6eb 4hayim T30i. 1ho 1as a great scholar. and 0ery pious( ?e had been one o$ the outstanding students o$ the Smorgon Deshi0ah. 1hich 1as /uite reno1ned in those days( The geonim and elders o$ the city o$$ered my $ather the position o$ ra0( '0en my uncle. the gaon 6eb 4hayim T30i. begged him to accept the o$$er. but to no a0ail( )ather declared that he had a0oided rabbinic positions all his li$e. so that it 1ould not ta7e time a1ay $rom his Torah study( *nd no1. near the end o$ his li$e. 1hen each day 1as as precious as a 1hole year. and each minute as precious as a 1hole day. did they eIpect him to rob himsel$ by 1asting the time o$ Torah studyA )ather li0ed another year; he passed a1ay during the month o$ &yar 55 F L178FM at the age o$ ninety-one( 9other. 1ho 1as no1 1ido1ed $or the third time (may 1e be spared) at the age o$ $i$ty. continued to support the $amily and to run the store( The only brother 1ho sur0i0ed my $ather 1as about se0en years old( 8ut he too became sic7. and he passed a1ay at the beginning o$ Si0an( <ur sorro1 1as 0ery great. $or he had been a boy o$ outstanding capability and great talent( <n one o$ the days o$ the pre0ious Pesach. )ather had spo7en in high praise o$ his brother-in-la1. my uncle. the gaon 6eb Oelmele( ?e had described him as a person o$ outstanding mental $aculties. 1ith deep understanding and a great talent $or teaching( 9y mother. the 6ebbet3in. 1as a 1oman o$ importance and broad understanding( She $eared that my continued study in Smilo0itch 1ould lac7 the proper super0ision( She too7 my $ather:s 1ords o$ the pre0ious Pesach - in praise o$ her brother-in-la1. my uncle 6eb Oelmele - to be a sort o$ prophetic testament( There$ore. she decided to send me to study under Hncle Oelmele Stut37er( 9other thought the 1hole situation o0er during the neIt $e1 days( Though it 1as hard $or her to send me a1ay. in the end. she suppressed her sorro1 at ha0ing to send a1ay her only remaining son. and hired the coachman 6eb *0raham - 1ho 1as on his 1ay to 9ins7 - to transport me to Babilni7. 1here Hncle Oelmele then li0ed( 493 *ll my li$e - e0en as a small child - it had been my ambition to go a1ay to one o$ the yeshi0os that 1ere $amous in that region in those days( )or eIampleJ ?omel. 1here the gaon 6eb *7i0a 'lie3er 1as the 6osh Deshi0ah; Semilia. 1here the gaon 6eb Daa7o0 Derocham 1as the 6osh Deshi0ah; Smorgon. 1here the gaon 6eb *3riel Oelig 1as the 6osh Deshi0ah; Bocheno0. 1here the gaon 6eb 4hayim Tu0ia 1as the 6osh Deshi0ah; ?alos7. 1here the gaon 6eb Dit3cha7 'phraim 1as the 6osh Deshi0ah( *nd. most o$ all. 9ins7. 1hich boasted se0eral yeshi0os( 8ut )ather had al1ays re$used to send me to a yeshi0ah( & had o$ten begged )ather to send me to yeshi0ah. but he had ne0er ac7no1ledged my re/uest( & spo7e to 9other about it. and begged her at length( & eIplained to her the many ad0antages o$ studying at a yeshi0ah. and that the Sages had also recommended it. saying. 5'Iile yoursel$ to a place o$ Torah.5L1"M and 5The competiti0e spirit increases one:s diligence(5L17M 9other had al1ays treated )ather 1ith the greatest de$erence( She ne0er sat in his

25

presence. eIcept at mealtimes. and she listened attenti0ely to e0ery utterance o$ his mouth( )ather 1as a man o$ $e1 1ords( '0en during the meals. he 1ould repeat Torah passages by heart( @hen he spo7e 1ith someone. he 1ould not raise his eyes( '0en 1hile he spo7e 1ith 9other. his eyes 1ere lo1ered( <nce. & had a long tal7 1ith 9other. re/uesting her to spea7 to )ather about sending me to a yeshi0ah( &n a 0oice $illed 1ith pity. she repliedJ 59y dearest son. you are 1ell a1are that your $ather is a mighty gaon and truly C-d-$earing( ?e desires only 1hat is good $or you( &$ he thought that it 1as to your bene$it. he 1ould surely do it( 8ut since he re$uses. it must certainly be better $or you to continue studying at home. under his personal super0ision(5 No1. ho1e0er. the situation 1as such that she had no other choice than to send me a1ay to a place o$ Torah( There$ore. she chose to send me to my uncle. 6eb Oelmele( & arri0ed at Hncle Oelmele:s home at the beginning o$ Tammu3 55 F L178FM. and he greeted me 1armly( & also brought 1ith me an eIpensi0e gi$t that 9other had sent to her sister. my aunt. as 1ell as a sum o$ money in cash to pay $or my room and board in my aunt and uncle:s home( &t too7 me a 1ee7 to recuperate $rom the hardships o$ the >ourney. $or & had been se0erely cramped( & also su$$ered $rom depression because o$ the deaths o$ my $ather and my brother. and because & 1as no1 li0ing 1ith strangers. $ar $rom home( *t e0ery turn & 1as reminded that & 1as an orphan. the only one o$ my mother:s $our sons still ali0e( @hen my uncle 6eb Oelmele began to eIamine me in my studies - to determine 1hat sort o$ study program he should arrange $or me - my depression and melancholy disappeared( 9y spirits rose. and all at once my maladies 1ere cured( <0er the neIt $e1 days. my uncle arranged a curriculum o$ study $or me. and he chose one o$ the outstanding young scholars o$ Babilni7 to be my study partner( T1ice a 1ee7 (occasionally three times) my uncle 1ould deli0er to us a pilpul on the topic 1e 1ere currently studying( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,? $aTamim, /ol- =, 11- 758<3,32. (Ba*& to te+t ! $e too& this as a si%n that 1eo1le #ere already %athered for the festive *elebrations3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A son of the Alter ebbe, and brother of the Mitteler ebbe-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A son of the Mitteler ebbe and brother<in<la# of the Tzema*h Tzede&-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! Made of a very thin and li%ht material6. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8This more formal style of dress #as a si%n of a#e and res1e*t, for he *onsidered tellin% a *hassidi* story to be a serious matter-; 7. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A 1oeti* referen*e to the %reatest Torah s*holars of the day-; 8. (Ba*& to te+t ! 9 have often re1eated the Alter ebbe>s sayin%4 a rav is *alled a mara d>asra, ?Master of the :la*e,? and a moreh hora>ah ?Tea*her of 9nstru*tion-? The $oly Ine (blessed be $e! is *alled $aMa&om 8?the :la*e?;, for $e is the ?:la*e? of the universe- But the rav is the ?Master of the :la*e,? for it de1ends on him #hether or not the 1la*e #ill be a fittin% vehi*le for C<dliness- $e is also the ?Tea*her of 9nstru*tion,? for in order for the 1la*e to be*ome a fittin% vehi*le, the rav must tea*h the la# ri%hteously, and im1lant in his flo*& the ideal of doin% more than #hat the letter of the la# demands9. (Ba*& to te+t ! 80it-, ?Irder of the Cenerations?A an outline of the first five thousand years of Be#ish history, in*ludin% brief bio%ra1hies of the leadin% Sa%es of ea*h %eneration-; 10. (Ba*& to te+t ! The %aon eb (e*hiel had established the yeshivah in $alos&, but he himself later moved it to Mins&, #here he too& over the 1osition of the %aon and &abbalist eb E1hraim 6ishel .adosh11. (Ba*& to te+t ! 812a-A the reason %iven for this 1unishment is that "hiz&iyahu #as not married, and did not fulfill the mitzvah of 1ro*reation-; 12. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Mela*him 99 3241A (eshayahu 7841-;

26 13. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Irdinarily, su*h a #oman is not 1ermitted to marry a third

14. 15. 16. 17.

husband (Shul*han Aru*h Even $aEzer 541!- 9n *ertain situations, ho#ever, #e may be lenient about it ( ama, lo*- *it-!-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 9-e-, the Alter ebbe(Ba*& to te+t ! 9-e-, the #ar 8bet#een ussia and; 6ran*e(Ba*& to te+t ! 8Mishnah, Avos =41=A Siddur, 1- 337; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See Bava Basra 31a-;

!e 4:3

?elmele Stut7>er

!e =it7cha> )i7i> interrupted his o'n story and provided some concerning his uncle0

ac>ground

9y uncle. the gaon 6eb Oelmele. 1as born in Stut37. a rural Ne1ish settlement about ten miles $rom 9ins7( Hntil his thirteenth birthday he studied in the 0illage; then. he 1ent a1ay to the yeshi0ah in 9ins7( There. he studied 1ith tremendous diligence $or $i0e years. a$ter 1hich he 1as admitted to the yeshi0ah o$ the 4hie$ 6abbi. the gaon 6eb Dechiel. author o$ Seder ?a-oros( &n 6eb Dechiel:s yeshi0ah there 1ere three classes. each taught by its o1n rosh yeshi0ah( The $irst class 1as taught by the gaon 6eb 8et3alel 5the Bohen Cadol5; the second class 1as taught by the gaon 6eb Pesach Hriah 5the Saintly5; the third class 1as taught by the 6osh Deshi0ah and gaon 6eb Shalom Dehudah. 5the &lluy o$ Semilia(5 <nce a 1ee7. 6eb Dechiel 1ould deli0er - to each class separately- an incisi0e pilpul. $eaturing his ama3ingly broad 7no1ledge( @hene0er the ra0 deli0ered his pilpul. the greatest geonim o$ 9ins7. and the most outstanding ones o$ the 1hole generation. 1ould come to listen( The gaon !e ?elmele related to his nephe' !e =it7cha> )i7i>0-4/ &t 1as only a$ter an eIhausti0e eIamination that & 1as admitted to the second class the class taught by the incisi0e and erudite 6eb Pesach Hriah 5the Saintly(5 There. & studied 1ith great diligence( 6eb Pesach Hriah:s conduct 1as beyond description( ?e ne0er raised his 0oice 1hen spea7ing o$ 1orldly matters( 6egardless o$ 1hom he 1as addressing. he 1ould ne0er loo7 at (or e0en see) anything outside o$ his immediate 0icinity( ?e o$ten $asted. and 1as 0ery care$ul 1ith 1hat he did eat( ?e e0en a0oided onions $or $ear that they might contain maggots( ?e 1ould recite the con$ession o$ *l 4heit three times a day( The eIperience o$ obser0ing him recite Selichos or the liturgy o$ Dom Bippur Batan 1as enough to pierce one:s heart to the core( & spent a $ull year in 6eb Pesach Hriah:s class. studying 0ery diligently( @ith C-d:s help. & gained a thorough 7no1ledge o$ the t1o orders. NashimL!M and Ne3i7in(L M & also composed no0el insights that ga0e 6eb Pesach Hriah much satis$action( <nce. & e0en managed to $ind solutions $or t1o di$$iculties raised by the 4hie$ 6abbi. the gaon 6eb Dechiel. concerning the topic o$ a 1oman 1ho underta7es a 0o1 o$ ne3irus.L 5M in the $irst chapter o$ the tractate Nedarim(L"M <ne day. & 1as summoned to 6eb Pesach Hriah:s o$$ice( @hen he noticed my arri0al. he as7ed. 5@ho is itA5 &t 1as al1ays his habit to a0oid loo7ing into people:s $aces( There$ore. 1hene0er he noticed that someone had entered his o$$ice. he 1ould as7. 5@ho is itA5 5&t is & - Oelmele. the bochur $rom Stut37.5 & replied( 5@elcome. my sage pupil 1ho is so adept at disco0ering no0el insights.5 eIclaimed 6eb Pesach Hriah( @hen & came closer. & noticed that he sat all bent o0er. peering intently into a 0olume o$ Shaarei Teshu0ahL7M by 6abbeinu Donah(L8M Tears $lo1ed $rom his eyes. 1hich $rightened me( 5-earest son. most precious pupilE5 said 6eb Pesach Hriah in a tear$ul 0oice( 5& 7no1. my son; & 7no1 that a sin has been committed( &t is & 1ho am guilty o$ the terrible sin (here. he 1ept aloud)( & am responsible $or the curse & ha0e brought upon you( 8ut & (he said. crying e0en harder) did not act 1il$ully or negligently( &t 1as done un1ittingly( & 1as completely una1are that you - my dearest pupil - are already o0er eighteen years old.

27

and ha0e transgressed the ruling o$ the Sages.L,M :*t eighteen Lit is time $orM marriage(:5 @hen & sa1 ho1 deeply distressed my master. 6ebbe. and rosh yeshi0ah 1as. & repliedJ 5Des. it:s true( Today is my nineteenth birthday( 8ut my soul longs $or Torah study(5L 1GM 9y master and 6ebbe re$used to listen. and commanded me to return to my parents: home( ?e ga0e me a letter o$ re$erence. $ull o$ praises about my 7no1ledge o$ the Torah( 4;3 & had been home $or about a month. 1hen one day a letter arri0ed $rom 6eb 'lia )ei0ish. one o$ the local rabbinic magistrates( &t 1as 1ritten to my $ather in the name o$ the 4hie$ 6abbi. 6eb Dechiel. and stated that one o$ the local residents - 1ho lo0ed and respected Torah scholars - 1ished to arrange a match 1ith the t3addi7. my $ather( ?e 1ished to ha0e me as a husband $or his daughter. and obligated himsel$ to support me and any resulting children - $or a period o$ ten years. so that & could continue studying Torah( )ather and 9other then tra0eled 1ith me to 9ins7. and on the 0ery day o$ our arri0al. the engagement contract 1as dra1n up( The 1edding too7 place three months later( *$ter the 1edding. & 1as readmitted to the yeshi0ah o$ 6eb Dechiel( 8ut no1 & entered the third class. taught by the 6osh Deshi0ah and gaon 6eb Shalom Dehudah. 5the &lluy o$ Semilia(5 This 6eb Shalom Dehudah had been a disciple o$ the a1esome gaon and t3addi7. the 7abbalist 6eb 'phraim )ishel Badosh L5the Saintly5M. the 4hie$ 6abbi o$ 9ins7( The gaon 6eb Dechiel 1as also 6eb 'phraim )ishel:s disciple and his successor( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,? $aTamim /ol- =, 11- 7,3<7,=2. (Ba*& to te+t ! eb (itz*ha& Aizi& later re1eated all this to my saintly %randfather, the ebbe Maharash3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 80it-, ?Gomen?4 a maHor subdivision of the Mishnah, dealin% 1rimarily #ith the la#s of marria%e and divor*e, and forbidden relationshi1s-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 80it-, ?)ama%es?4 a maHor subdivision of the Mishnah, dealin% 1rimarily #ith Be#ish *ivil la#, torts, and Hudi*ial 1ro*edure-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A vo# to refrain from *uttin% one>s hair, *onsumin% any 1rodu*t of the %ra1e, or defilin% oneself by *onta*t #ith the dead-; 6. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The Talmudi* tra*tate dealin% #ith vo#s and oaths, and ho# one may be released from them-; 7. (Ba*& to te+t ! 80it-, ?Cates of e1entan*e,? one of the earliest #or&s on mussar-; 8. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 abbeinu (onah ben Avraham Ceirundi, one of the ishonim of the 17th *entury-; 9. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Mishnah, Avos 5433A Siddur, 1- 335-; 12- (Ba*& to te+t ! 89n su*h a *ase, it is 1ermitted to 1ost1one marria%e beyond the a%e of ei%hteen- (Shul*han Aru*h, Even $aEzer 147<=!-; !e Shalom =ehudah" The %lluy Of Semilia )t this point" the story of !e ?elmele Stut7>er is interrupted 'ith !e Shalom =ehudah&s story" as he related it to !e ?elmele" 'ho in turn told it to !av =it7cha> )i7i>-4/ The spirit o$ prophecy 1as mani$est in the beis hamedrash o$ my master and 6ebbe. 6eb 'phraim )ishel Badosh( &t 1as all in the merit o$ my saintly ancestors( & ne0er had the pri0ilege o$ being a student o$ my $ather - the per$ect t3addi7 - $or he passed a1ay 1hen & 1as only one year old( )rom his siIth birthday until his last day. he sat in the cheder and in the beis hamedrash. studying in holiness and purity( *t the age o$ $ourteen. his $ather (my grand$ather. the gaon and t3addi7) married him o$$ to his 1i$e. my saintly mother( She had been orphaned $rom her $ather. a C-d-$earing t3addi7( & 1as born a year a$ter their 1edding. and 1as gi0en her $ather:s holy name( &n the merit o$ my holy ancestors. the head o$ the 4ommunity 4ouncil 7ept an eye on me and sa1 to it that & had good teachers( *t the age o$ thirteen. & 1as already studying at the second table in the yeshi0ah o$ my master and 6ebbe. the t3addi7 6eb *3riel

28

Oe0ulun. the 6osh Deshi0ah o$ Semilia( @hen & 1as $i$teen. the t3addi7 6eb *3riel Oe0ulun instructed me to go to the beis hamedrash o$ the $amous gaon and a1esome t3addi7. my holy master( ?e ga0e me a strong letter o$ recommendation. in 1hich he re$erred to me as 5a scholar 1ho is thoroughly 0ersed in the entire Talmud. and 7no1s it in depth(5 9y 6ebbe eIamined me $or t1o 1ee7s. and he also re$erred me to his most brilliant students. to discuss compleI Torah topics( Than7 C-d. & met 1ith their appro0al. and the appro0al o$ my holy 6ebbe( .<3 @hen & arri0ed in 9ins7. & percei0ed the light o$ Torah radiating in e0ery corner o$ the city( So many yeshi0os. so many Torah scholars. t3addi7im. geonim. perushimE *nd abo0e all. the yeshi0ah o$ the 4hie$ 6abbi. the gaon and 7abbalist 6eb 'phraim )ishel Badosh( *mong all the students. in all the yeshi0os o$ 9ins7. 6eb 'phraim )ishel chose 1FG students. 1hom he di0ided into $i0e classes( 'ach class studied at a separate table( )our classes had t1enty-$i0e students each. and one class had t1enty( *ll o$ our holy 6ebbe:s students possessed outstanding abilities( They 1ere truly superior. and they all studied 1ith a1esome diligence( They 1ere scrupulous in the obser0ance o$ mit30os. and 0ery C-d-$earing( '0en the students o$ the $irst table possessed a thorough 7no1ledge o$ the Talmud. 1ith 6ashi and Tosa$os( 'ach successi0e table 1as higher than the pre0ious one( The $i$th table 1as the highest o$ all. and our 6ebbe used to call it 5the golden table. the pure table. the Torah table(5 'ach table 1as assigned a curriculum o$ study appropriate to its station( T1ice a 1ee7. our 6ebbe 1ould deli0er a lecture to the students o$ the $irst $our tables( The t1enty students o$ the $i$th class 1ere di0ided into three groupsJ i) ten students o$ the 5Colden Table5; ii) the ten best students. 1hom our 6ebbe called the 5Pure Table5; iii) t1o o$ these. 1hom he chose to be together 1ith him( ?e 1ould consult 1ith them about any no0el Torah insights that he had thought o$. 1hich he 1ould not re0eal to any other person( These t1o 1ere called the 5Torah Table(5 & 1as $irst eIamined by the students o$ my holy master and 6ebbe( *$ter1ards. & met 1ith my 6ebbe:s $a0or. and he admitted me as a student at the second o$ the $our regular tables( & no1 proceeded to study 1ith much diligence. and my happiness 7ne1 no bounds( Thus. a year and three months passed. during 1hich & obtained (by the grace o$ C-d. and in the merit o$ my holy ancestors) a proper bac7ground in the depths o$ ?alachah( <ne day. my holy master and 6ebbe summoned me to his o$$ice. and in$ormed me that the time had come $or me to get married( * supporter o$ his yeshi0ah had come to him. and said that he 1ished to obtain a husband $or his daughter( &n his opinion. & 1as a choice candidate( *$ter the 1edding. & 1ould be able to de0ote mysel$ $or se0eral years to Torah study in holiness and purity( <b0iously. & agreed to my 6ebbe:s proposal. and on that same day the engagement 1as made o$$icial( * $e1 months later. my $ather-in-la1. my mother-in-la1. and the bride (my 1i$e. sincere and honest in both her religious and social li$e. and a doer o$ good deeds) arri0ed in 9ins7( The 1edding 1as celebrated 1ith much grace and splendor( 9y holy master and 6ebbe per$ormed the ceremony. and blessed us( & li0ed at the home o$ my $ather-in-la1 in a small 0illage $or three months( *$ter1ards. & returned to the beis hamedrash o$ my holy master and 6ebbe( @hen & arri0ed. my 6ebbe as7ed me 1hy & had come so soon( To this. & replied that my soul thirsted $or Torah( 5That:s all 0ery goodE5 replied my 6ebbe( 58ut e0en so. you should return home no1( @hen a son or daughter is born to you. then - 1ith your 1i$e:s permission - you may come here to study $or se0eral years in purity(5 -uring the time that & li0ed in the 0illage and 1as supported by my $ather-in-la1. & 1as able to study 1ith mar0elous diligence( @ith C-d:s help. my mouth ne0er ceased to utter 1ords o$ Torah. neither by day nor at night( @hen my oldest daughter 1as born. & obtained my 1i$e:s permission to return to the beis hamedrash o$ my holy master and 6ebbe( There. & remained $or ten years. during 1hich & 0isited home only three times(

29

.23 -uring those ten years. as & 1as studying in great depth and 1ith ama3ing diligence. & gradually rose through the ran7s and became a member o$ the Torah Table( This eIclusi0e group consisted o$J my holy master and 6ebbe; his son - the gaon and per$ect t3addi7 1ho possessed the spirit o$ C-d - 6eb 'lya7im Schraga; and mysel$( 9y 6ebbe 1ould o$ten use eIpressions such asJ 5Today. this interpretation 1as re0ealed to me by ?ea0en(((; =ast night. that lesson 1as re0ealed to me(((; &n the ?ea0enly Deshi0ah they said the $ollo1ing(((; &n the L?ea0enlyM palace o$ 6a0. they said as $ollo1s(((; The ?oly <ne. blessed be ?e. taught me this lesson through his angel. 'liyahu ?aNa0i((((5 <nce. an eItremely pro$ound /uestion 1as posed at the Pure Table( 9y holy master and 6ebbe summoned me to his o$$ice to search $or an ans1er to the /uestion( 9y 6ebbe:s son. my C-dly 6ebbe himsel$. and &. eIerted oursel0es to the utmost( @e argued and debated bac7 and $orth. but all our e$$orts achie0ed nothing - the riddle remained unsol0ed( <ur master and 6ebbe re$uted all our scholarly insights. but he 1as unable to come up 1ith a solution o$ his o1n( 8eing in great distress. he declaredJ 5&$ & - 'phraim )ishel - 1ere considered a person o$ 1orth in ?ea0en. they 1ould ha0e taught me the solution to this topic( &$ & - 'phraim )ishel - 1ere a C-d-$earing person. they 1ould ha0e re0ealed to me the true interpretation( &t seems that & - 'phraim )ishel - must do teshu0ah( Then. the ?oly one 1ill ta7e pity upon me(5 Saying this. he 1ept bitterly( Seeing our holy 6ebbe:s pain and su$$ering. 1e attempted to console him. pointing out that e0en in the 1ritings o$ the Ceonim 1e $ind that numerous di$$iculties remained unsol0ed( '0en the sages o$ the Talmud le$t many /uestions unans1ered( So. 1hy should our holy master be in such anguishA 8ut our 1ords accomplished nothing( <ur 6ebbe sat there 1eeping. and 1e le$t his o$$ice in great distress( .43 That day happened to be Dom Bippur Batan( Dou are $amiliar 1ith the liturgy o$ Dom Bippur Batan( 8ut the 1ay it is obser0ed these days. does not begin to compare 1ith the depressed spirits & used to see on Dom Bippur Batan during my youth( *nd. & 1ould hear the elders o$ that day complain that the situation had deteriorated - the Dom Bippur Batan o$ those times bore no resemblance to the 1ay Dom Bippur Batan had been obser0ed 1hen they themsel0es 1ere young boys( <n Dom Bippur Batan. our master and 6ebbe and all the yeshi0ah students 1ould $ast( <ur 6ebbe 1ould deli0er a mussar lecture t1ice during the dayJ once in the morning be$ore the Tehillim $ollo1ing Shacharis. and the second time during 9inchah. be$ore 2aDechal 1as read( To this day & still remember the 1ords o$ mussar that our 6ebbe 1ould preach a$ter Shacharis( ?e actually su$$ered physically $rom stri7ing his breast during the con$ession o$ *l 4heit. and $rom the bitter 1eeping that accompanied his recital o$ the Selichos( @hen our 6ebbe ascended the podium. his head 1ould be bent o0er li7e a marsh reed( ?is $ace 1as 1hite as chal7. his $eatures portrayed terrible sadness. and his 1hole being appeared de>ected( @ith much 1eeping. he began to spea7 in a pleading 0oice. $illed 1ith sadnessJ 5Today is Dom Bippur Batan( *las. *lasE ?o1 many mit30os 1e neglected to $ul$ill during the past monthE @oe. @oeE ?o1 many sins 1e committed during the past monthE5 ?e then continued to 1eep bitterly( 6esuming his speech in a tear$ul and trembling 0oice. he declaredJ 5& 7no1; yes. my 1ell-endo1ed students. & 7no1 $ull 1ell that you are all per$ect t3addi7im( The long-time students (here. he mentioned the names o$ se0eral students o$ the Pure Table. including my o1n name) are especially geonim and per$ect t3addi7im( 8ut &. 'phraim )ishel. am a sinner and decei0er(5 ?e then cried out 1ith a loud and bitter lament. 1hile beating his head 1ith his $ist( ?earing our 6ebbe:s con$ession. all the students o$ all the classes bro7e out in tears o$ teshu0ah. >oined by the elder geonim o$ the city 1ho 1ere present in the beis hamedrash( <n that particular day. our master and 6ebbe:s despair and anguish 1as e0en greater. and 1ent beyond 1hat 1as normal $or such a day( This 1as because he

30

had not succeeded in $inding a solution to the pro$ound di$$iculty disco0ered by the students o$ the Pure Table( ..3 @hen 1e returned to the yeshi0ah. 1e disco0ered that a stranger - 1earing tattered clothing. and carrying a 7napsac7 on his bac7 and a stic7 in his hand - had entered the yeshi0ah( ?e sat on a bench. intently obser0ing e0erything that happened( *$ter a $e1 minutes. the man approached me and in/uired. 5@here is the gaon. the 6osh Deshi0ahA & ha0e something to discuss 1ith him in pri0ate(5 & responded 1ith Shalom *leichem. to 1hich he replied *leichem Shalom( ?e then in/uired. 5*re you by chance the most eIcellent o$ the students. the senior o$ the t1o 1ho sit together 1ith the 6osh Deshi0ah at the Pure TableA5 5Des. & am he.5 & replied( 59ay you be blessedE5 he said( ?e then repeated that he had something to discuss 1ith my holy master and 6ebbe. and re/uested that & ta7e him to the 6osh Deshi0ah:s o$$ice( 5That 1ould be beneath my dignity as a Torah scholar( 8ut & can assign one o$ the other students to sho1 you the 1ay.5 & told him( 5Ne0ertheless. & insist.5 he said( 5NoE5 & replied( The 0isitor 1ent to my 6ebbe:s o$$ice 1ith one o$ the other students. and & sat do1n to study my lessons. paying no $urther attention to the man and our con0ersation( & $ound mysel$ in a 0ery cheer$ul mood. and & continued studying 1ith great pleasure $or se0eral hours 1ithout stopping( & remained obli0ious to the discom$orts o$ the $ast. and neither sa1 nor heard anything that happened around me( The time $or 9inchah arri0ed( <n an ordinary day 1e 1ould be care$ul to da0en 9inchah as early as possible( 8ut on $ast days. and especially on the $ast o$ Dom Bippur Batan. 1e 1ould ta7e time to prepare oursel0es to listen to the sermon o$ di0rei 7e0ushinL !M that our master and 6ebbe deli0ered during the 9inchah prayer( 'ach student 1ould sit in his chosen spot and thin7 thoughts o$ teshu0ah( <ur teshu0ah too7 on 0arious $orms( <ne 1ould cry that he had not been as care$ul as he should 1hen pronouncing the 1ords o$ Berias Shema( *nother 1ould mutter that his learning had lac7ed su$$icient diligence( * third 1ould recite a silent con$ession o$ his sins and transgressions. especially the sin o$ neglecting the honor o$ the Torah. and a$$ronting the dignity o$ Torah scholars( 'ach 1ept in his o1n 1ay. but all o$ us collecti0ely returned to C-d 1ith all our hearts. our souls. and our strength( <n Dom Bippur Batan. the t1o hours be$ore 9inchah 1ere de0oted eIclusi0ely to teshu0ah $or sins committed against C-d. and $or those committed against one:s $ello1 Ne1( 'ach 1ould beg the other $or $orgi0eness $rom the depths o$ his heart. and 1ith the greatest submissi0eness( & mysel$ 1as also busy 1ith my teshu0ah. as & sat in a remote corner and re$lected on my deeds( Suddenly. one o$ the students o$ the 5Pure Table5 approached and in$ormed me that our holy master and 6ebbe had summoned me to his o$$ice. the 5Torah Table(5 Since he told me that the C-dly gaon and t3addi7 - our 6ebbe:s son - 1as already there. and they 1ere 1aiting $or me. & hurried to our 6ebbe:s o$$ice( @hen & arri0ed. & noticed that our holy 6ebbe 1as in an eIceedingly cheer$ul mood( This 1as unusual $or him. especially since it 1as Dom Bippur Batan. 1hen our 6ebbe and all the yeshi0ah students 1ere $asting and preparing $or the 9inchah prayer( & 1ondered greatly at this - in a short 1hile. our 6ebbe 1ould be deli0ering a mussar lecture. and here he 1as in such a cheer$ul moodE ?is holy $ace glo1ed and shined; e0en on Simchas Torah & had ne0er seen my 6ebbe:s holy $ace glo1 as it did then( .53 & 1as eItremely ama3ed by our 6ebbe:s good cheer on that $ast day o$ Dom Bippur Batan( 8ut & 1ondered e0en more 1hen - at my approach - our 6ebbe stood up and said to meJ 5@elcome. my belo0ed disciple. the gaon and per$ect t3addi7. blessed by a prophet o$ the =-rd. perpetually competent to impart his holy Torah teachings to his humble students. our lord and master. 6eb Shalom DehudahE

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5*nd no1.5 he said to his son and to me. 5please be seated( & 1ill tell you the correct solution to the /uestion posed by the students o$ the Pure Table( <ur eyes 1ill light up as 1e $east on the bounty o$ our holy Torah(5 <ur master and 6ebbe spo7e $or a long time as he sol0ed the pro$ound di$$iculty disco0ered by the students o$ the Pure Table( @hen he had $inished eIplaining the solution. he remar7edJ 5-o you ha0e any idea $rom 1hom & recei0ed these no0el insights to the TorahA The ?oly <ne. blessed be ?e. must ha0e seen my distress. $or he sent to me 'liyahu ?aNa0i (o$ blessed memory). 1ho imparted to me the lesson & ha0e >ust taught to you(5 & 1as astounded by the ingenious solution. and e0en more ama3ed by our holy 6ebbe:s story that 'liyahu ?aNa0i had re0ealed himsel$ to him 1hile he 1as a1a7e Lnot in a dreamM. and by ho1 highly the ?oly <ne must regard our 6ebbe to send an angel to him to re0eal secrets o$ the Torah( *t that point. my 6ebbe turned to me and saidJ 5Dou too. 1ere pri0ileged to con0erse 1ith 'liyahu ?aNa0i (o$ blessed memory)( ?e blessed you. and said that you had met 1ith his holy appro0al( ?e 1ished to ta7e you along 1hen he came to me to teach me the solution( 8ut you re$used to sho1 him the 1ay to my o$$ice. and instead you sent him to me 1ith the distinguished student 6eb *ryeh =e0i(5 ?earing that the man 1ith the tattered clothing had been none other than 'liyahu ?aNa0i. and that not only had & - through my 0ery sin$ul 1ays - s/uandered the opportunity to hear his teaching. but had insulted him in the bargain. & $ell to the $loor and 1ept bitterly $rom the depths o$ my soul( & then begged my holy master and 6ebbe to arrange $or me a program o$ penance and teshu0ah( & promised to continue $asting night and day $or series o$ $i0e alternate days. until & 1as certain that C-d had $orgi0en my sin( & also resol0ed to adopt the trait o$ permanent humility( & 1as t1enty-eight years old then( )ollo1ing the ad0ice o$ my master and 6ebbe. & 1ent into eIile. in the company o$ some beggars 1ho tra0eled $rom to1n to to1n( @ith my 1i$e:s consent and permission. & remained in eIile $or three years( @hen & returned home. & disco0ered that our holy master and 6ebbe had $allen sic7. but that the students o$ the yeshi0ah 1ere still pursuing their diligent study( 9y 6ebbe then trans$erred to me the burden o$ running his holy yeshi0ah( <ur holy 6ebbe:s illness lasted $or more than t1o years. until he $inally ascended to ?ea0en. lea0ing us $orlorn( *bout a year later. all the elder geonim. the se0en members o$ the 4ity 4ouncil. and the o$$icers o$ the congregation unanimously chose the senior scholar. the penetrating and 7no1ledgeable gaon 6eb Dechiel o$ ?alos7. to be the 4hie$ 6abbi. succeeding our holy master and 6ebbe( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,? $aTamim, /ol- =, 11- 7,=<7,72. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 eb (itz*ha& Aizi& re1eated it to the ebbe Maharash- $e, in turn, told it to his son the ebbe ashab, #ho re1eated it to the :revious ebbe durin% their daily #al&s in the Baliv&a summer estate- eb Felmele>s o#n story is resumed in the follo#in% *ha1ter-; 7- (Ba*& to te+t ! 80it- ?#ords that subHu%ate (the heart!?A an address traditionally delivered durin% Min*hah on fast days by an elder of the *on%re%ation- See Taanis 341-;

!e

?elmele Stut7>er @resumedA ?elmele&s o'n story" as he told it to !e

*e no' resume the narrative of !e =it7cha> )i7i>3-4/ .63

&n the year 5 85 L17F5M. 1hen & 1as admitted to the 4hie$ 6abbi:s yeshi0ah $or the second time - to the third class. taught by the gaon 6eb Shalom Dehudah - the 6osh

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Deshi0ah greeted me 1ith a >oy$ul eIpression( ?e had disco0ered my uni/ue talent $or in-depth study. and it pleased him greatly( & remained a member o$ my $ather-in-la1:s household $or ten years. 1hile & continued studying 1ith a1esome diligence( Hn$ortunately. during all that time my 1i$e and & remained childless( '0er since our marriage. my 1i$e had treated me 1ith the utmost respect( She 1or7ed 0ery hard to enable me to continue studying Torah $ull-time( -uring all those years. my $ather-in-la1 - 1ho 1as a 1ealthy patron o$ Torah scholars supported us generously( @e li0ed in our o1n home. and all our needs - $ood and drin7. clothing and shoes. $ire1ood and lighting - 1ere generously supplied( 8esides this. my 1i$e also earned an income $rom her dry goods store. 1hich ga0e her an ample pro$it( 8ut the problem o$ her barrenness persisted( Throughout the $irst nine years o$ marriage. 1e tried 0arious medical and $ol7 remedies. but to no a0ail( @hen our tenth anni0ersary approached. and she still remained childless. she began to 1eep day and night in prayer and supplication( She 1as 0ery pious. and she 7ne1 the la1J a 1oman 1ho remains childless a$ter ten years o$ marriage must be di0orced(L !M C-d. 1ho hears all prayers. 1itnessed our distress( She $inally became pregnant. and at the end o$ the year she ga0e birth to a daughter( & then resumed my Torah study 1ith e0en greater diligence and $ortitude( 8ut t1o years later my 6ebbet3in became seriously ill( '0entually. C-d sent us ?is holy sal0ation and healed her( 8ut then. our daughter contracted a gra0e illness( None o$ the medicines 1ere o$ any use. and Lshe diedM. lea0ing us bro7en and depressed( *t that time. the congregation o$ the to1n o$ Babilni7 sent special agents to our master the gaon. 4hie$ 6abbi Dechiel. re/uesting him to choose a ra0 $or their congregation( The 4hie$ 6abbi con0ened an assembly 1hich included such geonim as the 6oshei Deshi0ah 6eb Pesach Hriah the Saintly and 6eb Shalom Dehudah( They unanimously chose me as the candidate( *s $or me. & 1as not too 7een on the idea o$ accepting a rabbinic position( 8ut 1e 1ere in 0ery depressed spirits because o$ the terrible tragedy o$ the death o$ our daughter( There$ore. & decided to $ollo1 the ad0ice o$ my master and 6ebbe. the gaon 6eb Shalom Dehudah. and to accept the holy tas7 o$ leading the congregation o$ Babilni7( .83 *t the beginning o$ the year 5 ,8 L17!7M. at the age o$ thirty-three years. & le$t the capital city o$ 9ins7 to ta7e up my duties as ra0 o$ the 0illage o$ Babilni7( The geonim o$ the intellectual center o$ 9ins7 held an assembly in my honor in the community center. 1here they discussed many Torah topics( This 1as a great honor $or me. since the 4hie$ 6abbi 6eb Dechiel. and the mighty geonim 6eb Shalom Dehudah. 6eb Pesach Hriah the Saintly. and 6eb 8et3alel the Bohen. 1ere also present( & deli0ered a deep pilpul on the topic o$ nisar0uL M in the 9ishnah o$ Bol ?aOe0achim.L5M 1ith se0eral no0el insights to the di$$iculty pointed out by 6i0am.L "M the solutions o$$ered by 6i.L7M and the interpretation o$ 6abbeinu Tam.L8M in the Tosa$os re$erring to the passage 5(((e0en one in ten thousand(5 9y $ather-in-la1. the 1ealthy patron o$ Torah scholars. prepared a ban/uet in honor o$ the mit30ah. $or all the students o$ the class in 1hich & had once studied( *ll o$ us - the long-standing students 1ho 1ere my colleagues and 1ere outstanding in Torah study in $ear o$ ?ea0en. led by our master and 6ebbe 6eb Shalom Dehudah - sat there and discussed Torah pilpulim( 9y colleagues and & $illed se0eral 1agons 1hen 1e departed. and they accompanied me all the 1ay to Babilni7( There. & 1as greeted 1ith great honor( & disco0ered that about $i$ty o$ the local citi3ens 7ne1 a little Torah. and there 1ere thirty young men 1ho possessed outstanding 7no1ledge o$ the Torah( 9ost o$ them 1ere alumni o$ the Smorgon Deshi0ah( There 1ere also t1el0e bochurim 1ith great abilities. 1ho 1ere studying at the local yeshi0ah under the 6osh Deshi0ah. 6eb Pesachia 9eir the 9asmid (1ho 1as himsel$ outstanding in Torah study and $ear o$ ?ea0en)( & spent $i0e years in the city o$ Babilni7. li0ing a li$e o$ leisure 1hile & studied Torah and en>oyed prestige( 9y 1hole days - including the nights - 1ere spent in constant study 1ith the local citi3ens. in deli0ering Torah lectures to the outstanding young men. and in eIamining the yeshi0ah students( Through C-d:s 7indness. & also managed to compose

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numerous no0el insights to the Torah( -uring the third year o$ our residence in Babilni7. the 6ebbet3in bore me a son( 8ut he li0ed $or only $i0e months. and this caused us much grie$( -uring the $i$th year o$ our residence the 6ebbet3in $ell seriously ill; she su$$ered $or about a month. a$ter 1hich she died. and 1as remembered 1ith honor( 9y $ather-in-la1. the 1ealthy patron o$ Torah scholars. 1ished me to marry to one o$ his relati0es. but & declined the o$$er( & decided to abandon my rabbinic position. and to eIile mysel$ to a place o$ Torah. or else to 1ander in eIile $or a period o$ time( & compelled my $ather-in-la1 to ta7e bac7 all the property o$ his late daughter - the 6ebbet3in. the household $urnishings. and her clothing. and >e1elry( @ithin three months: time. & 1as gone $rom Babilni7( .93 & began my eIile and 1andered $ar a1ay. until & came to the city o$ 8rys7( & had heard o$ that city:s good reputation 1hile still studying at the yeshi0ah o$ the 4hie$ 6abbi in 9ins7( & remained there $or about a year( 9ost o$ my days there 1ere spent in the beis hamedrash. 1here & studied Torah constantly. day and night( & 1as ade/uately supported by the local charity that cared $or homeless 0isitors( <n my 1ay to 8rys7 & had passed through se0eral large and small to1ns. 0illages. and rural settlements( &n each locality and settlement. & disco0ered scholars busy studying Torah( Some o$ them had no other trade or employment. the Torah being their sole 0ocation( <thers occupied themsel0es 1ith business and commerce. 1ith some trade. or 1ith tending the $ields and gardens( 8ut they 1ould also set aside time de0oted to in-depth Torah study( 9any o$ them 1ere 1ell 0ersed in the siI orders o$ the 9ishnah - or se0eral hundred pages o$ Cemara - by heart( @hile they stood in the mar7etplace or the store. or 1hile they 1ere busy at 1or7. they 1ould recite the 9ishnayos and repeat the teIt o$ the Cemara( &n e0ery Ne1ish settlement. & $ound young scholars 1ho 1ere supported by their in-la1s. and bochurim supported by their parents( These 1ere $oremost among those 1ho studied Torah and 1orshiped C-d 1ith great diligence. and many o$ them possessed outstanding $aculties( & 1andered $or a year and $our months be$ore $inally arri0ing at my long-desired destination o$ 8rys7( & had longed to 0isit there since the time that my master and 6ebbe. the gaon and t3addi7 6eb Pesach Hriah the Saintly. had told me about his colleague. the per$ect t3addi7. gaon. and 7abbalist. 6eb Oe0ulun Shimon Porush. 1ho had already merited the re0elation o$ 'liyahu 1hile still a bochur( ?e had settled in 8rys7 se0eral decades earlier. and & had an o0erpo1ering desire to see him and become his disciple( -uring my tra0els. & met se0eral outstanding Torah scholars 1ho 1ere also 1andering in eIile( *mong them 1ere a $e1 great geonim and 1ondrous t3addi7im. masters o$ humility and good character traits( *s they 1al7ed along. some o$ them 1ould e0en recite Cemara - 1ith the commentaries o$ 6ashi and Tosa$os - by heart( & arri0ed in the 0illage o$ Bertchyn7a. about a day:s >ourney $rom 8rys7( There. & $ound a settlement o$ about se0enty Ne1ish $amilies. 1ho raised cattle and tended $arms( *mong them. there 1ere $our elders 1ith great 7no1ledge o$ the Torah( T1o o$ them ser0ed as roshei yeshi0ah. teaching eight young married Torah scholars and thirteen bochurim ($i0e o$ 1hom possessed great abilities)( They 1ere o0er>oyed at my arri0al. and sho1ed me great honor. begging me to spend some time in their 0icinity( & obser0ed the sincerity o$ the d1ellers o$ that settlement. their great re0erence and piety. the care 1ith 1hich they did mit30os. and their unusual 3eal in honoring the Torah and Torah scholars( They. their 1i0es. and their children ($rom the youngest school child to the oldest) 1ere all eIhausted $rom their bac7-brea7ing labors( -espite this. they all studied the Torah. they 1elcomed 0isitors 1ith a smile. and they honored Torah scholars generously( Thus. & 1as unable to re$use their re/uest( & remained 1ith them $rom Sha0uos until the beginning o$ the month o$ *0( @hile & 1as there. & heard that about ten miles a1ay there 1as a large 0illage. 1hich

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also boasted a Ne1ish settlement( '0en more important - about a mile $rom that 0illage 1as the estate o$ a po1er$ul nobleman o$ great 1ealth( The nobleman himsel$ li0ed $ar a1ay. in )rance( ?is entire estate - including all the 0illages. streams. $orests. and inns - 1as leased to one Ne1( This Ne1 admired and supported rabbinic scholars; se0eral Torah scholars and geonim li0ed in his court at his eIpense( ?e also distributed charity generously( .:3 No1. about $orty years ha0e passed since & 1as in the 0illage o$ Bertchyn7a( -uring this time. & 1ent through se0eral stagesJ & 1andered in eIile. & li0ed a celibate li$e. & married Lmy second 1i$eM. & 1as 1ido1ed (may you be spared). & married my third 1i$e (long may she li0e)( 8ut the memory o$ those days remains be$ore my eyes( & tra0eled in the company o$ about ten people( 8esides mysel$. there 1ere $i0e other Torah scholars( They declined to tell me their names. so & didn:t tell them mine( ?o1e0er. >ust as they reali3ed that & 1as a genuine Torah scholar. & reali3ed that they 1ere scholars( *nd so. 1e discussed Torah as 1e 1al7ed together( <ne o$ these Torah scholars possessed an outstanding ability to assimilate ne1 material( The moment he heard something $or the $irst time. or read something ne1 in a se$er. he could repeat it by heart. eIactly 0erbatim. neither adding nor omitting a single 1ord( 8esides this. he also possessed an astounding memory( 8y the grace o$ C-d. he ne0er $orgot a single thing he had e0er heard or seen( @hene0er & recited one o$ my no0el insights. he could repeat it 0erbatim the moment & $inished spea7ing( 'ach item 1as in its correct order. as i$ it had been 1ritten do1n in a boo7 or engra0ed in steel( *ll siI o$ us Torah scholars tra0eled together $or about ten days. discussing Torah as 1e 1ent( 'ach o$ us beha0ed 1ith proper humility. but the humility o$ the $ello1 1ith the /uic7 grasp and 7een memory 1as $ar superior to the rest o$ us( &t 1as clear to us that he possessed broad 7no1ledge o$ the Talmud 8a0li and Derushalmi. Si$ra.L,M Si$ri.L1GM and Tose$ta.L11M not to mention the 6ambam and the $our sections o$ the Shulchan *ruch. and other teIts( Since he had such a 7een grasp and outstanding memory. ho1 could it be other1iseA Ne0ertheless. 1hene0er he 1ould /uote a passage o$ the Cemara. 6ashi. or Tosa$os. he 1ould say. 5&t seems to me that the teIt goes something li7e this((((5 8ut this 1as only because o$ his great humility( *s 1e 1al7ed through a $ield on the day o$ =ag 8a<mer. the heat became unbearable( @e sat do1n in the shade o$ a tree to rest. and began to discuss Torah( & 1as then studying the chapter o$ *rba:ah *chin in the tractate De0amos(L 1FM & could repeat the teIt o$ the Cemara and 6ashi by heart. but & did not 7no1 the Tosa$os by heart( 8ut the $ello1 1ith the /uic7 grasp and 7een memory came to my rescue. and supplied me 1ith the teIt o$ the Tosa$os( <n that day. $or the $irst time. & heard o$ the Deshi0ah o$ 9e3hibu3h. 1hose 6osh Deshi0ah 1as a gaon. 7abbalist. and miracle-1or7er( L& also learned thatM he had many disciples 1ho 1ere 1orld-class geonim and possessed the best character traits and $ear o$ ?ea0en( 8y the time 1e got close to the 0illage o$ Bertchyn7a there 1ere only $i0e o$ us le$t. $or the others had gone their o1n 1ay at the crossroads( *s 1e approached the 0illage. 1e sa1 se0eral Ne1s out in the $ields. 1earing their $our-cornered garments 1ith t3it3is. 1hile they tended the grain( Seeing us. they hurried o0er to greet us( The $irst ones to reach us then claimed the right to ha0e us as their guests. in $ul$illment o$ the mit30ah o$ catering to guests( <n the day preceding the e0e o$ 6osh 4hodesh. an announcement 1as made to remind all those 1ho 1or7ed in the $ields that tomorro1 they 1ere to return $rom the $ield earlier than usual( That day 1as. o$ course. the e0e o$ Dom Bippur Batan; on Dom Bippur Batan itsel$. the men. 1omen. and children assembled in the synagogue and the 1omen:s gallery $or the sunrise minyan. during 1hich they all 1ept pro$usely( <n the Shabbos preceding Sha0uos. they announced that there 1ould be no 1or7 during the three days be$ore Sha0uos. so that they could all prepare $or Dom To0( Their Dom To0 celebration itsel$ ama3ed me 0ery much(

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.;3 ( eb (itz*ha& Aizi& related to the ebbe Maharash4 ?My father, the %aon, #as very *old<blooded- $e #as already Duite old #hen 9 &ne# him, and his 1ersonality #as as fri%id as i*e- 9 never sa# him smile- Even on Sim*has Torah, #hen he made a %reat effort to be Hoyful, his i*y e+1ression failed to melt- But all this is nou%ht *om1ared to the frozen 1ersonality of my un*le, the %aon eb Felmele- 'evertheless, there #ere moments #hen some e+1ression of emotion *ould be dete*ted in his fa*e as he told a story- Ine of these moments #as #hen he related the story of his visit to the rural villa%e of )ru*ia, and the (anta Estate-?! *t the beginning o$ the month o$ *0. & le$t the 0illage o$ Bertchyn7a( The Ne1s o$ Bertchyn7a 1ished to send me in a 1agon. 1hich 1ould transport me to the 0illage o$ -rucia( 8ut & declined the ride. 1ishing instead to 1al7 1ith my stic7 and my 7napsac7. along 1ith three or $our other $oot-tra0elers. 1ho also happened to be $ollo1ing the road that led to -rucia( Not1ithstanding the mourning that 1as re/uired during the Three @ee7s. the Ne1s o$ the Bertchyn7a settlement assembled a$ter the sunrise minyan to honor me and bid me $are1ell( They said to me. 58less us. < master and 6ebbeE5 & then blessed them. and departed( * short distance $rom -rucia. 1e met a $e1 Ne1s 1or7ing in the $ields( The 0ery same thing that had happened to me on my approach to Bertchyn7a 1as no1 repeated in the $ields near -rucia( Coing a bit $urther. 1e came to a large $lat open space( There. 1e sa1 (may the e0il eye not a$$ect them) many Ne1ish men and 1omen 1or7ing in the $ields( @hen they sa1 us. they greeted us 1ith Shalom *leichemE <ne o$ the tra0elers 1as a Torah scholar. and 1e discussed Torah as 1e 1al7ed( Though it 1as only a short distance - and 1e stopped t1o or three times along the 1ay - & 1as eIhausted. $or it 1as 0ery hot( & sat do1n in the shade o$ a tree together 1ith the Torah scholar. and 1e continued discussing our Torah topic( @e sat there $or about t1o hours. until the sun:s heat had cooled a bit( *s 1e got ready to resume our >ourney. a group o$ elderly $ol7 suddenly appeared. 1al7ing to1ard us( @hen they came closer. they greeted us 1ith Shalom *leichemE Turning to me. they eIclaimed 5Shalom *leichem. our master and 6ebbeE5 =oo7ing about. & disco0ered that 1e 1ere surrounded by a 1hole minyan o$ men( Shortly. they began to argue among themsel0es( <ne claimed. 5& 1as the $irst to see the arri0als and greet them 1ith Shalom *leichemE Thus. the guests belong to me(5 *nother stated. 5No. it 1as & 1ho $irst sa1 them. and the guests are mineE5 <ne o$ the elders (& later learned that he 1as the oldest o$ them all) thought about it. and then he said. 5'ach o$ us 1ants the pri0ilege o$ $ul$illing the mit30ah o$ catering to guests - especially guests 1ho are such geonim and t3addi7im( @e heard all about our great master and 6ebbe (he 1as re$erring to me) 1hile he 1as 0isiting the 0illage o$ Bertchyn7a. and 1e prayed to C-d that 1e too might ha0e this pri0ilege( @hen the $ield 1or7ers in$ormed us that our master and 6ebbe had arri0ed. 1e came to greet him( 'ach o$ us 1ants the pri0ilege o$ hosting him in his home( There$ore. let us cast lots $or it(5 The rural 0illage o$ -rucia boasted se0enty or eighty $amilies. most o$ them $armers and cattlemen( 8ut e0en there. there 1ere se0eral young married scholars 1ho 1ere supported by their in-la1s. and bochurim supported by their parents. 1ho spent their time studying Torah( The Ne1ish settlement o$ -rucia 1as blessed 1ith many elderly people. some o$ them 0ery old - in their eighties. or nineties. and e0en older( 8ut they 1ere /uite simple. unable to comprehend anything more subtle than *ggadah or a 0erse o$ 4humash( 8ut they 1ere 0ery C-d-$earing and pious( &n no other place did & e0er see people 1ho 1ere so 0ery scrupulous in the per$ormance o$ a mit30ah. in honoring Torah scholars. and in honoring the Torah( '0en the greatest Torah scholars 1ere no match $or the Ne1s o$ -rucia in that regard( 5<3 & spent $i0e or siI days in -rucia. including Shabbos 4ha3on( )or Shabbos Nachamu. &

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1ent to the Danta 'state. 1here the Ne1ish tenant-manager - 1ho 1as $amous $or his generous philanthropy and $or honoring and helping rabbinic scholars - li0ed( @hen & got there. & $ound many guests( 9ost o$ them 1ere great scholars and geonim( The gaon 1ith the /uic7 grasp and 7een memory - 1ho had accompanied me on the 1ay to Bertchyn7a - 1as also there( & disco0ered that he had been there the 1hole time( *t the host:s re/uest. he had been studying 1ith one o$ his sons( * large house 1ith spacious rooms 1as placed at the guests: disposal( There. they ate. dran7. and slept( 8ut on Shabbos. all the guests 1ould eat 1ith the host. his sons. and his sons-in-la1( ?e also had a large and ornate beis hamedrash. 1ith large rooms set aside $or study( The beis hamedrash had a 1ell-stoc7ed library( <n Shabbos a$ter 9aari0. 1e all entered a large dining room. 1here there stood tables laden 1ith all sorts o$ good $ood( 9any sil0er candelabras had been placed on the tables. besides the bron3e lamps that hung in the room( The 1ealthy tenant-manager. his son-in-la1. and his three sons sat at the head o$ the table. 1hile the rest o$ us sat around the tables( @e said Biddush o0er eIcellent 1ine. and ate our $ill o$ $ish and meat( -uring the meal. our host recited a $e1 no0el insights on the Torah( ?e 1as not much o$ a scholar. but he did ha0e a little 7no1ledge o$ the Torah( ?e also ga0e some straight$or1ard interpretations o$ *ggadah. 1hich 1ere a pleasure to listen to( & spent about a month at the Danta 'state. studying Torah 1ith much diligence( * $e1 days a$ter my arri0al. & 1as surprised to disco0er that the $ello1 1ith the /uic7 grasp and 7een memory 1as no1here to be $ound( & as7ed about him. and 1as told that he had gone to the Deshi0ah o$ 9e3hibu3h( <ur 1ealthy host:s son - 1ho had been studying 1ith him - had gone 1ith him. and 1ould remain there $or the month o$ Tishrei( *t that time - 1hile & 1as staying at the Danta 'state - & had no idea 1hat the 9e3hibu3h Deshi0ah 1as( 9any others had ne0er heard o$ it either. and didn:t 7no1 1hat it 1as( 8ut later. 1hile & li0ed in the city o$ 8rys7. people began to relate that at the other end o$ the country. in the to1n o$ 9e3hibu3h. a certain person had appeared. 1ho called himsel$ the 8aal Shem To0( This person per$ormed 1onders by using the Names o$ C-d( 9any people had gathered around him. some o$ them Torah scholars( ?e had $ormed a cult that practiced strange customs( =ater. & learned that people had begun to spread rumors about the 1ealthy tenantmanager o$ the Danta 'state. saying that he too 1as a member o$ that cult( ?is 1hole program o$ catering to guests 1ith such generosity 1as by order o$ the man 1ho called himsel$ the 8aal Shem To0( ?e had instructed him to in0ite guests in general. and especially Torah scholars( The gaon and per$ect t3addi7. the 7abbalist 6eb Oe0ulun Porush. had issued a ?alachic ruling that all members o$ the cult. especially its promoters and publicists. 1ere to be eIcommunicated( <ne must stay a1ay $rom them. as re/uired by the la1 concerning people 1ho ha0e been eIcommunicated(L1!M ?e in$ormed the Ne1ish 6egional 4ouncils o$ 2ilna and Slut37 o$ his ruling( @hile & 1as in there in 8rys7. & heard that among the scholars o$ that cult there 1ere also some great geonim. 1ho had been sub0erted (may C-d preser0e us) and had $allen into the trap o$ apostasy( Some o$ them tra0eled about through the Ne1ish communities. ensnaring innocent 0ictims( &t 1as then that & reali3ed that the $ello1 1ith the /uic7 grasp and 7een memory 1as a member o$ that cult( *bout t1enty-$i0e years later. the real danger o$ the 5cult5 became apparent( 9any o$ its members 1ho 1ere great Torah scholars. and e0en geonim. 1ere continuously spreading throughout the country - especially in the yeshi0os - to capture souls( 9any geonim o$ the 6egional 4ouncils o$ 8rys7. 2ilna. and Slut37 published a proclamation against the 8aal Shem To0 o$ 9e3hibu3h and his disciples( !e ?elmele&s story" as retold concludes0 y his nephe'" the gaon !e =it7cha> )i7i>"

5*nd no1.5 Hncle Oelmele concluded his story. 5Dou can 1ell understand 1hy the gaon your $ather re$used to send you to a yeshi0ah(L1 M ?e 1as a$raid that you might (C-d $orbid) $all into the net o$ the cult (may C-d preser0e us)(5

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The chassid !e =it7cha> )i7i> concluded his story to my saintly grandfather" the !e e MaharashA3 8ut. & must 5Ci0e than7s to the =-rd. $or ?e is good.5L 15M -uring the second year a$ter & le$t Smilo0itch. on this 0ery date. & sa1 the great luminary - the *lter 6ebbe - 1hen he came to 9ins7 to debate 1ith the great misnagdim( & then $ormed a $irm attachment to him( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,? $aTamim, /ol- =, 11- 7,7<773-; 2. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 eb (itz*ha& Aizi& re1eated it to the ebbe Maharash- $e, in turn, told it to his son the ebbe ashab, #ho re1eated it to the :revious ebbe durin% their daily #al&s in the Baliv&a summer estate-; 3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Shlu*han Aru*h, Even $aEzer 15=412-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Feva*him 72b, 71aA a *om1le+ subHe*t re%ardin% animals *onse*rated for sa*rifi*e, #hi*h #ere inadvertently mi+ed into a herd of other animals desi%nated < for various reasons < to die, or to be 1ut to death-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Mishnah, Feva*him 841-; 6. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 ivamA a*ronym for abbeinu (itz*ha& ben Meir, a %randson of ashi- $e and the subHe*ts of the follo#in% t#o footnotes #ere leadin% *ontributors to the Tosafos-; 7. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 iA a*ronym for abbeinu (itz*ha&, also &no#n as i $aFa&ein (?the Elder?!A - (itz*ha& ben Shmuel, %reat<%randson of ashi and ne1he# of ivam and abbeinu Tam-; 8. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 - (aa&ov ben Meir Tam, brother of ivam-; 9. (Ba*& to te+t ! 80it-, ?the Boo&? (Aramai*!A a 7rd *entury *om1ilation of $ala*hah and its derivation, based on the boo& of /ayi&ra-; 10. (Ba*& to te+t ! 80it-, ?the Boo&s? (Aramai*!A a 7rd *entury *om1ilation of $ala*hah and its derivation, based on the boo&s of Bamidbar and )evarim-; 11. (Ba*& to te+t ! 80it-, ?the Su11lement? (Aramai*!A a 7rd *entury *om1ilation of le%al statements not formally *odified in the Mishnah-; 12. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The Talmudi* tra*tate dealin% 1rimarily #ith the la#s of a brother #ho dies #ithout offs1rin%, the obli%ation of a survivin% brother to marry the #ido#, the 1ro*edure for releasin% them of this obli%ation, and situations #here they are e+em1t from the obli%ation- The *ha1ter Arba>ah A*hin (lit-, ?6our Brothers?! deals 1rimarily #ith e+tremely *om1le+ situations #here several brothers are married to several sisters-; 13. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Shul*han Aru*h, (oreh )e>ah, *ha1ter 77=-; 14. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See the *ha1ter on ? eb (itz*ha& Aizi&,? above-; 15. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Tehillim 12741, int- al-; Epilogue 523 )or a $ull 1ee7. my saintly $ather continued telling me - during our 1al7s - 1hat he heard $rom his o1n $ather. my saintly grand$ather Lthe 6ebbe 9aharashMJ namely. the long story o$ the chassid 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7( @hat has been presented until this point is only the introduction to that story( The $ull story relates the details o$ the debate that too7 place in 9ins7. 1hen the *lter 6ebbe instilled the spirit o$ 4hassidus into do3ens o$ the greatest geonim(L FM They then decided to choose the greatest among them. and to send them to the Caon 6a0 'liyahu (1hose soul is in Can 'den)( They 1ished to persuade him to annul the cheirem that had been published against the chassidim and their leader. the Caon o$ =io3na( The most important accomplishment. ho1e0er. 1as the great treasure that the *lter 6ebbe ac/uired during that debateJ about $orty minyonim o$ young scholars (many o$ 1hom 1ere outstanding and reno1ned throughout the regions o$ 2ilna. 8rys7. Slut37. 9ins7. and Sh7lo0. and many o$ 1hom had been honored 1ith the greatest titles o$ glory) attached themsel0es to the *lter 6ebbe( Some o$ them $ollo1ed him to =io3na

38

immediately a$ter that e0ent. 1hile others arri0ed later( Nearly all o$ them >oined the chassidic community( 4ontinuing our con0ersations o$ that 1ee7. my saintly $ather repeated to me 1hat he had heard $rom the $amous chassid 6eb Shmuel -o0 o$ 8oriso0(L !M The story 1as long. but 1ell organi3ed; it dealt 1ith the e0ents o$ the 8aal Shem To0:s 0isit to a $e1 o$ the 0illages in @hite 6ussia at the time that he $irst re0ealed himsel$( *$ter that. his colleagues (the hidden t3addi7im). his agents. and his disciples. tra0eled about in search o$ ne1 con0erts to the 8aal Shem To0:s teachings. and to shine the li0ing light o$ the li0ing Torah upon the Ne1ish people( 543 &n this essay. & hope to mention. either in 1hole or in part. all the entries that & ha0e in my diary on this sub>ect( &n any case. & $irst 1ish to emphasi3e that the $ragment o$ 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7:s story /uoted abo0e comprises a li0ing history( &t paints $or us a portrait o$ se0eral generations o$ Ne1ish li$e in the counties o$ 9ins7. 9ohile0. and 2itebs7J i( @e are no1 in the month o$ 'lul 5",1 L1,!1M. and & am telling you 1hat & heard and 1rote do1n during the years 5"58-5, L18,8-,,M - an inter0al o$ thirty-three years( ii( 9y saintly $ather Lthe 6ebbe 6ashabM heard this story $rom his o1n $ather. my saintly grand$ather Lthe 6ebbe 9aharashM during the year 5"!" L18F"M - an inter0al o$ t1enty-t1o years( iii( 9y saintly grand$ather heard i$ $rom the chassid 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 during the year 5"G! L18 !M - an inter0al o$ thirty-three years( i0( The gaon 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 related 1hat he himsel$ had seen and heardJ the $ull story o$ the debate bet1een the misnagdim and the *lter 6ebbe in the year 55 ! L178!M - an inter0al o$ siIty years( 0( ?e also related 1hat he had heard $rom his uncle. the gaon 6eb Oelmele Stut37er. describing the li$estyles o$ Torah scholars o$ $i$ty years earlier - around the year 5 ,G L17!GM - an inter0al o$ $i$ty-three years( 0i( The gaon 6eb Oelmele Stut37er related 1hat he had heard $rom his 6ebbe. the gaon 6eb Shalom Dehudah o$ Semilia - about $orty years be$ore that( 0ii( L6eb Oelmele also relatedM 1hat L6eb Shalom DehudahM had heard $rom his o1n 6ebbe. the gaon 6eb 'phraim )ishel Badosh - a generation be$ore that( Thus. it turns out that the story told by 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 presents us 1ith a li0ing portrait o$ the li0es o$ Torah scholars during a period approIimately FG5 L M years ago( The history o$ that period ma7es a most $ascinating story( 8ut beyond that. it is eIceedingly precious to us chassidim. $or it gi0es us a general idea o$ the generation during 1hich the $irst person to re0eal Toras ?a4hassidus - the 8aal Shem To0 - li0ed( &t also describes the campaign that he conducted. 1ith his intense 0igor and outstanding 1isdom( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,? $aTamim, /ol- 5, 11- =,2, =,12. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The story of ?the )ebate in Mins&? itself a11ears in the Su11lements to this volume-; 3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Also &no#n as ? ashdam-? 6or a brief bio%ra1hy, see The Ma&in% of "hassidim, A11endi+ ", and 0in&s in the "hassidi* 0e%a*y, Si*hos 9n En%lish , Broo&lyn, 1557, 11- 57<127-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Translator>s note4 this a11ears to be a ty1o%ra1hi*al errorA it should read ?352 years a%o-?; The )lter !e e&s )dherents" )nd $is Opponents -uring that period.LFM the *lter 6ebbe 1rote a general letter encouraging the establishment o$ a charity $und to support the holy 6ebbeim 1ho had mo0ed to the ?oly =and( ?e chose three capable young scholars. 1hom he sent all o0er the land to set up the collections( *dditionally. they 1ere charged 1ith the tas7 o$ encouraging people to study 4hassidus(

39

*lmost e0ery to1n already had at least one or t1o young scholars 1ho had studied in =io3na( The *lter 6ebbe:s disciples 1ere eItremely dedicated indi0iduals( The 6ebbe:s slightest command or re/uest 1as carried out at once. 1ith the greatest care and precision( The *lter 6ebbe designated siI locations 1here young scholars 1ho 1ished to come to =io3na could $irst be eIaminedJ =iepli. -ubra0na. Smilian. Hlla. S30ent3ian. and Dano0itch( &n each o$ these to1ns resided a representati0e empo1ered by the *lter 6ebbe to eIamine the scholars and determine 1hether they met the re/uirements he had set $orth( *t each location. no more than siI or se0en scholars 1ere to be eIamined at one time( These candidates had to undergo an eIamination lasting no less than t1o 1ee7s: time( <nly then could they recei0e a document $rom the o$$icial. certi$ying that they 1ere /uali$ied( *ny young scholar 1ho had once resided in =io3na during the years 55!" and 55!7 L177". 77M 1as no1 $orbidden to 0isit =io3na more than once a year 1ith the intention o$ remaining there L$or an eItended periodM( 8ut an eIception to this rule could be made. i$ the o$$icials (or the charity collectors) reported that a certain young scholar:s Torah study and a0odah entitled him to $a0ored treatment( &n that case. he 1ould be permitted to ma7e a second 0isit during the year( *t their re/uest. the three emissaries 1ere authori3ed to be$riend any /uali$ied bochur 1hom they met during their tra0els( &$ he 1ished to tra0el to =io3na. they could direct him to one o$ the young scholars 1ho had $ormerly resided there( *$ter he had studied 1ith this scholar $or a month or t1o. they could authori3e him to come to =io3na( 8e$ore the $esti0al o$ Pesach arri0ed. the *lter 6ebbe arranged a place and a curriculum o$ study $or each student o$ the chadorim( 8et1een Pesach and Sha0uos. ho1e0er. he remained secluded in his pri0ate chamber $or most o$ the time( 8y the time Sha0uos arri0ed. the three scholars had collected a large sum o$ money $or the support o$ the 6ebbeim in the ?oly =and( They had succeeded in their mission. and had established the charity $unds( They had also 1on o0er the hearts o$ the Torah scholars. rabbonim. shochtim. and melamdim( *mong these. they had disco0ered many highly capable indi0iduals 1ho desired to tra0el to =io3na( Thus. a large multitude gathered in =io3na $or the $esti0al o$ Sha0uos( * $e1 days a$ter Sha0uos. the *lter 6ebbe cast lots to determine 1hich o$ the young scholars 1ould ha0e the pri0ilege o$ transporting to the ?oly =and the money collected $or the support o$ the 6ebbeim there( T1o scholars 1ere chosen by this lottery( *t the *lter 6ebbe:s re/uest. his brother 6eb 9oshe established a course in Cemara6ashi-Tosa$os $or the bochurim 1ho had come to study( -uring the month o$ Tammu3. the $irst group o$ students 1ho had come to =io3na (a$ter Pesach) departed. and they 1ere replaced by a second contingent( This complied 1ith the rule that young scholars could remain in =io3na no longer than t1o or three months( The *lter 6ebbe:s brothers the t3addi7im 6eb Dehudah =eib and 6eb 9ordechai - directed the super0ision and guidance o$ the scholars. and their course o$ study( The to1n o$ =io3na no1 too7 on an entirely di$$erent $ace( The coarse and simple businessmen 1ho 1ere the local residents no1 $ollo1ed the eIample o$ Oe0ulun. becoming supporters o$ the institutions 1here the $ollo1ers o$ Dissachar studied(L !M Their young sons began to study Torah diligently. and their daughters eIpressed a desire to marry Torah scholars( That summer. $our more places 1ere added to the abo0e-mentioned to1ns 1here students 1ere eIaminedJ 8eshen7o0yc3. Blet37. Baidan. and 9ohile0( -uring the summer. these to1ns 1ere trans$ormed into centers $rom 1hich the *lter 6ebbe:s instructions 1ere issued to the surrounding regions( The agents and the leading o$$icials o$ each district $iled 1ritten reports o$ 1hat 1as happening in each place( *ll this 1as $or1arded to the chie$ o$$icial. the *lter 6ebbe:s brother 6eb Dehudah =eib( <n 6osh 4hodesh 9enachem *0. 1ord 1as sent out by the agents and o$$icials that 0isitors to =io3na could remain $or no longer than one Shabbos( -uring the month o$ Tishrei. they could come $or only one $esti0alJ either 6osh ?aShanah. Dom Bippur. Su77os. or Shemini *t3eres( '0en those 1ho brought their o1n $ood - su$$icient $or their entire stay in =io3na - 1ere ne0ertheless $orbidden to remain longer than this( ?o1e0er.

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the managers o$ the charity $unds and the minyonim. and other o$$icials. could gi0e someone special permission to remain longer. i$ his a0odah re/uired him to do so( The *lter 6ebbe:s attention to order and strategy 1as e0ident in e0ery detail( 'ach person participated by eIerting his maIimum e$$orts to1ard the success o$ his mission( @hen Tishrei arri0ed. multitudes $loc7ed to =io3na( Some came in 1agons. and some came on $oot( *mong them 1ere rabbonim. shochtim. melamdim. and ordinary $ol7; they included the young. the middle aged. and the elderly( The chie$ o$$icial. 6eb Dehudah =eib. appointed o$$icers to insure that the rules concerning ho1 long one could remain in =io3na 1ere obeyed( &n addition. they 1ere to in0estigate each 0isitor:s bac7ground. and determine 1hat mission he could be entrusted 1ith in his o1n hometo1n( &t is there$ore not surprising that the campaign among the throngs 1ho had come $rom di$$erent places produced good results. in disseminating the teachings o$ the 9aggid throughout =ita( * proclamation 1as then issued that during the coming 1inter no one 1as to come to =io3na until a$ter Pesach( The only eIception 1as $or bochurim 1ho came to obtain a program $or their studies( No one 7ne1 the reason. but no one dared to in/uire 1hat that reason might be( '0en the *lter 6ebbe:s brothers unanimously de$erred to his higher authority. as i$ they 1ere actually his ser0ants( @hen 9ar4hesh0an arri0ed. the *lter 6ebbe issued 0arious instructions to his brother 6eb Dehudah =eib. and he arranged the programs o$ study $or the students o$ the chadorim and the young scholars( ?e then chose three young scholars to accompany him. and he set out on the road. saying that he 1ould (1ith C-d:s help) return home to =io3na $or Pesach( This trip 1as associated 1ith the *lter 6ebbe:s duties as Ceneral 4oordinator o$ the 9aggid:s disciples( ?e there$ore headed $or 2ohlynia. the place designated $or the meeting o$ the ?oly Society( @e do not 7no1 the details o$ this >ourney( @hat 1e do 7no1 is that at this meeting. members the ?oly Society eIpressed complaints against the *lter 6ebbe $or embar7ing on a ne1 path - setting /uali$ications $or those 1ho desired to come closer Lto 4hassidusM( ?e admitted only those 1ho had attained certain achie0ements in Torah study. and e0en these 1ere permitted to come only at speci$ic times( They claimed that this departed $rom the practice o$ their master and 6ebbe. the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch( The chie$ critic 1as the holy 6eb Shlomo o$ Barlin( ?is home 1as closer to 6eissin. and so he 1as most $amiliar 1ith the ne1 procedures instituted by the *lter 6ebbe( The *lter 6ebbe ga0e a detailed report o$ e0erything he had instituted( ?e stated that he had been instructed by the 9aggid that Torah study. 1ith understanding and interpretation. 1as to be the supreme re/uirement( @ithout getting into a debate about his o0erall approach to this. he eIpressed his opinion that in =ita. his 1as the only approach that 1ould achie0e the desired results( The ?oly Society 1as not satis$ied by the *lter 6ebbe:s reply. $or in his conduct they sa1 a departure $rom the road that had been pa0ed $or them. as they understood it( They decided to 1rite a $ull report o$ the matter. and send it to their colleague. the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ ?orodo7. in the ?oly =and( The *lter 6ebbe 1as a1ay $or almost a hal$ year during this >ourney. and he 0isited 0arious places( )rom one o$ his letters. it appears that he 1as greatly distressed by the internal opposition to his abo0e-mentioned approach( ?o1e0er. he $ound consolation in the $act that se0eral o$ his colleagues - the holy 6ebbeim. 6eb Nachum o$ 4hernobyl. 6eb =e0i Dit3ha7 o$ 8erditche0. 6eb Ousia o$ *nipolia. his brother 6eb 'limelech Lo$ =i3hens7M. and $i0e or siI others - supported his opinion( ?e 1as. ho1e0er. distressed by the $act that the holy 1ellsprings 1ere separating into di0ergent streams( -uring this >ourney. he also 0isited the holy places. the tombs o$ our masters the 8aal Shem To0 and the 9aggid( 9any stories ha0e been circulated among chassidim concerning these 0isits( ?e also 0isited the city o$ 9ohile0 on the -nester during that trip( ?e had pre0iously spent some time there 1hen he had accompanied the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel and his entourage on their 1ay to the ?oly =and( This 0isit ga0e him much satis$action. and it partially assuaged his grie$ o0er the abo0ementioned contro0ersy( ?e disco0ered that the seeds he had so1n there during his $irst 0isit had borne good $ruit( There$ore. he decided to establish a ne1 center there( ?e

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chose one o$ the three young scholars 1ho had accompanied him. and le$t him there. assigning him the tas7 o$ go0erning that center( <n the return >ourney. he tra0eled through 8arano0ich. 2ilna (1ithout stopping there). S30ent3ian. -enenburg. Polot37. and 2itebs7( @hen he arri0ed in S30ent3ian. he sent one o$ the t1o remaining young scholars bac7 to 2ilna. and instructed him to remain there in secret( ?e 1as to study 1ith t1o o$ the local young scholars 1ho had become adherents o$ the *lter 6ebbe( ?e sent the second young scholar to =io3na. 1ith a reply to a letter he had recei0ed $rom his brother 6eb Dehudah =eib. describing the status o$ the resident scholars in =io3na. and summari3ing the reports that had come in $rom the 0arious centers( )rom one o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s letters. it appears that the reports he recei0ed $rom his brother 6eb Dehudah =eib ga0e him much pleasure( &n this letter. he describes all the troubles that had beset him during his tra0els. concerning his public a$$airs (speci$ically. the ?oly Society:s resolutions). and the agreeable situation he had $ound in 9ohile0( ?e states that the reports he recei0ed ga0e him satis$action. and that his stay in S30ent3ian had assuaged his grie$( Through that young scholar:s message. he in$ormed his brother that he 1ould not return home until a $e1 days be$ore Dom To0( ?e urged him to send out the $ollo1ing repliesJ to the center in -ubra0na. that he agreed to their establishing a secret center in Sh7lo0; and to the center in Smilian. that he agreed to their establishing a public center in -isna( ?e also instructed him to publici3e a proclamation that no 0isitors 1ere to come to =io3na be$ore the coming $esti0al o$ Sha0uos( @hen he arri0ed in =io3na. he disco0ered that the status o$ the students o$ the t1o chadorim 1as good( They had adhered scrupulously to the program o$ study he had set out $or them( The ne1s then arri0ed that the t1o scholars 1ho had been sent as agents to ta7e the money to the ?oly =and 1ere on their 1ay home( They 1ould arri0e in =io3na by Sha0uos. and 1ere bringing a letter $rom the holy 6ebbeim in the ?oly =and( This ne1s spread 0ery /uic7ly. and an order 1as issued to all the charity collectors that they 1ere to try to collect the $unds that had been pledged. and to bring the money 1ith them 1hen they came to =io3na $or Sha0uos( *$ter Sha0uos. a second group o$ agents 1ould be sent out to the ?oly =and( The citi3ens o$ =io3na 1elcomed the *lter 6ebbe 1ith great >oy( 9any to1ns$ol7 then resol0ed in their hearts to ta7e the scholarly young $ol7 as sons-in-la1( *ccording to tradition. about $orty such 1eddings 1ere celebrated during that summer( They and their children 1ere the heads o$ the chassidic $amilies and the doers o$ good deeds o$ the later generations( @hen the agents $rom the ?oly =and arri0ed. they brought a letterL M containing a blessing $rom the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel. as 1ell as a 1ritten program o$ conduct and guidance. and a statement o$ general support $or the *lter 6ebbe( *pparently. this re$erred mainly to his appointment as Ceneral 4oordinator Lo$ the ?oly SocietyM( The agents related that 1hen they had reached the shores o$ the 6i0er -nester. they had met t1o men 1ho 1ere about to lea0e $or the ?oly =and( These t1o men had said that they 1ere tra0eling as agents o$ the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel. and that they 1ere carrying $unds collected in the territory o$ 2ohlynia(L5M LThis represented a ne1 de0elopment(M @hen they had ta7en their lea0e o$ their colleague 6eb 9enachem 9endel in 55!7 L1777M. the assembled members o$ the ?oly Society had adopted the $ollo1ing resolutionsJL"M i( each o$ them undertoo7 the obligation o$ supporting the 6ebbeim 1ho 1ere mo0ing to the ?oly =and. and their $amilies; ii( each member o$ the Society 1as to be the leader in his o1n territory; iii( the *lter 6ebbe 1as appointed the leader o$ =ita. and the centers o$ ?orodo7. Polot37. Balis7. and =uba0itch 1ere put under his control; i0( the *lter 6ebbe 1as appointed the chie$ o$ all the leaders in matters pertaining to the support o$ the 6ebbeim in the ?oly =and; he 1as also appointed the Ceneral 4oordinator o$ the Society $or a period o$ $i0e years( @hen the $irst group o$ agents had departed - in 55!8 - 1ith the collected $unds. they had made a side trip to 0isit the holy 6eb Nachum in 4hernobyl( The moneys collected

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in the territory o$ 2ohlynia had been brought to him. along 1ith a list o$ the contributors( )rom there. they had resumed their >ourney to the ?oly =and( Thus. the ne1s that special agents had no1 departed separately $rom 2ohlynia to the ?oly =and. caused a great disturbance( Nonetheless. the process 1as not interrupted. and e0erything proceeded according to schedule( 9any o$ the $und collectors arri0ed in =io3na in person. bringing the collected $unds and the lists o$ contributors( Those 1ho could not come personally. sent them 1ith other tra0elers( *t the designated time. lots 1ere cast. and the ne1 tra0elers set out by 1ay o$ 2ohlynia. as had been done the year be$ore( 8ut 1hen they arri0ed in 2ohlynia. they disco0ered a shortage o$ donations( This situation that had arisen among the members o$ the ?oly SocietyL7M caused the *lter 6ebbe much distress. and he eIpressed his inner grie$ in 1riting to his colleagues. the t3addi7im 6eb 9enachem Nachum Lo$ 4hernobylM and 6eb =e0i Dit3ha7 Lo$ 8erditche0M( The *lter 6ebbe 1ritesJ 9y heart is saddened by Lthose 1ho ta7eM the $rail 0ie1 that only a t3addi7 can ele0ate anything( &t is 1ritten.L8M 5*nd & 1ill d1ell in your midst.5 and Lit is also 1ritten.ML,M 5Dour people are all righteous(5 &t is my $irm opinion that 1e are obligated to teach the right path to the multitudes( & trust in our 6oc7. and & 1ill not depart $rom this( 8y the li$e o$ my soul. this is also the opinion o$ our master(L1GM <ur master. the holy 6eb 9enachem Nachum o$ 4hernobyl. 1rote Lto 6eb 9enachem 9endelM 1ith bitterness about the di0ision that had arisen among the members o$ the ?oly Society. 1ho 1ere /uarreling among themsel0es( ?e 1as eIpressing his o1n opinion. and that o$ about a do3en o$ his colleagues 1ho shared the *lter 6ebbe:s opinion (1ith minor di$$erences)( ?e begged the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel to state his o1n opinion in the matter. adding that it 1ould be 1orth1hile to send a messenger speci$ically $or this purpose( &t appears $rom the lettersL11M sent by the holy 6ebbeim o$ the ?oly =and that they immediately instructed the holy 6eb Disrael o$ Polot37 to tra0el to =io3na and to (the holy 6eb Dissachar -o0L1FM in) =uba0itch( These t1o 1ere to >oin the *lter 6ebbe and the other members o$ the ?oly Society 1ho shared the *lter 6ebbe:s opinion. and attempt to 1in o0er the minority 1ho remained opposed( The ma>ority o$ people 1ho came to =io3na $or the ?igh ?oly -ays 1ere rabbonim. shochtim. melamdim. and other Torah scholars( 'ach brought 1ith him se0eral bundles o$ ?alachic in/uiries( 'ach also brought re/uests - both his o1n. and on behal$ o$ others in his household - concerning their material needs( The *lter 6ebbe declined to respond to most o$ the in/uiries Labout material mattersM. saying that his chie$ occupation concerned Torah study and the paths o$ a0odah( ?e instructed people to publici3e thisJ those 1ho sought ad0ice about material concerns. should not 1aste their money on a trip to =io3na. $or he 1ould not ans1er their /uestions( The *lter 6ebbe ga0e his $ull attention to the young scholars( -uring the three years 55 G to 55 ! L178G-8!M. he made se0eral short trips to the nearby regions. remaining in each place about a 1ee7 or a little longer( &n those days. the number o$ Ne1s li0ing in rural areas. and those 1ho 7ept inns at the crossroads. began to increase( The *lter 6ebbe then sent agents to all the rural settlements to super0ise the studies o$ the youth( ?e sent tens o$ young scholars to the 0illages and settlements to ser0e as melamdim( ?e ga0e them a program to $ollo1 in their 1or7. and allotted them a salary. 1hich he instructed the local residents to pay( L)or eIample.M by letter. the *lter 6ebbe:s brother. 6eb Dehudah =eib. con0eyed the *lter 6ebbe:s instructions to the manager o$ an estate( This property included t1o 0illages. three streams. and se0en inns( The manager 1as instructed that he must lease the properties only to Ne1s( ?e must not be satis$ied 1ith the $act that the settlement boasted a minyan. a shochet. and a melamed( ?e 1as obligated to contract 1ith the tenants that each settlement ha0e a scholar 1ho 1ould study 1ith the youths( The settlers 1ere re/uired to pro0ide the scholar 1ith a place to li0e. and to supply all his needs( &n return. C-d 1ould bless the estate manager (and i$ he did not obey these instructions. he could eIpect the opposite)( -uring these three years. the *lter 6ebbe en>oyed success both at home and abroad( &n

43

=io3na. a large number o$ young scholars became 5sitters.5 and $ollo1ed the regular curriculum( The 0arious centers 1ere progressing at $ull speed 1ith their 1or7( There 1ere rabbonim. shochtim. and melamdim li0ing in many o$ the 0illages. rural settlements. and inns. each $ul$illing his responsibility( &n that year. the *lter 6ebbe already had se0eral hundred young students. 1ho too7 turns residing in =io3na. as described pre0iously( This continued $rom the year 55!" L177"M through 55 G( There 1ere also many guests 1ho came. though the *lter 6ebbe re$used to ans1er in/uiries about material matters( ?e 1ould. ho1e0er. o$$er his holy opinion about spiritual matters. as described in his letter o$ 55 G to the community o$ *nash in the to1n o$ Hshat3(L1!M Se0eral o$ these 0isitors had been chassidim o$ 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ ?orodo7 and 6eb *0raham o$ Balis7( They 1ere accustomed to being sho1n $a0or by their 6ebbeim. 1ith the greatest attention being paid to the elders (the younger scholars had not e0en been admitted 1hen the Torah discourses 1ere deli0ered)( They could not tolerate the *lter 6ebbe:s ne1 system. 1here the younger scholars recei0ed the greatest $a0or( These se0eral 0isitors included se0eral men o$ stature and 7no1ledgeable indi0iduals( Hn$ortunately. they misunderstood the intent. and inad0ertently lent support to those 1ho began to oppose the *lter 6ebbe( <ne o$ these 1as a certain 6eb 4hayim. mentioned in the letter to Hshat3( 9ean1hile. relations bet1een the chassidim and misnagdim became more strained( The charomim that had been proclaimed Lagainst the chassidimM in 2ilna. Oele0y (at the great assembly that had ta7en place there during the $air). 9ins7. 8rys7. Slut37. Sh7lo0. and other places had been publici3ed e0ery1here. and they began to ta7e their toll( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! The material in this Su11lement is ta&en from a *olle*tion of the :revious ebbe>s notes- This material #as *ir*ulated amon% *hassidim in ty1e#ritten form, as 1art of a *olle*tion &no#n as ?The )ebate in Mins&-? :ortions of these notes have been 1ublished else#here by various authors- The story be%ins here e+a*tly #here the *ha1ter ?Third Ceneration4 the Alter ebbe? ends, and is #ritten in the same style- 9t a11ears that that this material #as 1re1ared for 1ubli*ation in $aTamim, as a *ontinuation of the series ?6athers of "hassidus-? 2. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, shortly after - Mena*hem Mendel of /itebs& had moved to Eretz (israel-; 3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A referen*e to the t#o brothers (issa*har and Fevulun, sons of (aa&ov- The des*endants of (issa*har dedi*ated themselves to full<time study of the Torah and issuin% rulin%s of la#- Their material needs #ere 1rovided by the des*endants of Fevulun, #ho en%a%ed in *ommer*e- See ashi, on Bereishis =5417<15 and on )evarim 77418-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See Toldos "habad BeEretz $a.odesh, *h- 3-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, they had be%un *olle*tin% funds se1arate from those raised under the aus1i*es of the Alter ebbe-; 6. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See Sefer $aSi*hos 5,5,, 1- 121-; 7. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, that there #as dissension and strife *on*ernin% his 1ro%ram of attra*tin% the youn% s*holars to "hassidus, and that this dissension had resulted in a s*hism in the So*iety to the e+tent that a se1arate *olle*tion of funds had been established-; 8. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Fe*hariah 341=, 15-; 9. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8(eshayah ,2431-; 10. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The Alter ebbe here e+1resses his o1inion that the multitudes of *ommon fol& (and not only the tzaddi&im! are *a1able of )ivine servi*e on their o#n initiative, and that it is an obli%ation to share #ith them the tea*hin%s of the Ma%%id- $e insists that this is also the Ma%%id>s o1inion, and not his o#n innovation- Thus, there is no reason for a s*hism in the So*iety-; 11. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See Toldos "habad BeEretz $a.odesh, ibid-; 12. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 eb (issa*har )ov .abilni&er- See The Ma&in% of "hassidim, A11endi+ B-;

44 13. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89%ros .odesh of the Alter

ebbe, /ol- 1, *h- 3-;

Preparations #or The ,e ate -uring the 1inter o$ 55 F L1781-8FM. the *lter 6ebbe con$erred 1ith his brothers. 6eb Dehudah =eib and 6eb 9ordechai. about holding a debate 1ith the misnagdim( ?e then began a campaign to gain support $or this idea. as 1e shall describe later( *t the end o$ Si0an o$ that year. he made another trip to 2ohlynia $or a meeting o$ the ?oly Society scheduled $or the middle o$ Tammu3( This time. the *lter 6ebbe remained in 2ohlynia $or only t1o 1ee7s. a$ter 1hich he /uic7ly returned home( *t this assembly. the *lter 6ebbe eIpressed his thoughts about the present situation regarding the misnagdim( ?e o$$ered the opinion that the ?oly Society could engage them in a debate( ?e 1as con$ident that 1ith C-d:s 7indness (and in the merits o$ the 8aal Shem To0 and the 9aggid) the chassidim 1ould emerge 0ictorious( ?e also announced that he 1ould publish a public letter on the sub>ect( Those members o$ the ?oly Society 1ho had supported the *lter 6ebbe:s ideas $or some time. 1ere o0er>oyed 1hen they heard his speech about disseminating the study o$ 4hassidus among the young scholars( ?o1e0er. they did not concur on e0ery detail o$ his report about guiding the young $ol7 and re0ealing to them such a po1er$ul light( (They also recei0ed the good ne1s that the study o$ 4hassidus had spread among young scholars o$ Tur7ish 9ohile0. Dasi. and Boloresti(L1M) <n the other hand. those members o$ the ?oly Society 1ho had al1ays opposed him. no1 demanded that Lthe chassidim reciprocate. andM issue a cheirem against the misnagdim( 8ut the ma>ority opposed this. $or the chie$ leaders and mentors o$ the misnagdim 1ere in =ita( There$ore. they all agreed to de$er to the *lter 6ebbe:s suggestion o$ challenging the misnagdim to a debate. especially since he had already ta7en steps in that direction( *t that same meeting. they also discussed the $unds raised $or the support o$ the 6ebbeim in the ?oly =and( &t 1as no1 agreed that $unds raised in the territory o$ 2ohlynia 1ould be sent separately(LFM -uring that year. the *lter 6ebbe:s $i0e year term as Ceneral 4oordinator 1as due to eIpire( ?e re$used to accept another appointment to this post. despite the entreaties o$ his colleagues. especially 6eb 9enachem Nachum o$ 4hernobyl( @hile returning home $rom this meeting. he tra0eled by 1ay o$ 9ins7( ?e stopped o$$ there to ma7e the arrangements $or the debate 1ith the misnagdim. according to the plan he had arranged 1ith his brother the pre0ious 1inter( The plan 1as as $ollo1sJ The t1o centers in S30ent3ian and Smilo0itch 1ere to designate se0en or eight young scholars by name( Their tas7 1ould be to circulate in the counties o$ 2ilna. Bo0na. and 9ins7 Ldisguised as misnagdimM( There they 1ere to start a mo0ement among the misnagdim to challenge the 5cult5 to a debate( They 1ere to demand that the chassidim also ans1er Torah /uestions the misnagdim 1ould put to them. basing their replies on con0incing e0idence $rom the Talmud and Pos7im( The center in -ubra0na 1as to designate se0eral scholars by name. to circulate in the counties o$ Sh7lo0 and 9ohile0 (in @hite 6ussia) to start the same mo0ement( )or Shabbos Nachamu. three young scholars to be designated by name 1ere to come to 9ins7 in secret. and a1ait the *lter 6ebbe:s arri0al during his return trip $rom 2ohlynia( The abo0e plan 1as carried out to the letter( The instructions 1ere sent to the centers. and they designated the people 1ho 1ere to tra0el about and start the mo0ements( They made a list o$ all the places they 1ere to 0isit. and then departed( These agents spent a month or t1o 1andering around in their assigned territories( Hpon arri0ing at a gi0en location. they 1ould pretend to be itinerant preachers( They then proceeded to deli0er a lecture $rom the public plat$orm. on the sub>ects o$ mussar and $ear o$ ?ea0en. including a $e1 no0el insights on the Torah( *s i$ incidentally. they 1ould inter>ect a $e1 remar7s about the cult that 1as rapidly spreading its 1ings. saying that the only remedy $or this 1as to challenge the cult:s leaders to a debate( There. the chassidim 1ould ha0e to de$end their 1ays based upon re$erence to the Talmud and Pos7im( They suggested that the local community should correspond 1ith the communities o$ 2ilna and Sh7lo0. so that they too 1ould challenge the cult:s leaders to a debate(

45

6umors began to circulate that letters 1ere being sent $rom se0eral /uarters to 2ilna and Sh7lo0. re/uesting that the heads o$ the cult be challenged to a debate. at a location to be designated by the leaders o$ the 2ilna and Sh7lo0 communities( )rom the secret chassidic centers in 2ilna and Sh7lo0. the ne1s arri0ed that the local misnagdim 1ere in a state o$ con$usion( 9any communities had sent them letters re/uesting that they challenge the chassidim to a debate( Se0eral meetings had been held on this sub>ect. but they had not arri0ed at any decision to date( *$ter Pesach. a message arri0ed $rom the secret chassidic center in 2ilna. stating that Lthe misnagdim o$M Sh7lo0 1ere opposed to holding a debate 1ith the cult( <n the other hand. Lthe misnagdim o$M 2ilna $a0ored holding the debate( The Caon 6a0 'liyahu o$ 2ilna had ruled that $or their part. the misnagdim should not challenge the cult to a debate( ?o1e0er. i$ the cult issued the challenge. then the Torah re/uired the misnagdim to accept the challenge( Some misnagdim suggested that the /uestions should be posed in 1riting. and that the chassidim should be re/uired to gi0e their reply in 1riting( Thus. e0eryone 1ould become a1are o$ the 1ic7ed deeds Lo$ the chassidimM( &n 1riting. they could include all slanderous material that they had against the chassidim. 1ithout ha0ing to in0estigate 1hether it 1as true or $alse( *nd the chassidim 1ould certainly not 7no1 ho1 to respond. $or Lit 1as assumed thatM they had no 7no1ledge o$ Cemara( This suggestion 1as $or1arded to Sh7lo0( 8ut a$ter a meeting at 1hich this 1as discussed in all seriousness. the suggestion 1as turned do1n. $or t1o reasonsJ i( They could not 1rite anything that they did not 7no1 to be true 1ith certainty( *nd as a matter o$ $act. they 7ne1 that much o$ the material 1as $alse( They li0ed closer to the chassidic communities. and they 1ere a1are that some o$ the charges 1ere totally $alse( <ther charges contained only a drop o$ truth. mingled 1ith a large amount o$ eIaggeration( ii( 9any o$ the chassidim 1ere outstanding Torah scholars. thoroughly 0ersed in the Talmud 8a0li and Derushalmi( -uring the month o$ &yar. the *lter 6ebbe authori3ed his brother. 6eb Dehudah =eib. to publish the $ollo1ing statement among *nashJ The *lter 6ebbe 1as greatly concerned about the di$$icult circumstances in 1hich *nash $ound themsel0es. because o$ the se0ere persecution they 1ere su$$ering( ?e had no doubt that it 1as all due to slanderous lies told about the chassidim to the princes o$ the Torah( There$ore. he had decided to send a 1ritten message to all the communities. in$orming them that he 1ould arri0e in 9ins7 $or Shabbos Nachamu. and remain there t1o or three 1ee7s( *nyone 1ho had any /uestion or misunderstanding about the chassidim and their leaders. should approach him( ?e 1as prepared to ans1er all in/uiries. based upon proo$s $rom the Talmud and Pos7im( This bulletin 1as immediately sent to all the centers. and $rom there it 1as disseminated to all settlements and communities( @ithin a $e1 1ee7s. it became uni0ersal 7no1ledge( The secret centers in 2ilna and Sh7lo0 sent the in$ormation that the leaders o$ the /uarrel 1ere con$ounded by the announcement o$ the debate( ?o1e0er. the Caon 6a0 'liyahu had ruled that they must send 1ell-learned representati0es Lto the debateM( ?e had also ordered them to in$orm the community o$ Sh7lo0 - in his name - that they must also ta7e part in the debate( 9any people. $rom 0arious outlying places. came Lto =io3naM $or Sha0uos( @ithout eIception. they all brought reports about the great persecution *nash 1ere su$$ering at the hands o$ the misnagdim. and $inancial losses they 1ere causing them( The o$$icers o$ the charity $unds $or the ?oly =and also complained( 8ecause o$ the poor economic situation. the sums they had collected 1ere $ar less than in the pre0ious year( This caused the *lter 6ebbe great distress. and as a temporary measure. he borro1ed money $rom se0eral indi0iduals to co0er the short$all( These $unds 1ere then sent to the ?oly =and by messenger( *$ter dispatching the messengers to the ?oly =and 1ith the collected $unds. he departed $or 2ohlynia to attend the meeting. as described abo0e( *s mentioned. he made his return trip by 1ay o$ 9ins7( Hpon arri0ing in 9ins7. he disco0ered that many 0isitors had come $rom among the misnagdim. to attend the debate(

46

?e also recei0ed a summons $rom the community o$$ice. summoning him to a hearing( 8ut the *lter 6ebbe re$used to come to the community o$$ice. stating that he 1ould instead come to a place 1here many people could be present during the debate( 8y order o$ the court. the debate 1as to be held in one o$ the shuls( The *lter 6ebbe then $iled an appeal 1ith the courtJ it 1as impractical to hold a debate 1ith such a large group. consisting o$ hundreds o$ people( There$ore. he suggested that only those 1ho could properly ans1er /uestions he 1ould put to them on some Torah topic 1ould be permitted to ta7e part in the debate( The court replied that they 1ould consider the matter( They con0ened a secret meeting. and a$ter a lengthy discussion they decided that the *lter 6ebbe must $irst ans1er /uestions that they 1ould put to him( *$ter1ards. he could as7 them his Torah /uestions( 9ean1hile se0eral hundred o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s $ollo1ers arri0ed in 9ins7( They came both $rom $ar-a1ay places and $rom the nearby centers( The *lter 6ebbe deli0ered a Torah lecture be$ore them in the shul( Since the shul 1as open to the public. many misnagdim also came to hear him spea7( Some o$ them 1ere hoping that he might say something that they could use against him( ?is Torah lecture made a great impression on all the listeners( The misnagdim 1ere completely lost. and unable to $ollo1 it( The rumor then spread in the city that the head o$ the cult 1as spea7ing teachings o$ the ?oly Seraphim. 1hich had 7indled e0eryone:s heart( The story spread $rom mouth to mouth. each person adding something o$ his o1n to it( '0entually. the story too7 on the $ollo1ing $ormJ @hile the ra0 o$ the cult 1as spea7ing. the most high Seraphim could be seen( Some people had e0en been consumed by a ?ea0enly $ire( &t 1as no1 popularly belie0ed that the ra0 o$ the chassidim 1as a 9aster o$ the Name. and that the ?oly Seraphim 1ere his ser0ants( ?o1e0er. the Torah scholars had a di$$erent 0ie1 o$ the e0ent - they 1ere eItremely impressed 1hen they heard his Torah lecture( *t the same time. the reply arri0edJ a$ter Shabbos. a select group o$ scholars 1ould be chosen to eIamine the *lter 6ebbe on 0arious Torah topics( 9ins7 did not yet ha0e its o1n minyan o$ *nash( Since the *lter 6ebbe had already instituted his teIt $or the prayer ser0ice. the communal o$$icers decided to pro0ide a place 1here he and his guests could da0en as they 1ished( The local custom in 9ins7 1as to da0en at sunrise(L!M There$ore. by the time the *lter 6ebbe:s minyan began to da0en at nine o:cloc7. all the other 1orshipers had already $inished the Shabbos meal( Thus. a large cro1d gathered to listen to the melodious prayers o$ the *lter 6ebbe and his chassidim( The *lter 6ebbe himsel$ led the prayers and read $rom the Torah( The listeners mar0eled greatly at the great care he too7 1ith the pronunciation. and in chanting the musical notes( The *lter 6ebbe himsel$ usually ser0ed as the baal 7orei. paying scrupulous attention to the grammatical nuances o$ the notes( &t is told that though he used the *sh7ena3ic pronunciation. and not the Sephardic. he ne0ertheless distinguished bet1een the letters ayin and aleph. and bet1een the chess and cha$$. as many Sephardim do( @hile reading $rom the Torah. he 1ould stand on the right side. 1ith the tallis co0ering his $ace - only his holy beard 1as 0isible( The person 1ho had the aliyah 1ould stand to his le$t(L M &t is said that occasionally he 1ould raise his tallis and ga3e at the person ha0ing the aliyah( &t once happened that this person $ainted $rom $right( ?o1e0er. the chassidim related that anyone 1ho had the pri0ilege o$ an aliyah 1hile the *lter 6ebbe read $rom the Torah. had the pri0ilege o$ 1itnessing a great light( The *lter 6ebbe:s minyan recited the prayers 1ord by 1ord( The 1ee7day prayer lasted an hour and a hal$. sometimes e0en an hour and three /uarters( The Shabbos prayers lasted t1ice as long or more. not counting the time it too7 to read $rom the Torah( The great decorum. the discipline o$ the chassidim. and the general atmosphere o$ Torah and a0odah all made a great impression on the multitudes 1ho had gathered to see 1hat 1as happening in the shul 1here the *lter 6ebbe da0ened( This 1as a long summer day. and the ne1s spread throughout the city( Thus. it 1as not surprising that 1hen the time $or the third meal arri0ed. so many people had come that

47

the beis hamedrash could not contain them all( '0en be$ore the *lter 6ebbe arri0ed. they decided to mo0e the podium outside. so that the entire congregation could hear the 6ebbe:s address( Some o$ the assembled people opposed mo0ing the podium. declaring that it 1as $orbidden( L2arious theories 1ere proposed concerning the basis $or this alleged prohibitionMJ some said it in0ol0ed the prohibition o$ mu7t3a; others said that the prohibition o$ carrying 1as in0ol0ed; still others maintained that a $orbidden act o$ construction 1as in0ol0ed( 8ut all their 0oices 1ere dro1ned out by the large cro1d( 8e$ore they $inished stating their arguments. the podium 1as already outside( The Previous !e e related0 & heard $rom the chassid 6eb *bba 43as3ny7erL5M that his $ather had seen the *lter 6ebbe se0eral times. and had later become a $ollo1er o$ the 9itteler 6ebbe( ?is $atherin-la1. ho1e0er. had become a $ollo1er o$ 6eb *haron o$ Strashelle(L"M *t the age o$ t1el0e. 6eb *bba 1as engaged to be married( *t his bar mit30ah. the prospecti0e $ather-in-la1 too7 him to Strashelle( Since the $ather-in-la1 en>oyed great $a0or there. 6eb *bba 1as also $a0ored( ?e told a 0ery interesting story about his $irst 0isit - together 1ith his prospecti0e $ather-in-la1 - to the saintly 6eb *haron( 6eb *haron:s manner o$ speech 1as li7e $laming $ire( @hene0er he mentioned the *lter 6ebbe:s name. he 1ould stand up and cease spea7ing $or a 1hile. in great de0ei7us( 6eb *bba did not remember the teaching he had heard $rom 6eb *haron. nor had he understood it properly at the time( 8ut he had obser0ed and listened( *s he described it. 5$ear o$ ?ea0en implanted itsel$ in my heart(5 @hen 6eb *bba entered 6eb *haron:s chamber $or yechidus 1ith his prospecti0e $atherin-la1. 6eb *haron related to themJ 5@hen & 1as se0enteen years old. & 1as pri0ileged to see our holy 6ebbe( & 1as a member o$ the group that had come to 9ins7. and 1e merited to see the *lter 6ebbe assume the 0isage o$ 5the commanding o$$icer o$ the *rmy o$ C-d(5L7M 6eb *haron then became eIcited. and began running bac7 and $orth in his chamber. eIclaiming to himsel$ 5C-dlinessE ?olinessE *yE *yE5 ?e continued thus $or /uite a 1hile. be$ore resuming his story about the debate in 9ins7( 5Thousands o$ people 1ere present in the courtyard o$ the shul in 9ins7( @hen our holy 6ebbe 1ent up to the podium. e0eryone 1as o0ercome 1ith a1e o$ the -i0ine( They all stood there li7e the Ne1s at 9t( Sinai( *nd 1hen the 6ebbe began his discourse 1ith the 1ords Shema Disrael. e0eryone in the shul courtyard 1as sei3ed 1ith holy $er0or( The 6ebbe:s appearance and his 0oice 1ere a1esome. and the $ear o$ ?ea0en $ell upon all 1ho 1ere present(5 <ne day during the year 5"" L1,G M. 1hen 6eb *bba 1as in a 0ery good mood. he ga0e me a transcription o$ the discourse the *lter 6ebbe had deli0ered by in 9ins7( ?e had disco0ered this among the papers le$t by his late $ather-in-la1( LThe discourse 1as a commentary on the 0erse.ML8M 5?ear < &srael. The =-rd is our C-d. the =-rd is <ne5J 5?ear < &srael5 - * Ne1 comprehendsL,M that 5the =-rd is our C-d(5 This means that our po1er and our li$e-$orce are deri0ed $rom C-d:s name ?a0ayahJ the letter yud stands $or 4hochmah. the $irst hei stands $or 8inah. the 0a0 stands $or the siI 'motional *ttributes. and the second hei stands $or 9alchus( *nd Lhe also comprehends thatM 5the =-rd is one5 - e0erything $orms one per$ect unity( ?o1e0er. all this is applies only to the soul. $or the soul literally sees C-dliness through its actual sense o$ sight( 8ut 1hen the soul descends into the body - e0en i$ one:s mind is $illed 1ith Torah - its comprehension comes through the intellect alone( L1GM The remedy $or this situation is teshu0ah. 1hich trans$orms the dar7ness o$ the intellect to the light o$ emotional acti0ity in one:s heart( 'ach person - and his soul - are agents o$ the ?oly <ne. sent to illuminate the thic7 dar7ness o$ this physical 1orld. and to con0ert it into a 0ehicle $or C-dliness( This is accomplished through one:s a0odah o$ Torah. prayer. and $ul$illing the mit30os 1ith lo0e and a1e( &t is 1ritten.L11M 5The lamp o$ C-d is the soul o$ man(5 Nust as a lamp can light up the dar7ness o$ a house. so too the soul lights up the dar7ness o$ this 1orld. through the a0odah o$ Torah and mit30os(

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4oncerning this. it is 1ritten.L1FM 5(((a blessing in the midst o$ the earth(5 This means that one must dra1 do1n the ideal o$ 5blessed is C-d $rom the 1orld.5L1!M dra1ing it do1n $rom the 5hidden 1orld5 into this 5re0ealed 1orld(5 This re0elation entails inspiring the heart o$ man ($rom deep 1ithin the heart). so that the soul emerges $rom its shell. and becomes enraptured 1ith C-dliness( This is the meaning o$ 5the =rd is one(5 *s $ar as one:s soul is concerned. nothing stands in the 1ay o$ this a0odah( &t is only the physical body. and the coarse and $rigid intellect. that stand in one:s 1ay( Creat punishment a1aits an agent o$ the Bing 1ho $ul$ils his mission 1ith deceit( ?e causes tremendous harm to all aspects o$ the 7ingdom. especially Lhe underminesM the mission assigned to him by the Supreme Bing o$ Bings. the ?oly <ne (blessed be ?e)( 8ecause o$ this. he 1ill be cast out $rom the palace o$ the Supernal Bing. and 1ill be $orced to undergo numerous reincarnations( *$ter all this. he may possibly Lachie0e atonementM( LThis delay is undesirable. $orM it is 1ritten.L1 M 5The Lmit30osM are to be done today(5 @hen one care$ully contemplates and meditates deeply into all the abo0e. his soul 1ill burst into passionate $lame. as he cries out $rom 1ithin.L15M 5To Dou. < =-rd. & li$t up my soul(5 Then. he may do teshu0ah. and he 1ill be healed( @hene0er the chassid 6eb *bba told this story. his 1hole body 1ould become agitated( ?e used to say. 5& 1as later pri0ileged to see the L9ittelerM 6ebbe and to become an adherent o$ the T3emach T3ede7( Ne0ertheless. & 1ill ne0er $orget 1hat & sa1 and heard $rom that chassid L6eb *haronM 5& deliberately call him a :chassid:; he 1as a t3addi7. a holy and pure indi0idual - but not a :6ebbeE: @hene0er 6eb *haron repeated the abo0e discourse o$ the *lter 6ebbe. it seemed as i$ the 1ords 1ere then emerging $rom the ?oly o$ ?olies. the *lter 6ebbe:s mouth( @hen 6eb *haron 1ould $inish repeating the discourse. he 1ould say. :)rom that time on. 1e 1ere bound up L1ith the *lter 6ebbeM in an e0erlasting 7not(:5L 1"M That Shabbos. the atmosphere in 9ins7 1as cleansed( &t had a great e$$ect on the entire congregation - especially on the Torah scholars( <n Sunday. an announcement 1as made by the rabbinic court. that the debate 1ould be held on the $ollo1ing Tuesday( &t 1ould $eature a discussion 1ith the 6ebbe o$ the cult on compleI Torah topics( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8These *ities #ere far a#ay from Ghite ussia, in or near #hat are no# omania and Moldova-; 2. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See 1revious *ha1ter-; 3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89n Mins& durin% the summertime, the sun rises before 7 AM- Thus, even in *on%re%ations #here they 1rayed at len%th, the sunrise minyan #ould be finished lon% before 5-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The usual *ustom is for the baal &orei to stand on the left, and the 1erson havin% the aliyah on the ri%ht-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See Sefer $aSi*hos 5,57, 1- 317 for more about this *hassidi* 1ersonality-; 6. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A dis*i1le of the Alter ebbe- After the Alter ebbe>s 1assin%, a fe# of his *hassidim be*ame dis*i1les of eb Aharon rather than of the Mitteler ebbe-; 7. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A term used to des*ribe the an%el Mi*haelA see ashi on (ehoshua 541=-; 8. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8)evarim ,4=-; 9. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The $ebre# #ord Shema has both the meanin% of ?hear? and ?understand-? 9n the ori%inal (iddish of the dis*ourse, the t#o verbs are also similar4 hehren and derhehren-; 10. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, the 1hysi*al body *annot literally see C<dliness-; 11. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Mishlei 32437-; 12. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8(eshayahu 1543=-; 13. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8:ara1hrased from Tehillim =141=, int- al-;

49 14. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8)evarim 7411A see also ashi, lo*- *it-; 15. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Tehillim 3541A 8,4=-;

1,- (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Thus, eb Aharon remained the Alter ebbe>s *hassid, and *ould not be *onsidered a ebbe in his o#n ri%ht, des1ite his %reat stature as ?a tzaddi&, a holy and 1ure individual-?;

)t The ,e ate The t3addi7 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 (o$ blessed memory)L FM 1as born in Smilo0itch in the year 55F8 L17"8M( ?e 1as the ra0 and 4hie$ 9agistrate in 2itebs7( @hen he passed a1ay in the year 5"F" at the age o$ ninety-eight. my saintly grand$ather. the 6ebbe 9aharash. tra0eled to 2itebs7 to attend the $uneral. $or they had been intimate $riends( 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 related to the 6ebbe 9aharash that at the time o$ the debate - the year 55 ! L178!M - he had been $i$teen years old. and a leading student o$ the rosh yeshi0ah 6eb Oelmele Stut37er( L@hen & $irst heard this story.M & didn:t 7no1 eIactly 1ho this 6eb Oelmele 1as( 8ut my saintly grand$ather related that 1hene0er 6eb *i3i7 mentioned his name. he 1ould go into a trance( (9ore about 6eb Oelmele may be $ound in ?aTamim. in the essay 5)athers o$ 4hassidus(5L!M) Since 6eb *i3i7 1as one o$ his star pupils. 6eb Oelmele too7 him along. together 1ith $i0e other students. 1hen he tra0eled to 9ins7 to attend the debate( *t the time. 6eb Oelmele 1as already /uite old (in his eighties). and a $amous gaon( 8ut ignoring his ad0anced age. he tra0eled more than a hundred miles in order to eIamine the leader o$ the cult( 5Nudging $rom the teachings that are /uoted in his name.5 said 6eb Oelmele to his students. 5the 6ebbe o$ the cult is a Torah scholar( &t is the de0il:s 1or7 that he inad0ertently $ell into the trap o$ apostasy( &$ C-d (blessed be ?e) gi0es me the pri0ilege o$ sa0ing him $rom his un1itting heresy. then 1hen & arri0e in the @orld to 4ome. & 1ill demand an eItra slice o$ the =i0yasan as my re1ard(5 @hen they arri0ed in 9ins7. many o$ the guests 1ere already there. ha0ing come by order o$ the Caon 6a0 'liyahu. and by the summons o$ the elders o$ 9ins7( 9any o$ the chassidim 1ere also present( <n the day a$ter their arri0al. the *lter 6ebbe himsel$ arri0ed( 8ut a 1arning had been published that no one must 0isit him or meet 1ith his people( The $ollo1ing day. an assembly o$ the 0isiting geonim too7 place( )oremost among the elders 1ere 6eb Oel7e. 6eb Shimalle. and 6eb Oelmele( &n his younger days. 6eb Oel7e had been one o$ the Caon:s $irst students. and had been thoroughly 0ersed in the Talmud. by heart. along 1ith 6ashi and Tosa$os( ?e 1as 0ery nearsighted. and so he generally studied by heart. in a melodious 0oice. eIactly as i$ he 1ere reading it $rom the teIt( 6eb Shimalle 7ne1 the Talmud 8a0li /uite 1ell. but his specialty 1as an ingenious study o$ the Derushalmi and the 6ambam. and $ormulating comprehensi0e eIplanations o$ the sub>ect matter( 8esides being a great gaon 1ho studied 0ery diligently. 6eb Oelmele Stut37er 1as also an eIceedingly sincere indi0idual( ?e 1ould ne0er loo7 at anything outside his immediate 0icinity. and had ne0er in his li$e indulged in idle chatter( 6eb Oelmele 1as also 0ersed in Babbalah. $or he had once spent $i0e years in 9ins7 as a porush. sitting in the yeshi0ah o$ the gaon 6eb Dechiel. the author o$ Seder ?a-oros( Not e0en once had he $ailed to arise at midnight $or the Ti77un 4hat3os ser0ice. and he ate no meat at all $rom one Shabbos to the neIt( *t the abo0e-mentioned gathering. the $irst order o$ business 1as to annul the cheirem proclaimed in the year 55!F L177FM against all the disciples o$ the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch and their $ollo1ers(L M *$ter1ards. 6eb Oel7e began spea7ing to the assembled cro1d in a tear$ul 0oice. about the rene1ed acti0ities o$ the 5cult o$ heretics(5 The de0il 1as succeeding in his 1or7. and many people 1ere being attracted to them. including many Torah scholars and C-d-$earing indi0iduals( &t 1as simply in error that

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they 1ere $ollo1ing the $alse 1ays o$ the cult( <ne o$ the assembly then read the list o$ the cult:s 5sins(5 9essengers sent by the rabbinical court no1 arri0ed. and in$ormed the assembly o$ 1hat 1as happening in the cityJ the 6ebbe o$ the cult had deli0ered Torah discourses t1ice. and many Torah scholars had been dra1n to $ollo1 them( ?e had also practiced sorcery. $or 1hile he 1as spea7ing. angels had appeared( 8esides this. there 1ere 1itnesses 1ho had seen them publicly desecrate the Shabbos by carrying the podium out o$ the shul into the courtyard( 6eb Oelmele 1ept pro$usely upon learning o$ this great tragedy( *$ter1ards. they decided 1hich indi0iduals 1ould eIamine the *lter 6ebbe in Torah study. and they arranged the 1hole program o$ the eIamination( They also decreed that the day o$ the debate 1ould be a $ast day. and that Selichos 1ould be recited( The great day $inally arri0ed( The members o$ the rabbinical court arri0ed at the appointed place( The *lter 6ebbe arri0ed. accompanied by his t1o brothers the geonim. a $e1 elderly chassidim. and many younger scholars( @hen the *lter 6ebbe arri0ed. they cleared the 1ay so that he could get to the place prepared $or him( !e ?elmele related0 8e$ore he e0en approached his place. 1e 1ere sei3ed 1ith $ear and trembling( @hen & heard his /ui0ering 0oice as he /uoted the 0erse.L5M 5*nd &. through Dour abundant 7indness (((.5 and especially 1hen he reached the 1ords. 5in a1e o$ Dou.5 great $ear $ell upon all 1ho 1ere present( Then. the 6ebbe sat on one o$ the benches that stood near his place. and recited Psalm 1! ( @hen he $inished. he stood up and 1ent to the place prepared $or him( & 1as ama3ed to see that not e0en one 1hite hair 1as 0isible in his beard( *$ter this. they began the eIamination and the testing. 1hich lasted $or about eight hours( The *lter 6ebbe ans1ered all the /uestions elo/uently. 1ith clear language( The great men 1ho administered the eIamination 1ere ama3ed by the depth o$ his 1isdom. his po1er$ul memory. and his 1ondrous erudition( 'ach passage he /uoted 1as recited 0erbatim( @hen they $inished the eIamination. the *lter 6ebbe declared that no1 he had a Torah topic that he 1ished to discuss 1ith the geonim 1ho had eIamined him( @hen they heard the /uestions posed by the *lter 6ebbe. a storm erupted among the Torah scholars( 9ean1hile. the rabbinical court declared that the debate 1ould be ad>ourned to the $ollo1ing day( No1. they 1ould da0en 9inchah and read 2aDechal( )or the members o$ the rabbinical court - and all those participating in the debate - 1ere $asting. because they had been obliged to sit together 1ith people 1ho had been pre0iously placed under a cheirem( 6eb Oelmele returned to his lodgings. 1ea7 and bro7en by the $ast( ?e 1as thoroughly eIhausted $rom the intellectual e$$ort he had eIpended during the day( ?e declared to his students that this assembly had been similar to the assembly in the Sanhedrin chamber( The 6ebbe o$ the cult 1as a Torah giant. and possessed a broad and incisi0e intellect( *las. it appeared that he 1as the 0ictim o$ a terrible mis$ortune (may C-d preser0e us)( *$ter he had eaten a little $ood. 6eb Oelmele told e0eryone that he had been unable to comprehend $ully the /uestions posed by the 6ebbe o$ the cult( There$ore. he desired to meet his colleagues 6eb Oel7e and 6eb Shimalle the neIt morning a$ter the sunrise minyan( The rumor spread /uic7ly that the 6ebbe o$ the chassidim had ans1ered all the /uestions posed to him( 8ut as $or the /uestions that he had posed. the geonim had been unable to come up 1ith satis$actory ans1ers( There$ore. the matter had been ad>ourned until the $ollo1ing day( The scholarly misnagdim appeared to be in a 0ery agitated state( The $ollo1ing morning. a$ter the sunrise minyan. the geonim assembled to discuss amongst themsel0es the situation in general. and the *lter 6ebbe:s /uestions in particular( 6eb Oelmele considered the /uestions( *$ter gi0ing them care$ul thought. he sighed. and declared that the 6ebbe 1as 0ery incisi0e and logical( *s $or himsel$. he 1as unable to disco0er solutions to the /uestions( 9ean1hile. an agent o$ the rabbinical court arri0ed and said that a rumor 1as spreading

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in the city that the 6ebbe o$ the cult had been 0ictorious( There$ore. it 1as essential that they assemble be$ore noon and prepare the appropriate ans1ers to all his /uestions( The geonim assembled and discussed all the complicated aspects among themsel0es( *$ter the $ourth hour. they all 1ent to the place appointed $or the debate( The beis hamedrash 1as $illed to capacity. and the agent o$ the rabbinical court 1ent to summon the 6ebbe( @hen the *lter 6ebbe entered. silence immediately pre0ailed in the beis hamedrash( The 6ebbe repeated his actions o$ the pre0ious day( @hen he sat in his place. 6eb Oel7e stood up and announcedJ 5&n the name o$ the rabbinical court. and in the name o$ the geonim assembled here. & hereby demand that the 6ebbe o$ the cult gi0e us clear >usti$ication - according to the la1 o$ the Torah - $or the ne1 customs that he and his colleagues ha0e instituted. $or 1e suspect that they are o$$shoots Lo$ the heresyM o$ Shabbatai T30iL "M (may his name be erased)E5 The *lter 6ebbe then stood up in his place and declaredJ *ccording to the decisions o$ the rabbinical court. it 1as agreed bet1een us that & 1ould $irst be re/uired to ans1er the /uestions posed by the assembled geonim( Then. they 1ould ha0e to ans1er the /uestions & 1ould pose( & ha0e already ans1ered their /uestions( No1. & am ready to hear their ans1ers to my /uestions( <nly a$ter that. 1ill & gi0e (1ith C-d:s help) a clear response to the accusations hurled at us( & 1ill pro0e. according to the Torah (1ith C-d:s help) that our 1ay is the 1ay o$ truth and righteousness( & ha0e already $ul$illed the decree o$ the rabbinical court. and & no1 demand. according to Torah la1. that the other side also $ul$ill the decree o$ the rabbinical court. and ans1er all o$ my Torah /uestions( * great storm no1 erupted among the members o$ the rabbinical court( Some declared that they had not come here to hold a debate about Torah learning. but to in0estigate the ne1 customs instituted by the chassidim( <thers. ho1e0er. insisted that they must $irst ans1er the 6ebbe:s /uestions( )inally. a$ter lengthy and heated argument. the rabbinical court declared that according to the Cemara. 5study o$ a Torah topic re/uires prayer $irst.5L 7M and this 1as not the proper time $or it( There$ore. the rabbinical court had decided that the geonim 1ould reply to the 6ebbe:s /uestions some other time( No1. they 1ould deal 1ith the problems that they had 1ith the customs o$ the cult( The *lter 6ebbe then stood up in his place and declaredJ Ceonim o$ &sraelE This Torah topic - 1hich you casually dismiss - 5can destroy the top o$ a house5 (see 6ashi:s commentary . Biddushin "!b)(L8M @hen & $irst came to my master the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch. & as7ed him about this same topic that & ha0e presented to you( This is 1hat he ans1ered(((5 The *lter 6ebbe then repeated the 9aggid:s ans1er. along 1ith a lengthy commentary. 1hich too7 a long time( The members o$ the rabbinical court and their colleagues 1ere thus put to shame( 8ut the gaon 6eb Shimalle began to deli0er a lengthy sermon. during 1hich he pointed out that the 1ays o$ Babbalah are 0ery ha3ardous. and many ha0e been led astray thereby( '0en many o$ the great sages ac/uired erroneous ideas because o$ it( *ccording to in$ormation in the possession o$ the rabbinical court. the cult 1as suspected o$ $ollo1ing the ideas o$ the $ollo1ers o$ Shabbatai T30i( There$ore. they proclaimed - in the name o$ the Torah and in the name o$ the leaders o$ &srael - that the ideals o$ the cult 1ere contrary to those o$ the Torah( -!e =it7cha> )i7i> descri ed the scene/0 @ithin an instant. the 1hole beis hamedrash resembled a storm at sea. as the shouting steadily increased( & 1as 0ery strong in those days. and & sho0ed my 1ay through among the combatants( 8ut & 1as unable to $ollo1 their arguments( <ne side screamed that Lthe misnagdimM ought to ha0e stated speci$ically 1hat their

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claims Lagainst the chassidimM 1ere( The opposing side replied that Lthe chassidimM 1ere under a cheirem. and it 1as $orbidden to engage them in any discussion( &t is di$$icult to describe the un$a0orable impression that the 1hole a$$air had on the Torah scholars( 9any younger scholars 1ho 1ere present then decided to tra0el to the *lter 6ebbe. and to become his $ollo1ers( 9y master 6eb Oelmele declared that the chassidim had not been treated $airly. and this $act caused him much distress( ?e no1 sa1 that much o$ 1hat had been said against the chassidim consisted o$ lies( This 1as the $irst time that & heard my master use the name 5chassidim(5 <rdinarily. 1hene0er he spo7e o$ them. he re$erred to them as 5the cult. may C-d sa0e us $rom themE5 6eb Oelmele spent that Shabbos in 9ins7. and he discussed this sub>ect 1ith the gaon 6eb 4hanoch ?enoch Schic7 o$ Sh7lo0( 8oth agreed that the rabbinical court had been 1rong in ma7ing its proclamation Lthat the practices o$ the chassidim 1ere contrary to the TorahM( 6eb ?enoch Schic7 con$ided that. 5my son Pinchas says that he too 1ishes to tra0el to the chassidim(5 & mysel$ remained 1ith my master 6eb Oelmele $or another three 1ee7s( *$ter that. & in$ormed him that & too had decided to tra0el to the 6ebbe o$ the chassidim in =io3na( )or some time he remained silent. ma7ing no reply( 8ut a $e1 days later. he ga0e me his consent and his blessing $or the >ourney( *$ter the $esti0al o$ Su77os & arri0ed in =io3na. 1here & $ound se0eral other young scholars. 1hom & had pre0iously met in 9ins7 during the debate( * $e1 young scholars also came $rom Sh7lo0. one o$ them being the a$orementioned son o$ 6eb ?enoch Schic7(L,M & remained there to study during the 1hole 1inter. unli7e the other young scholars 1ho studied there $or no longer than three months - according to the rules that had been established(L1GM The )lter !e e&s rother !e =ehudah Lei told the T7emach T7ede>0 5& 1as 0ery >oy$ul on the $irst day o$ the debate in 9ins7( 2ery di$$icult. pro$ound. and in0ol0ed /uestions had been prepared. but the *lter 6ebbe ans1ered them all in clear terms( <n the second day. 1hen his turn came to as7 his /uestions. the misnagdim became 0ery angry( 8ut 1hen he repeated the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch:s ans1ers to the /uestions. they all calmed do1n and listened attenti0ely( 5That 1as the $irst time & had the opportunity to appreciate my brother:s great erudition( <ur brother 6eb 9ordechai remar7ed that i$ 1e had accomplished nothing more during this trip than comprehending this. it 1ould still ha0e been 1orth1hileE5 (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See also Sefer $aSi*hos 5723, 1- =5ff-; 2. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The story of eb (itz*ha& Aizi& of /itebs& a11eared earlier in this volume-; 3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Translated earlier in this volume-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Ither#ise, they #ould be forbidden to s1ea& to the *hassidim, or even to remain in their vi*inity, mu*h less to en%a%e them in a debate- See Shul*han Aru*h, (oreh )e>ah *ha1ter 77=-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Tehillim 548A Duoted in the Sha*haris 1rayer, Siddur, 1- 13-; 6. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A false messiah #ho formed a *ult and misled many Be#s a *entury earlier-; 7. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Me%illah 38b-; 8. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 ashi e+1lains4 ?the *om1le+ dis*ussion is e+tremely diffi*ult for the listener to follo#-?; 9. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8This #as the famous eb :in*has eizes, #ho later be*ame one of the Alter ebbe>s foremost *hassidim-; 10. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See the *ha1ter on ?The Alter ebbe>s Adherents, and $is I11onents,? earlier in this Su11lement-; Letter By The Previous !e e 8?. F Te0es 5",F LNanuary !. 1,!FM. 6igaJ the grand hilula o$ our glorious. holy. and

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great 6ebbe Lthe *lter 6ebbeMJ Creetings and 8lessingJ Dour letter arri0ed. and & 1as pleased to hear that you are 1ell(((( 23 &n reply to your /uestionJ 5@hat is the relationship bet1een the path and teachings o$ 4hassidus taught by the *lter 6ebbe and the other ?oly 6ebbeim. the Nesi:im o$ 4habad. and the path and teachings o$ 4hassidus taught by our 9aster the 8aal Shem To0A5 *t $irst glance. the path and teachings o$ 4hassidus taught by the 6ebbeim o$ 2ohlyniaPoland-Calicia seem closer to the path and teachings o$ the 8aal Shem To0:s 4hassidus than the teachings o$ 4habad( This applies especially because o$ the emphasis Lplaced by Polish chassidimM on miracle-1or7ing( * reply to your /uestion 1ould re/uire me to compose an in0ol0ed dissertation. lengthy in content and re/uiring much editing( & simply do not ha0e the time $or this. and so & 1ill merely 1rite a $e1 lines o$ general summary( &t is true; i$ 1e 1ere to >udge $rom material published by the 6ebbeim 1ho 1ere the 8aal Shem To0:s disciples. (and. in turn. their disciples) - the t3addi7im and geonim 1ho 1ere leaders o$ thousands o$ Ne1s (may their merits protect us) - your pro$ound /uestion is certainly 0alid( ?o1e0er. 1e must $irst study the matter $ully. and disco0er the $undamental principles that lie behind each aspect o$ the sub>ect( <nly then can 1e properly understand it( *s 1e 7no1. the *lter 6ebbe re$erred to himsel$ as the 8aal Shem To0:s spiritual grandchild( *s he himsel$ put it. the holy 6ebbe and t3addi7 6eb 8aruch 5is a biological grandchild. but & am a spiritual grandchild(5 9y saintly $ather Lthe 6ebbe 6ashabM told me that he once heard $rom his $ather. my saintly grand$ather Lthe 6ebbe 9aharashM. 1ho heard it $rom my great-grand$ather. the 6ebbe the T3emach T3ede7. 1ho heard it $rom the ?oly o$ ?olies. the *lter 6ebbe. himsel$J 5& had genuine mesirus ne$esh to a0oid de0iating in any 1ay $rom the 8aal Shem To0:s slightest gesture. e0en $or the brie$est moment. or e0en merely to appear to do so(5 43 &n my library o$ hand1ritten manuscripts. there is a note 1ritten by the 6ebbe the T3emach T3ede7:s holy hand. recording three stories o$ the *lter 6ebbe( The content o$ this manuscript is a 0ast treasure( )rom the hand1riting. & >udge that it 1as 1ritten during the years 55"8 or 55", L18G8. G,M( *pparently there once 1ere more such manuscripts. but $or 0arious reasons they 1ere lost( & obtained this manuscript $rom an elderly chassid $rom 2yd3. 1ho used to tra0el to =iadi to the holy 6ebbe 6eb Dit3cha7 -o0 8er. son o$ my great-great-uncle(L FM ?e related to me that his grand$ather had been a 5sitter5 in =iadi $or about $i0e years. until the 1arL !M bro7e out in 557F L181FM( *s a young man. he had slept in the T3emach T3ede7:s home( ?is $ather had once possessed 0arious papers $ound among the grand$ather:s e$$ects. but these 1ere later lost( <ne o$ the three stories mentioned abo0e 1as the $ollo1ingJ 1hen Lthe *lter 6ebbeM 1as denounced to the go0ernment in the 1ell-7no1n incident. it 1as alleged that during his prayers. the 8aal Shem To0 1ould regularly eIclaim. 5*$E *$E *$E5 The accuser interpreted this to mean that he 1as praying $or C-d to send do1n ?is 1rathL M upon the go0ernment; it 1as $urther alleged that the *lter 6ebbe used to do the same( @hen the *lter 6ebbe 1as /uestioned about this in the Tainy So0iet prison. he 1as greatly distressed. $or he 1ould no1 ha0e to re0eal the inner meanings o$ the 8aal Shem To0:s prayer. and to eIplain the 8aal Shem To0:s 1ays to the gentile ministers( &ndeed. he could ha0e dismissed the accusation by resorting to all sorts o$ misleading deceptions( 8ut he 1as un1illing to de0iate $rom e0en a single gesture o$ the 8aal Shem To0. or e0en merely to appear to do so.L5M e0en $or the brie$est moment( *nd i$ the *lter 6ebbe adhered to the 8aal Shem To0:s 1ays 1ith such mesirus ne$esh e0en in that instance.L"M then ho1 much more so 1as this true 1hen it came to the 8aal Shem To0:s teachingsE

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*ll o$ the $orgoing ser0es to rein$orce your /uestionL7M((( .3" 53 $ere, the :revious ebbe inserted an involved dis*ussion of the different &inds of tea*hin%, and the different &inds of tea*her<1u1il relationshi1s63 To summari3e the abo0e discussionJ there are t1o 0ery di$$erent types o$ study - that o$ a teacher 1ho transmits his sub>ect to a pupil. and that o$ a 6ebbe 1ho transmits his teachings to a chassid( &t is told in the name o$ the *lter 6ebbe that 1hen he made up his holy mind to eIile himsel$ to a place o$ Torah (i(e(. to go to a place 1here he 1ould recei0e some guidanceL8M). he could not decide 1here to go( ?e had heard that there 1ere t1o di$$erent centers o$ TorahJ in 2ilna. they taught ho1 to study. but in 9e3ritch. they taught ho1 to da0en( )or /uite some time. he 1eighed and >udged the matter in his mind. to determine 1hich direction he 1ould ta7e( 2arious $actors 1ent into his $inal decision - made in the middle o$ his >ourney - to go to the place 1here they taught ho1 to da0en( & ha0e told this story here in brie$. including only those details necessary $or our discussion( The 1hole story is 0ery long. and it mentions many things that are important $or us to 7no1. but this is not the place $or it(((( 83 No1. & gi0e you the essence o$ the reply to your pro$ound /uestion( &t all comes do1n to the metaphor o$ the grand$ather and the grandchild(L ,M The t1o are bound together and >oined into a single unit( <ur 9aster the 8aal Shem To0 re0ealed a ne1 path in ser0ing C-d. and opened the channels o$ mesirus ne$esh 1ith this a0odah( <ur 9aster the *lter 6ebbe then pa0ed a broad high1ay $or this path o$ a0odah taught by the 8aal Shem To0. and he ris7ed his li$e o0er it( To put it succinctlyJ the 8aal Shem To0 taught us ho1 1e should ser0e C-d; the *lter 6ebbe taught us ho1 1e can ser0e C-d( The broad high1ay pa0ed by the *lter 6ebbe. 5?o1 1e can.5 in $act has only t1o lanesJ intellect and emotional( 8ut 1ithin these t1o courses. he eIplains in detail numerous methods and techni/ues. e0entually assisting e0en one 1ho has rebelled against C-d. to do teshu0ah so that C-d may sho1 him mercy( The *lter 6ebbe in0ested himsel$ completely in 1or7ing $or the bene$it o$ any Ne1. no matter ho1 coarse and sin$ul( ?e admonished and reproached him. aroused him Lto do teshu0ahM and prescribed remedies and cures $or him( ?e com$orted him. inspired him. and set him upon the true path 1ith a program o$ teshu0ah and a0odah appropriate $or his status( Thus. he remo0ed him $rom the dunghill and the rubbish heap. bathed him and cleansed him. and set him in the Bing:s palace( 93 The *lter 6ebbe says that aha0as ?aShem implies aha0as Disrael. and aha0as Disrael implies aha0as ?aShem( The *lter 6ebbe:s saying is based on 1hat is 1ritten else1here( 8ut the main thing is that the *lter 6ebbe emphasi3ed the deed. not merely the 1ord( *nyone can repeat that 1hich is 1ritten. but the *lter 6ebbe put it into actual practice. and he did it 1ith mesirus ne$esh( &t 1as upon this $oundation that he built the principles o$ 4habad 4hassidus( The Sages o$ blessed memory stated a $undamental principleJL1GM 5it is not the study Lo$ TorahM that is most important. but the deed(5 This principle applies to the study o$ the Torah and the $ul$illment o$ its mit30os. as 1ell as to good deeds in general( The *lter 6ebbe too7 this rule and trans$ormed it $rom a theory into practical application in our li$e in this 1orld( ?e used to say. 5*nyone can study the Torah( *nyone can ser0e C-d. recogni3ing the li0ing C-d 1ho Lcontrols eIistenceM through -i0ine Pro0idence( '0eryone is obligated to ser0e ?im through his o1n e$$orts. each person according to his

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abilities(5 The *lter 6ebbe made it possible $or e0en the a0erage person to ser0e C-d( ?e dedicated his 1hole li$e to opening the doors o$ the Torah:s light. e0en $or those 1ho d1ell in the dar7ness( The *lter 6ebbe began his holy 1or7 - bringing the hearts o$ &srael closer to their )ather in ?ea0en - amidst the anguish and su$$ering caused 1hen he 1as denounced to the authorities( The situation came about because o$ the disciples o$ the t3addi7 6eb *0raham o$ Balis7 . as 1e 1ill discuss in detail later( &n the $ace o$ the bla3ing $ire and hailstones o$ the misnagdim. our 6ebbe 1ent around discreetly in0estigating the situation( =i7e a mighty 1arrior. he ris7ed his li$e $or the sa7e o$ his brethren. the members o$ his people( *t that 0ery time. 51hen the 1hole 1orld boiled o0er.5 the *lter 6ebbe 1ent about both openly and in secret - trying to disco0er the means by 1hich he could initiate his campaign o$ disseminating the 8aal Shem To0:s Torah in an accessible and systematic 1ay( :3 The *lter 6ebbe called $or bene0olence to1ard the misnagdim( *t the assembly in 6o0na. he reported - to his master the 9aggid and to his holy colleagues the disciples the condition o$ the Ne1ish communities in the counties o$ =ita( ?e spo7e highly o$ the Torah scholars - concerning not only their Torah 7no1ledge. but also their comprehensi0e C-d-$earing /ualities( &n a report included in one o$ his letters. he concluded that 1hat 1e needed 1ere outstanding Torah scholars o$ our o1n. 1ho 1ould ha0e the s7ill to unco0er - through 7een analysis. broad 7no1ledge. and scholarly dissertation - the light that lies hidden 1ithin the re0ealed aspects o$ Torah( Thus. they 1ould 1in and capture the hearts o$ the geonim 1ho 1ere truly C-d-$earing. but 1ho had no notion o$ the light that is hidden 1ithin the Torah( * lengthy discussion once too7 place bet1een the *lter 6ebbe and the t3addi7 6eb 9enachem Nachum o$ 4hernobyl. concerning the di$$erence bet1een the people o$ 2ohlynia and those o$ =ita( The t3addi7im 6eb =e0i Dit3cha7 Lo$ 8erditche0M and 6eb 9eshulem Ousia Lo$ *nipoliaM 1ere also present at the time( )rom the *lter 6ebbe:s remar7s. 1e see ho1 dear and precious he held Torah scholars. and 1hat mesirus ne$esh he had in introducing them to the light o$ Toras ?a4hassidus( To these three colleagues o$ his. the *lter 6ebbe could eIpress sentiments that he could not spea7 o$ in the presence o$ his 6ebbe the 9aggid. and certainly not in $ront o$ his other colleagues. the holy disciples( The latter 1ere utterly opposed to anything that might be said in $a0or o$ the misnagdim( 8ut to these three. the *lter 6ebbe re0ealed e0erything that 1as in his heart( @ith the permission o$ their master and 6ebbe. and 1ith the po1ers and merits o$ the 8aal Shem To0. he 1as ready and able to ris7 his soul to underta7e this 1or7( *s 1e see. the *lter 6ebbe 1as $ully a1are o$ the di$$iculty o$ this tas7( *s he himsel$ said to the holy 6eb 9eshulem Ousia. 5&n the beginning. it 1ill be necessary to conceal the inner light Lo$ 4hassidusM; it 1ill re/uire patience; it 1ill re/uire $ortitude o$ heart; it 1ill re/uire mesirus ne$esh(5 @ith the permission o$ his holy 6ebbe the 9aggid. the *lter 6ebbe undertoo7 se0eral >ourneys in pursuit o$ this 1or7( &n the holy letters that he 1rote to the 9aggid. and to the 9aggid:s son. the t3addi7 6eb *0raham. 1e may read a >ournal o$ his tra0els. describing the debates he held on scholarly issues. all dealing eIclusi0ely 1ith the re0ealed aspects o$ the Torah( ;3 The *lter 6ebbe began his holy 1or7 1ith total sel$-dedication( ?e began building the structure o$ 4hassidus through his mesirus ne$esh $or the bene$it o$ others. bringing them closer to the light o$ truth( *nd he demanded no less $rom his $ollo1ers( ?is labors 1ere dedicated to the ideals o$ 4hassidus; 4hassidus and chassidim 1ere his li$e:s 1or7. and they constantly occupied his thoughts( The *lter 6ebbe $irmly belie0ed that through the 8aal Shem To0:s teachings. and those

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o$ his o1n mentor the 9aggid. it 1as possible to bring e0en dried-out bones bac7 to li$e( &t 1as this belie$ o$ his that he eIplained in detail in the teachings o$ 4habad( Thus. he illuminated and re0i0ed all li0ing souls( The *lter 6ebbe made it possible to $ollo1 the 1ays o$ 4hassidus( ?e pa0ed the broad high1ay. the road o$ li0ing light. e0en $or those 1ho 1ere bent lo1 and do1n-$allen( Through 7indness and mercy. he inspired those 1ho 1ere spiritually in$irm; 1ith eIceeding lo0e. he eItended to them his helping hand( &t 1as this that he demanded o$ our holy 6ebbeim 1ho succeeded him( *nyone 1ho studies the intellectual history o$ Toras ?a4hassidus. and its de0elopment and eIpansion by the 5golden chain5 o$ our successi0e holy 6ebbeim. 1ill surely appreciate ho1 much toil and eIertion they put into the construction o$ this di0ine edi$ice( 8y the grace o$ *l-mighty C-d. each o$ them re0ealed to us 1onder$ul insights into the Torah. 1hich contains C-d:s 1isdom. ?is di0ine 1ill. and instruction $or ser0ing ?im( The 54hassidic 9enorah5 has se0en branchesJ i) our 9aster the 8aal Shem To0; ii) the 9aggid; iii) my great-great-great-grand$ather the *lter 6ebbe; i0) my great-greatgrand$ather the 9itteler 6ebbe; 0) my great-grand$ather the T3emach T3ede7; 0i) my grand$ather Lthe 6ebbe 9aharashM and his holy brothers; 0ii) my $ather Lthe 6ebbe 6ashabM and my holy cousins( They illuminated all the earth 1ith the light o$ 4hassidus( 2<3 '0ery one o$ our saintly ancestors - the holy 6ebbeim. each in his o1n generation go0erned his $loc7 o$ chassidim according to the system o$ leadership instituted by the *lter 6ebbeJ in0ol0ing himsel$ personally in 1or7ing $or the bene$it o$ e0ery indi0idual. 1ithout regard to that person:s spiritual standing( The seeds o$ the 8aal Shem To0. so1n in the orchard that the *lter 6ebbe planted. e0entually gre1 into a giant tree. producing the choice $ruit o$ 4habad( & remember hearing in my youth that in the year 5"F7 L18"7M. my tutor 6eb Shmuel 8et3alel ben She$telL11M 1as a shadar $or my saintly grand$ather Lthe 6ebbe 9aharashM. and used to tra0el through the to1ns o$ 5=ittle 6ussia5J Nicholaie0. the 4herson settlements. Bremenchug(((( *t the time. there li0ed in Bremenchug. se0eral $amous 4habad 4hassidim 7no1n as the 58eralach.5 because they all happened to be named -o0J the chassid 6eb -o0 ben 9oshe. 7no1n as 58erel 9oshe:s5; the chassid 6eb -o0 9asie0; the chassid 6eb -o0 2ilens7y; and three or $our more 1ho 1ere named -o0( There 1as a term used in those days. 5the Bremenchuger 8eralach.5 re$erring to these gentlemen. 1ho possessed superior intellect and strong 1ill( They used to da0en at length. 1ith emotional eIcitement and 1ith lyrical 0oices; all o$ them could repeat chassidic discourses( *ll the chassidim in Bremenchug - e0en those 1ho had come $rom Poland - held them in great a1e and esteem( & once heard the $ollo1ing $rom the elderly chassid 6eb T30i 4hanoch ?endel 4unin o$ blessed memory. 1ho 1as a 5sitter5 in =uba0itch during the years 5"F7-5"!1 (the story o$ his arri0al in =uba0itch in 5"G1 L18 1M. and e0erything that happened to him at 0arious times. has a separate chapter de0oted to it in my diary)J Se0eral young scholars came $rom Bremenchug and too7 up residence in =uba0itch( <nce. 1hen L6eb T30i 4hanoch ?endelM 1ent in $or yechidus. my grand$ather said to him. 5those 1ho con0erted out o$ $ear o$ the lions (meaning the young scholars 1ho had been students o$ the 8eralach)L1FM are gro1ing (than7 C-d). and are progressing in their 7no1ledge o$ 4hassidus( 8ut a0odah is still lac7ing( 9ay C-d. blessed be ?e. help them to ser0e C-d(5 @hen my tutor 6ashbat3 1as in Nicholaie0 in 5"F7 (as mentioned abo0e). he 1as supposed to tra0el $rom there to Bremenchug( ?e 1as $ore1arned that he 1ould $ind there many Polish chassidim o$ great stature. 1ho 1ere in the habit o$ deriding anyone 1ho 1as not one o$ them( There$ore. he must remain mind$ul o$ their honor. to a0oid becoming the sub>ect o$ their 0erbal abuse( 223 Hpon his arri0al in Bremenchug. the 58ears5 recei0ed him 1ith great honor. out o$ respect $or the holy 6ebbe 1ho had sent him( There also li0ed there a 4hernobyler

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4hassid named 6eb Pinchas. 1ho had a sharp mind and a 0ery strong 1ill( 8ut e0en he came to hear a lecture on 4habad 4hassidus $rom 6ashbat3( No1 the chassidim o$ 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia 1ere in the habit o$ comparing pedigrees( 'ach o$ these chassidim 1as al1ays prepared to state that his o1n 6ebbe 1as superior to someone else:s( The practice o$ 4habad 4hassidim is di$$erentJ 1e do not dismiss 1hat others consider holy; 1e simply hold our o1n to be dear and precious( @e maintain $riendly relations. e0en as 1e remain conscious o$ our o1n /ualities( -uring the $arbrengen. this 6eb Pinchas 1as unable to restrain himsel$ and eIclaimed. 54habad 4hassidimE @hat are you so proud o$ - your *lter 6ebbeA @here 1e come $rom - Poland - there li0ed the 8aal Shem To0 himsel$. the 9aggid. and all the 9aggid:s disciples( So our pedigree is greater than yours(5 The follo'ing is a parenthetical story" discussion0 ut very important to understanding this

4hassidim tell a story o$ the t3addi7 6eb Shlomo Barliner:s 0isit to the *lter 6ebbe in =io3na in the year 5551-5F L17,1M( (6eb Shlomo 0isited =io3na t1iceJ in 5551-5F. and in 5555-5"; later. he also 0isited =iadi three times() @hen 6eb Shlomo departed. the *lter 6ebbe instructed three o$ his young disciples to accompany him on the road until they reached a certain point near 2itebs7( There. chassidim $rom 2itebs7 1ould come to recei0e him( <ne o$ these young scholars 1as the chassid 6eb 8inyamin Blet37er( The t3addi7 6eb Shlomo greatly desired to ha0e him $or his o1n disciple( ?e proposed this to him. and during the >ourney he e0en per$ormed a miracle $or him (eIactly 1hat this miracle 1as is recorded some1here in my diary)(L1!M @hen they arri0ed at their destination. the young men 1ent in to ta7e their lea0e( 6eb Shlomo then detained the young 6eb 8inyamin and tried to persuade him to go 1ith him; he promised that i$ he did so. he 1ould ele0ate him to such stature o$ holiness. that he 1ould remain head-and-shoulders abo0e the rest( The t3addi7 6eb Shlomo occasionally pre$erred to spea7 in Polish( No doubt. the reason $or this 1as as is eIplained in 4hassidusJ spea7ing o$ a holy topic 1hile using a 0ernacular tongue re$ines and ele0ates the letters o$ that language(L 1 M The holy t3addi7 6eb Shlomo:s e0ery gesture 1as made 1ith the holiest o$ intentions( Thus. the young chassid 6eb 8inyamin ans1ered him in PolishJ Pan to pan. to nie mP>; 4hlopiec to chlopiec. to nie t1P>( 5The master is a master. but not $or me; the ser0ant is a ser0ant. but not $or thee(5 8End of 1arentheti*al story-; 243 9y tutor 6ashbat3 became angry. but he concealed his $ury and replied calmly. 56eb Pinchas. are you 1earing a shirtA5 54ertainlyE5 replied 6eb Pinchas( 5&s it made o$ linenA5 as7ed 6ashbat3( 5<$ course it:s made o$ linenE5 replied 6eb Pinchas again( 5-o you 7no1 ho1 linen is madeA5 as7ed 6ashbat3( 56eb Pinchas. are you a1are that the $laI is gro1n by the peasants o$ this countryA Ne0ertheless. the ra1 $laI is later shipped abroad. to a country 1here there are cra$tsmen 1ho turn it into $ine linen( 5@e chassidim o$ 4habad do not compare pedigrees( <ur 6ebbe tells us that e0en the most simple Ne1s to1er abo0e the most high. and this is e0en more true $or t3addi7im. 1ho are :the $oundation o$ the 1orld(:L15M 5To us. all the disciples o$ the 8aal Shem To0 are :all o$ them((( belo0ed. all are pure. all are mighty((((:L1"M They all possess the po1er to spea7 the 1ord o$ C-d. blessed be ?e. so that Ne1s may become a1are o$ C-dliness( 5Dou. on the other hand. pre$er to compare pedigrees. claiming that the 8aal Shem To0. the 9aggid. and all the great t3addi7im li0ed in your country( &n other 1ords. you claim that the $laI plant is nati0e to your land( &n that case. let me in$orm you that the cra$tsmen 1ho ma7e $inished linen garments out o$ the ra1 $laI. are to be $ound among the 4habad 4hassidim(5

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This reply 1as a con0incing argument $or the chassid 6eb Pinchas. and it had a great e$$ect upon him( Des. it:s true; the 1ords o$ my tutor 6ashbat3 1ere correct( -uring the $i0e generations o$ my ancestors. the holy 6ebbeim. Toras ?a4hassidus succeeded (than7 C-d)( 8y the grace o$ *l-mighty C-d. it has de0eloped into a complete Torah system. cro1ned 1ith the adornments o$ 4hochmah. 8inah. and -aas( & trust that you no1 ha0e an ans1er to your /uestion about the relationship o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s teachings to those o$ our master the 8aal Shem To0( 2.3 No1. let us discuss the 1ays o$ 4hassidus taught by the *lter 6ebbe( They di$$er $rom those o$ the 8aal Shem To0. in that the 8aal Shem To0 1or7ed and per$ormed many miracles. both openly and in secret( This 1as also the 1ay o$ the 6ebbeim o$ 2ohlyniaPoland-Calicia( &t is true( There are all sorts o$ se$orim a0ailable to us. $illed 1ith good contents( They deal 1ith the study o$ the -i0ine. a1areness and interpretation o$ the e0olutionary progression o$ C-dliness. serious contemplation o$ C-d:s <neness. creation eI nihilo. methods $or a0odah o$ the heart and $or re$ining one:s emotional attributes. belie$ in the t3addi7im. $er0ent and total $ear o$ ?ea0en. and arousal to the ser0ice o$ C-d (blessed be ?e)( The a$orementioned se$orim 1ere 1ritten by the great chassidim - both 4habad 4hassidim and the chassidim o$ 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia( &n these se$orim they 1rote do1n the teachings o$ their 6ebbeim; things that they themsel0es understood and interpreted. based upon the teachings o$ their 6ebbeim. and o$ our 6ebbeim; transcriptions o$ the 6ebbeim:s lectures; and stories they had heard( @hat 1e may deduce $rom all these se$orim is that e0erything depends on one:s main $ocus( The main $ocus o$ chassidim re0ol0es around the roads pa0ed by our holy 6ebbeim. and by the 6ebbeim o$ 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia(L17M 253 <ur predecessors are the $i0e generations o$ the holy 6ebbeim Lo$ 4habadM( They carried the banner o$ 4hassidus during a period o$ about one hundred and $orty years (may 1e be blessed 1ith long li$e. until the coming o$ our righteous redeemer. speedily in our days)J i. the generation o$ my great-great-great-grand$ather Lthe *lter 6ebbeM. 55!"-557F L17,"-181FM;L18M ii( the generation o$ my great-great-grand$ather Lthe 9itteler 6ebbeM. 557F-5588 L181F-18F8M; iii( the generation o$ my great-grand$ather. the 6ebbe the T3emach T3ede7. 55885"F" L18F8-18""M; i0( the generation o$ my saintly grand$ather and the holy t3addi7im. his brothers. 5"F"-5" ! L18""-188FM; 0( the generation o$ my saintly $ather and the holy t3addi7im. his cousins. 5" !5"8G L118F-1,FGM( The cornerstone o$ the teachings o$ 4habad is the study o$ 4hassidus through intellectual concentration. rational contemplation. and understanding( Thus one:s da0ening is accompanied by abundant meditation and studious re$lection( This brings blessing into the actual per$ormance o$ one:s a0odah( The elder chassidim had a $a0orite eIpression. 1hich they had heard $rom the original chassidimJ 5@e abandoned our inborn middos on the doorstep o$ the 6ebbe:s beis hamedrash; the door posts o$ the =o1er Can 'denL 1,M created in us an intense longing to ha0e lo0e and $ear Lo$ C-dM(5LFGM 9y saintly $ather related that the elder chassidim - be$ore entering $or yechidus - 1ould a$$irm the $ollo1ing resolutionJ 5*nything that - by nature - & desire to do. & 1ill a0oid doing(5 The abo0e $actors constitute the maternity bed upon 1hich chassidim o$ the $irst generation 1ere born( Space does not permit me to describe here at length the *lter 6ebbe:s system o$ teaching his young disciplesJ the $irst cheder and the second cheder(

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8ut it is all elucidated in $ull detail in my diary(LF1M 263 No doubt. you are a1are o$ the $amous saying o$ the original chassidim. 5Tol7 is 1ithout tol7.5 meaning that the 7ind o$ a0odah common in the year Tol7 - 55!G L177GM - is not in order(LFFM The t3addi7 6eb *0raham o$ Balis7 1as a man o$ po1er$ul emotions( Hpon his return $rom 9e3ritch. he gathered a society o$ young scholars around himsel$. and taught them the teachings o$ his 6ebbe. our master the 9aggid( ?e also arranged $or them a program o$ a0odah that $eatured $er0ent prayer and re>ection o$ their o1n egos( ?e studied 1ith these disciples $or t1o years( * $undamental principle o$ this study 1as to teach them ho1 to belittle themsel0es and humiliate themsel0es( ?e taught them to conceal their o1n /ualities. to dress in the clothing o$ common people. and to >ump and shout during their prayers( 8y the year 55!G. they had become a society o$ about thirty-$i0e members. all 1ith 7een minds. strong 1ills. and lo$ty abilities( Their entire a0odah 1as dedicated to 7indling their hearts 1ith $ear o$ ?ea0en; but it 1as done in a $ren3ied manner. and they intentionally o$$ended the dignity o$ the scholarly misnagdim. humiliated and belittled them. and pointed out their coarse attributes and their o0ersi3ed egos( 283 -uring the year Tol7 - 55!G L177GM - something happened that 1as partly to blame $or the $eud that occurred in 55!F( <ne o$ the young scholars. 1ho possessed an especially emotional nature. arri0ed in Sh7lo0( Pretending to be a tra0eler 1ho >ust happened to be passing through. he approached the ra0 and re/uested permission to deli0er a lecture( The ra0 and the communal o$$icials eIamined the 0isitor. and disco0ered that he 1as $illed 1ith 7no1ledge o$ the Talmud and Pos7im. 9idrash. and *ggadah( There$ore. they agreed to allo1 him to spea7 in public( *t the appointed time. a large cro1d gathered. including the o$$icers o$ the congregation( *s the spea7er lectured. teachings $lo1ed $rom his mouth( )or o0er an hour. he eIplained numerous sayings o$ the Sages o$ blessed memory. in a 1onder$ul $ashion( ?is speech 7indled the hearts o$ the listeners. and all 1ere delighted 1ith it( Then. a $e1 moments be$ore concluding his lecture. he turned to the large assembly standing in the holy place and said to themJ 5& see that & $ound $a0or 1ith you (than7 Cd). and you ha0e en>oyed my lecture( No1. let me tell you somethingJ & did not come here as a preacher or missionary. nor ha0e & come to be paid $or my speech( & am here to open your eyes to the truth. and to 7indle your hearts to ser0e the 4reator. blessed be ?e( =et me pro0e to you that this is true( & 1ill eIplain to you one more teaching o$ the Sages. and then & 1ill come do1n $rom the pulpit 1ithout accepting any payment $or the lecture & ha0e >ust deli0ered(5 ?e chose a teaching o$ the Sages that spea7s about one 1ho is 5a $ool. 1ic7ed. and arrogant(5LF!M ?e then proceeded to spea7 about a deceased Sage 1hose name had been 1idely 7no1n and respected. and se0eral other $amous rabbis. belittling them and shaming them( @hile doing so. he used barbed eIpressions. 1hich had such an e$$ect on the ears o$ the listeners that they remembered them( The assembled audience 1as thro1n into an uproar and con$usion. so that he managed to escape 1ithout being torn to pieces( The city 1as no1 in utter turmoil( <n the one hand. e0eryone had been astounded by his 7een mind and encompassing 7no1ledge. his oratorical s7ills. his eIcellent manner o$ preaching. and the arousal to teshu0ah and pious $er0or that he generated in his listeners( <n the other hand. Lall 1ere enraged byM his great e$$rontery in humiliating Torah scholars( &t 1as a$ter this that the $irst committee 1as $ormed in Sh7lo0 to coordinate a campaign against the teachings o$ the 8aal Shem To0 and his disciple. the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch( They also tra0eled to 9ins7 and to 2ilna to consult about these arrangements( 293 @hen our master the 9aggid learned o$ this. he summoned most o$ his disciples - the t3addi7im 1ho 1ere already established in 0arious communities in 2ohlynia - to an

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urgent meeting( Their unanimous decision 1as to summon the t3addi7 6eb *0raham to participate in this meeting. and to admonish him about his strange 1ays( The more tolerant members o$ the Society - the holy t3addi7im 6eb =e0i Dit3cha7 and 6eb 9eshulem Ousia - interceded 1ith their colleagues to temper their >udgment( They persisted in begging their colleague - the holy t3addi7 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ ?orodo7 - to persuade the others to ac/uit 6eb *0raham( These negotiations 1ere success$ul. and imposition o$ the hea0y penalty 1as delayed( =ater. 1hen the $ull Society met. the 1hole situation 1as discussed at length and in $ull detail( The t3addi7 6eb *0raham resol0ed to change his 1ay o$ teaching disciples in the $uture( *ll his colleagues then unanimously selected the *lter 6ebbe to spea7 Lto the 9aggidM as 6eb *0raham:s ad0ocate( *t that assembly. they resol0ed that the practice o$ a0odah 1hich in0ol0ed emotional eIcitement and $ren3y 1ould be utterly eliminated( This is the meaning o$ the eIpression 5Tol7 is 1ithout tol75J the 7ind o$ a0odah common in the year Tol7 - 55!G - 1as not in order( 2:3 No1. 1e come to the crossroads. 1here the path o$ 4habad 4hassidus and the path o$ 2ohlynian-Polish-Calician 4hassidus di0erge( The body $ollo1s the head.L F M but e0ery ri0er $ollo1s its o1n course(LF5M The $i0e generations o$ chassidim and men o$ good deeds 1ho $ollo1ed the light o$ Toras 4hassidus 4habad. tra0eled the chassidic path that accords 1ith Toras ?a4hassidus taught by each holy 6ebbe Lo$ 4habadM in his respecti0e generation( *nd the chassidim o$ 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia - among 1hom there 1ere geonim. t3addi7im. and men o$ good deeds - each generally recorded in his se$orim 1hat he heard $rom his o1n 6ebbe. and e0ents he 1itnessed( There are 1hole libraries. $illed 1ith interpretations o$ Scripture. teachings o$ the Sages. and stories o$ 0arious miracles( To summari3eJ it all depends on one:s main $ocus( The main $ocus o$ the 2ohlynianPolish-Calician chassidim 1as their 6ebbeim:s li$estyles. their stories. and their deeds( 4habad 4hassidim also 1rote do1n the teachings o$ their 6ebbeim( )or eIampleJ the t3addi7im 6eb *haron Lo$ StrashelleM. 6eb Pinchas L6ei3esM. and 6eb Shlomo )reide:s. in the $irst generation; 6eb Dit3cha7 *i3i7 Lo$ ?omelM and 6eb ?illel Lo$ ParitchM in the second generation; and so on. in succeeding generations( 2;3 &n each generation. the leaders o$ the chassidic community - each in his o1n hometo1n - 1ould con0ene public gatherings to illuminate the people 1ith Toras ?a4hassidus( They 1ould also spea7 at length about the a0odah o$ the heart. 1hich is to recite the prayers slo1ly and 1ith patience( The elder chassidim 1ould guide the younger scholars by telling them o$ their o1n eIperiences 1hen they themsel0es 1ere young. and by teaching them good character traits( '0erything re0ol0es around this one aIisJ Studying 4hassidus. da0ening at length. impro0ing one:s character traits. adherence and sub>ugation o$ one:s mind and heart Lto the 6ebbeM. aha0as ?aShem. and aha0as Disrael( The $act remains. ho1e0er. that our o1n young scholars also desired to hear stories o$ miracles( 8ut the elder chassidim 1ould reprimand them. $or the leading 4habad 4hassidim considered stories about miracle-1or7ing to be beneath the dignity o$ 4hassidus( Such miracles 1ere regarded as insigni$icant and in$erior. and no one paid attention to them( & heard the $ollo1ing storyJ <nce. 1hen the t3addi7 and chassid 6eb =eib o$ Tur7ish 9ohile0 ended a lecture on 4hassidus. one o$ the gi$ted young scholars 1as stimulated by this lecture( *$ter1ards. he dedicated himsel$ to the study o$ 4hassidus( * 1hile later. he also began to pray at length. and to beha0e in the chassidic manner o$ 4habad( The young scholar:s companions and contemporaries - 1ho 1ere chassidim o$ 2ohlynian 6ebbeim - en0ied him( *t a $arbrengen held in honor o$ one o$ their >oyous occasions. they said to their $riend (our young scholar). 5Dour 6ebbe is certainly great and a1esome( 8ut i$ you 1ant a miracle. you can only get it $rom our 6ebbe(5

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4<3 The young man 1as 0ery distressed by this remar7. and $or some time he debated 1hether he should mention it to 6eb =eib( *$ter t1o or three 1ee7s. he decided not to tell 6eb =eib anything about it. but he remained 0ery troubled by it( 9ean1hile. there arri0ed an agent o$ the *lter 6ebbe. bearing 6abbi 9eir 8aal ?aNess charity $unds.LF"M 1hich 1ere to be sent to 'ret3 Disrael( ?e also brought a letter that the *lter 6ebbe had sent to 6eb =eib. ac7no1ledging receipt o$ his 1ritten report about the 1ay he 1as guiding the young scholars( 6eb =eib had in $act been appointed by the *lter 6ebbe to guide and to lead the young $ol7. and *nash in general. in that 0icinity( *mong the *lter 6ebbe:s replies Lto 6eb =eibM. there 1as also a reply concerning our particular young manJ 5&t 1ould be proper to dra1 him closer. and to assuage his grie$( )or him. this 1ill be a sign. and $or others it 1ill be a miracle(5 @hen the young man heard $rom his mentor that the *lter 6ebbe had 1ritten about him. he began to 1eep( @hen as7ed 1hy he 1as crying. he repeated the entire con0ersation he had had 1ith his young contemporaries( To this. 6eb =eib replied. 5No1 & understand 1hat the 6ebbe meant( *nd indeed. 1hat greater miracle can there be than to ta7e a bloc7 o$ 1ood and turn it into a human beingA5 423 This is ho1 the elder chassidim regarded miracles( '0en $amous and important stories are told 0ery discreetly by 4habad 4hassidim( Thus. 2ohlynian-Polish-Calician chassidim 1rote stories and described incidents. presenting us 1ith 1hole se$orim $illed 1ith tales o$ 1onders( 8ut 4habad 4hassidim presented us 1ith 1hole se$orim $illed 1ith Toras ?a4hassidus. transcriptions o$ the 6ebbeim:s lectures. and long dissertations and commentaries $illed 1ith pro$ound scholarship( Ceneration $ollo1ed generation. and the scarcity o$ miraculous stories became e0er greater( *s my great-grandmother. the saintly 6ebbet3in 4haya 9ush7aL F7M told her daughter-in-la1. my grandmother. the saintly 6ebbet3in 6i07a.L F8M 5*t my $ather:sLF,M court. miracles lay scattered about. and no one bothered to pic7 them up(5L !GM &t is not proper - nor do & ha0e any desire - to compare one society to the other( @e do not possess the proper yardstic7 1ith 1hich to measure and compare the t1o lo$ty mountains. the C-dly princes. my saintly ancestor the 9itteler 6ebbe. 1ith his in-la1. my saintly ancestor the 6ebbe o$ 4hernobylL!1M o$ blessed memory; nor can 1e ma7e such comparisons regarding succeeding generations( =et us rather gi0e praise to the 9aster o$ *ll. and recogni3e the 7indness done to us by *l-mighty C-d( )or today. 1e ha0e (than7 C-d) a complete set o$ teachings. the teachings o$ 4hassidus. a C-dly edi$ice( 5)ortunate are 1eE ?o1 good is our portion. ho1 pleasant our lotE5L!FM 443 & 1ill not deny itE & o$ten regret the $act that the 4habad 4hassidim in each generation did not also record in their se$orim the stories and happenings. in0ol0ing thousands o$ supernatural miracles( Ne0ertheless. & still pre$er their se$orim and 1ritings commenting on the sub>ects they heard. each in his o1n era - to those that merely relate 1onders( The truth is that 1e greatly desire (and it 1ould be 0ery dear to us) to 7no1 e0en the smallest detail about the li$estyles o$ our holy ancestors. the 6ebbeim( @e 7no1 that e0en their slightest gesture teaches us some guiding principle $or our conduct( 8ut still. 1e must remain a1are o$ 1hat is o$ primary importance. and 1hat is secondary( <ur $aith in the ser0ants o$ C-d - our holy ancestors the 6ebbeim - does not need to be supported by miracles and 1onders( 8ut it 1ould be pleasant to 7no1 this also. and e0en this 1ould contribute to the main goal. 1hich is the concerted study o$ 4hassidus. and engaging in the a0odah o$ the heart( Thus. e0en our li$e in this mundane 1orld 1ould $ollo1 the teachings o$ 4hassidus(((( &$. at some $uture time. C-d grants me an opportunity to supplement this outline. it 1ill be easier $or me to do so. ha0ing already arranged the topics in order( *s $or you. go $orth on the path o$ truth; there is no truth other than the 1hole Torah( @ith blessings. & remain your lo0ing $ather-in-la1.

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Yosef Yitzchak. (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! 6rom a letter #ritten to the ebbe, as an introdu*tion to the essay ?6athers of "hassidus- 6irst 1rinted in $aTamim, /ol- 3, 11- 152<155, #ith the headin%, ?"o1y of a letter by the ebbe, Shlita, #ritten to his son<in<la#, the rav (lon% may he live!-? The letter #as subseDuently re1rinted in 9%ros .odesh of the ebbe ayatz, /ol- 3, 11- 7,1<777 ('o- 553!, #ith the notation < *o1ied from the :revious ebbe>s biblio%ra1hi* remar&s < that it #as #ritten to the ebbe- The notation reads4 S*hneerson, abbi M-M- < Berlin4 3= Teves 85,;534 "habad vs- :oland, and their relevan*e to the Baal Shem Tov and the Ma%%id2. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 eb (itz*ha& )ov Ber #as the son of eb "hayim S*hneur Falman of 0iadi, third son of the ebbe the Tzema*h Tzede&-; 3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Bet#een 6ran*e and ussia-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Af means ?an%er? in $ebre#-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8By misre1resentin% the inner meanin% of the Baal Shem Tov>s 1ra*ti*es to the ministers-; 6. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, #hen it involves only out#ard %estures-; 7. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, if the Alter ebbe #as so *areful #ith the Baal Shem Tov>s tea*hin%s and 1ra*ti*es even #hen they 1la*ed him in dan%er, then #hy do the Alter ebbe>s o#n tea*hin%s and 1ra*ti*es seem (out#ardly! to be so different from those of the Baal Shem TovJ; 8. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The #ord ?Torah? also means ?instru*tion? or ?%uidan*e-?; 9. (Ba*& to te+t ! 9-e-, our master the Baal Shem Tov, and the Alter ebbe10. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Avos 1417A Siddur, 1- 317-; 11. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8.no#n as ? ashbatz-? 6or a brief bio%ra1hy, see 0in&s in the "hassidi* 0e%a*y, 11 1<75-; 12. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8After the &in% of Assyria e+iled the Be#s of Samaria from the $oly 0and, he brou%ht non<Be#ish 1eo1le of several forei%n nations to settle thereThese *ontinued to #orshi1 the idols of their native lands, and C<d sent lions to atta*& them and eat them as 1unishment- Iut of fear of the lions, they *onverted to Budaism (Mela*him 99, 1743=<37!- They *onverted out of fear of the lionsSimilarly, these youn% s*holars *onverted to "hassidus out of a#e of the ?Bears-?; 13. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See 0i&&utei )ibburim (En%lish!, /ol- 1, .ehot :ubli*ation So*iety, Broo&lyn, 1587, 11- 725<717-; 14. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See Torah Ir, 1- 77d-; 15. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Mishlei 12435A see also "ha%i%ah1=b-; 16. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8:ara1hrased from the Sha*haris 1rayer, Siddur, 1- =7-; 17. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, *hassidim of ea*h fa*tion fo*used on the same theme that #as the main fo*us of their ebbe-; 18. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8This a11ears to be a ty1o%ra1hi*al error- 9n most sour*es, the date of the Alter ebbe>s 1assin% < and the be%innin% of the Mitteler ebbe>s leadershi1 < is %iven as 5577, not 5573-; 19. (Ba*& to te+t ! The elder *hassidim *alled the room #here they #ould a#ait their turn for ye*hidus, ?the 0o#er Can Eden-? 8The ebbe>s inner *hamber, #here he a*tually re*eived *hassidim in ye*hidus, #as *alled ?the E11er Can Eden-?; 20. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, they lon%ed to have love and fear that #ere derived from ?intelle*tual *on*entration, rational *ontem1lation, and understandin%,? rather than from their ?inborn middos-?; 21. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See above, ?Third Ceneration4 the Alter ebbe,? and ?Torah S*holarshi1 in eissin-?; 22. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A 1lay on #ords4 The $ebre# letters To0., stand for the year 5572A the (iddish #ord tol& means ?orderly-? See The Ma&in% of "hassidim, 11- 5< 7-; 23. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8@uoted from Avos =47A Siddur, 1- 333, *on*ernin% one #ho ?a%%randizes himself by 8ea%erly; issuin% le%al de*isions-?;

63 24. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Eruvin =1a- 9-e-, thou%h ea*h or%an of the body has its o#n uniDue

25.

26.

27. 28. 29. 30. 31.

32.

fun*tion, all follo# the *entral *ommands of the head- So too, ea*h member of the $oly So*iety had his o#n a%enda and his o#n a11roa*h to "hassidus, but all obeyed the *entral authority of the Ma%%id-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8"hulin 18bA 57a- 9-e-, all rivers have their ori%in in the )ivine sour*e of earthly #aters, and flo# to#ard the same sea, but ea*h one follo#s its o#n *ourse %oin% from sour*e to sea- So too, ea*h member of the $oly So*iety aimed to *arry out the Ma%%id>s tea*hin%s, but ea*h follo#ed his o#n 1ath in doin% so-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 abbi Meir ?the Mira*le<Gor&er?A traditional name for *harity funds *olle*ted in the )ias1ora, for the su11ort of Be#ish *ommunities and institutions in the $oly 0and-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Gife of the Tzema*h Tzede&-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Gife of the ebbe Maharash-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The Mitteler ebbe-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8An e+am1le is Duoted belo#, in Su11lement )-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The Mitteler ebbe>s dau%hter, ebbetzin )evorah 0eah, #as married to eb (aa&ov (israel of "her&assy, son of eb Morde*hai of "hernobylTheir dau%hter, ebbetzin "hanah #as married to eb (osef (itz*ha& of Avru*h, son of the Tzema*h Tzede&- Their dau%hter, in turn, #as ebbetzin Sterna Sarah, #ife of the ebbe ashab, and mother of the :revious ebbe-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8@uoted from the Sha*haris 1rayerA Siddur, 1- 17-;

The !e e&s !esponse To The Previous !e e&s Letter 8(?(. 9ot3oei Shabbos. F Sh0at 5",F Le0e o$ Sunday. Nanuary 1G. 1,!FM( To my honored and holy $ather-in-la1. ShlitaJ Dour letter o$ the F th o$ last month. containing the outline L$or the essayM. arri0ed here( )rom the depths o$ my heart. & than7 you $or this precious gi$t( *t this $a0orable time. & 1ill be so bold as to place my earnest re/uest be$ore you (i$ a re/uest is needed. and i$ a re/uest 1ill a0ail)( & am strengthened by the hope that you 1ill honor me $rom time to time 1ith the pleasure o$ recei0ing more letters li7e these( There are many $acts that & am missing. concerning the bac7ground o$ 4hassidus. and the meaning o$ its historical conteIt( There$ore. & am o0er>oyed 1ith e0ery ne1 $act and concept & ac/uire in this area. as one 1ho 5$inds a great pri3e(5LFM & cannot restrain mysel$ $rom re/uesting additional eIplanation about a sub>ect that has pu33led me $or some time( *gain and again. & hear people say that 5&n 4habad. 1e ha0e no interest in miracles.5 and the li7e( & $ound this same sentiment eIpressed in your letter( LDou 1rite that chassidimM re$rain $rom spea7ing o$ such things. and silence others 1ho do spea7 o$ them. etc( This 1as certainly appropriate $or the early chassidim( They had no need o$ such stories. $or their hearts and minds 1ere re$ined( 8ut in our present day. the pressures o$ the times ha0e diminished people:s hearts. and they are submerged in material concerns( They see only the material aspects o$ e0ery concept. to the eItent that their souls ha0e no appreciation o$ anything sublime or lo$ty( &t seems to me that it 1ould be di$$icult to correct this situation through intellectual endea0ors alone( Such an approach 1ould be ine$$ecti0e. $or at the start. the intellect is too delicate an instrument $or this purpose( <n the other hand. miracles. and stories o$ the 1onders per$ormed by t3addi7im cause lo$ty $eelings 1ithin the soul( They promote the desire to emerge L$rom one:s lo1ly situationM and to di0est himsel$ (at least partially) $rom his $ocus on material matters( This 1ill cause some mo0ement e0en in a person 1ith a lo1ly soul. or one in a lo1 spiritual state( *gain eIpressing my 1arm and deep gratitude $or your letter. & remain. your son-inla1. 1ho al1ays see7s your 1el$are. and hopes to be blessed by the 6ebbe( Menachem. (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! This letter does not a11ear in the offi*ial 1ublished *olle*tion of

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the ebbe>s letters, and is ta&en from a hand#ritten *o1y the made for himself3- (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Tehillim 11541,3-;

ebbe a11arently

On The Su Bect Of Miracles (((9y saintly maternal grandmother - the 6ebbet3inL FM - told us that a certain agunah once came to her $ather-in-la1. the saintly 6ebbe Lthe T3emach T3ede7M( She brought along her son. 1ho 1as a lad o$ ele0en or t1el0e( The boy 1as totally mute. and also hard o$ hearing( This 1as during the time 1hen agunos 1ere only permitted to enter the antechamber. 1hile the door Lto the 6ebbe:s roomM remained open( The 6ebbe 1ould sit there and listen to each one:s petition and history( Then. he 1ould reply to the attendant 6eb 4hayim -o0.L!M 5Tell her to tra0el to such-and-such place5 or 5tell her to consult 6abbi so-and-so.5 etc( This agunah 1ould come to the 6ebbe se0eral times a 1ee7. bringing her son( *t the same time. she 1ould bring $ood(L M Se0eral 1ee7s passed. but so many people had come that her turn to enter had not yet arri0ed( <nce. she placed her son under the table in the minyan room 1here the 6ebbe recei0ed people $or yechidus. cautioning him that 1hen the 6ebbe began to recei0e people. he should rise $rom his hiding place and hand the 6ebbe her petition( The lad $ollo1ed his mother:s instructions. and sat under the table. hidden by the table cloth and unseen by anyone( The procedure 1as that the attendant 1ould stand near the table. 1hile the other attendant - 6eb 'lia =eibL5M - 1ould assign the order in 1hich the chassidim 1ere to enter( Suddenly. the lad emerged $rom his hiding place( The attendant became 0ery angry and shouted. 5Sheiget3E5 To this. the 6ebbe replied. 5Simple $aith lights up the eyes; greatness is gi0en to certain indi0iduals only $or the good o$ the Ne1ish people(5L"M ?e then turned to the lad and uttered the $ollo1ing holy 1ordsJ 5Co and tell your mother that your $ather is ali0e( She should tra0el to -enenburg(5 My grandmother related0 This agunah had been sitting in my home and 1eeping about her mis$ortune( ?er husband had been missing $or se0en years( No1. se0eral rabbis had gi0en her permission to remarry. on condition that the 6ebbe agreed(L7M Suddenly. her son entered and cried out in a loud 0oice. 5The 6ebbe told me to tell 9other that )ather is ali0e. and that she should tra0el to -enenburg(5 *t this. the agunah $ainted( This double miracleL8M caused a great commotion( 8ut my mother-in-la1L,M remar7edJ 5Nust loo7 at 1hat e0eryone:s gotten so eIcited aboutE *t my $ather:sL 1GM and my grand$ather:sL11M court. miracles lay scattered about. and no one bothered to pic7 them up( Nust loo7 1hat:s happening. and 1hat:s caused so much eIcitementE Crand$ather said that he 1ould pre$er it i$ people understood 4hassidus( *s $or getting eIcited o0er miracles. 1e lea0e that $or Lthe chassidim o$M 2ohlyniaE5L1FM (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! E+*er1t of a letter from the :revious ebbe, sent from i%a to the sho*het eb Moshe "haritonov in "herson- 9t is dated 3 Av 5,88 8Buly 15, 1538;, and #as 1ublished in 9%ros .odesh of the ebbe ayatz, /ol- 3, 'o- 75=2. (Ba*& to te+t ! ebbetzin iv&ah, #ife of the ebbe Maharash3. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8 eb "hayim )ov served as the Tzema*h Tzede&>s %abbai for 7, years- $e #as famous for &ee1in% absolutely se*ret anythin% he ha11ened to overhear-; 4. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A11arently, for the 1eo1le #aitin% for ye*hidus-; 5. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8$e #as the Tzema*h Tzede&>s se*retary, and later be*ame his 1ersonal attendant-; 6. (Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, all this *eremony at the ebbe>s *ourt resulted from the Tzema*h Tzede&>s %reatness- But this %reatness #as %iven to him ?only for the

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7.

8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

%ood of the Be#ish 1eo1le-? And #ho deserved it more than this a%unah, #ith her ?sim1le faith? in tzaddi&imJ; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A11arently, there #as some sort of eviden*e that the husband had died- The rabbis deemed this eviden*e suffi*ient to 1ermit her to remarry, but they #ere not absolutely *ertain- Therefore, the 1ermission #as %iven on *ondition that the Tzema*h Tzede& a%reed-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8The 1ro1heti* information about the husband>s #hereabouts, and the mute boy>s suddenly re%ainin% his s1ee*h-; (Ba*& to te+t ! ebbetzin "hayah Mush&a, #ife of the Tzema*h Tzede& 8and %reat< %randmother of the :revious ebbe-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 9-e-, the Mitteler ebbe(Ba*& to te+t ! 9-e-, the Alter ebbe(Ba*& to te+t ! 8Translator>s note4 9 heard an addendum to this story, told by elder *hassidim4 The Tzema*h Tzede& used to admonish his sons #hen they sent 1eo1le to him for a mira*le, for he *laimed that he #as not a /ohlynian ebbe #ho 1erformed mira*les- Ghen they reminded him of our 1resent story, he denied that any mira*le #as involved- abbonim and other *ommunal offi*ials of many different *ities #ould visit him re%ularly for ye*hidus, and they #ould tell him of the re*ent doin%s in their hometo#n- And so, #hen he read the a%unah>s des*ri1tion of her missin% husband, he realized that it #as a man #hom a re*ent visitor from )enenbur% had des*ribedThe future ebbe Maharash then reminded him of the mute boy #ho suddenly re%ained his s1ee*h- To this, the Tzema*h Tzede& re1lied, ?9 had no idea that the boy #as unable to s1ea&K? 9n other #ords, the mira*le had not been deliberate, for he had been una#are that one #as even needed- But, the moment the ebbe uttered the #ords, ?Co and tell your mother---,? the boy automati*ally re%ained his s1ee*h-;

The )lter !e e&s Later =ears The *lter 6ebbe:s arrest greatly enhanced the public acti0ities o$ the chassidim in t1o respects( )irst. the /ualities o$ the chassidim and their leader - the *lter 6ebbe - 1ere no1 recogni3ed in go0ernment circles( Second. se0eral chassidim o$ great ability had no1 become acti0e in public ser0ice. and 1ere 1or7ing $or the economic bene$it o$ the Ne1ish people( The *lter 6ebbe:s $irst arrest had a 0ery detrimental e$$ect on the health o$ his $amily( The 6ebbet3in. his sons and daughters. and e0en his grandson 6amamL FM (1ho 1as only eight years old) $asted e0ery day. ignoring the $act that they 1ere already 1ea7 and sic7( Tehillim 1ere recited in public. and they 0isited the cemetery regularly. to pray at the gra0esite o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s daughter. 6ebbet3in -e0orah =eah(L!M Though the old 6ebbet3in (6ebbet3in 6i07ah). the *lter 6ebbe:s mother. 1as 0ery 1ea7 $rom $asting. she 1as the one 1ho reassured the rest o$ the $amily( She 1as 0ery strong minded. and mani$ested an air o$ calm and serenity( -uring Shabbos Parshas 2ayishlach. the 9itteler 6ebbe $ainted t1ice $rom physical 1ea7ness and mental anguish( 8ut his grandmotherL M said to him. 5& s1ear that e0erything 1ill turn out >ust as my $atherL5M $oretold it to me - this 0ery 1ee7. your $ather 1ill be set $ree(5 The one 1ho 1as most upset by the a$$air 1as the *lter 6ebbe:s son 6eb 9oshe(L "M ?e re/uested permission to tra0el to Petersburg. $or he 1as sure that 1ith his sound arguments he 1ould succeed in ha0ing his $ather released $rom prison(L 7M 5& 1ould gain an audience 1ith the 43ar himsel$. i$ necessary. and 1ith no trouble at all & 1ould triumph o0er the prosecution.5 he said( ?o1e0er. the *lter 6ebbe had issued strict instructions that no member o$ his $amily 1as to come to Petersburg. eIcept his brother-in-la1(L8M '0en the chassidim 1ere $orbidden to come. eIcept those 1ho 1ere speci$ically authori3ed by the special committee to assist in pro0ing the true $acts(L,M L@hen the *lter 6ebbe 1as arrested the second time.M the imperial order arri0ed on the second day o$ 4hol ?a9oed Su77os. 18 Tishrei 55"1 L<ctober 7. 18GGM( ?e 1as summoned to appear in the capital city. and re/uired to begin his >ourney on the $ollo1ing 9onday. F Tishrei( This time. ho1e0er. he 1as to tra0el in a coach belonging

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to the postal authorities. at go0ernment eIpense( ?e could ta7e along any t1o people he chose - to ser0e him - and they too 1ould tra0el $ree( They 1ould be accompanied by three o$$icials in ci0ilian dress( This time too. 6eb 9oshe begged his $ather to ta7e him along(L 1GM The *lter 6ebbe lo0ed his youngest son 0ery much. and 1ould o$ten say o$ him. 5& than7 C-d. through 1hose 7indness my 9oshe possesses outstanding abilities - ten times greater than those o$ his namesa7e(L11M 9ay his eIcellent memory continue to ser0e him $ore0er(5 @e all 7no1 ho1 this >ourney di$$ered $rom the pre0ious one in 555,( The $irst arrest 1as under much harsher conditions. beginning 1ith the $irst moment that the *lter 6ebbe 1as seated in the blac7 coach( &t 1as co0ered 1ith iron armor. and 1as called the 5death 1agon(5L1FM The coach 1as surrounded by armed soldiers. accompanied by an armed escort riding on horsebac7( They uttered threats. and cried out in shrie7ing 0oices. to $righten a1ay the throngs o$ men. 1omen. and children 1ho attempted to $ollo1 the procession( L*t his second arrest.M the *lter 6ebbe tra0eled under $ar more digni$ied conditions( ?e 1as transported at go0ernment eIpense. in a spacious coach belonging to the postal authority( *t e0ery station.L1!M a pri0ate room 1as placed at his disposal $or him to rest( @here0er the coach passed. hundreds o$ men and 1omen came $orth to greet himL 1 M and bless him(L15M <n )riday. F8 Tishrei. the *lter 6ebbe arri0ed in Petersburg( * high-ran7ing o$$icial o$ the 9inistry o$ the &nterior came to recei0e him and to accompany him and his entourage to one o$ the buildings in the courtyard o$ the Tainy So0iet prison(L 1"M ?e assigned a Ne1ish attendant. and also a non-Ne1ish one. to ser0e them( 6eb 9oshe told the o$$icial that the *lter 6ebbe 1as accustomed to da0en 1ith a congregation three times a day - Shacharis. 9inchah. and 9aari0( The o$$icial apologi3ed. saying that he could not $ul$ill this re/uest( ?is orders 1ere that the *lter 6ebbe. 6eb 9oshe. and the second person 1ho accompanied them. 1ere to be 7ept separated $rom their $ello1 Ne1s( 6eb 9oshe then suggested that the prayer ser0ice could be held in the ad>oining room( Since the t1o rooms 1ere completely separated by a 1all. small openings could be cut in this 1all. near the ceiling( Thus. the *lter 6ebbe 1ould be able to hear the prayers and the Torah reading( @ithin a $e1 hours. all this had been arranged( -uring the neIt t1o months - F8 Tishrei - F7 Bisle0 L<ctober L 17M - -ecember M - more than t1enty hearings 1ere held. attended by people 1ho 1ere eIperts in 0arious $ields( 9any o$ them speciali3ed in research on theology and Babbalah. as 1ell as Ne1ish history o$ the Sanhedrin period( These hearings too7 place in one o$ the rooms in the Tainy So0iet prison; a stenographer 1as assigned to transcribe all /uestions and ans1ers( @hene0er the *lter 6ebbe spo7e in Diddish or in the ?oly Tongue. 6eb 9oshe translated into 6ussian( @ith his $ather:s permission. he eIplained each concept 1ith an appropriate commentary( 6eb 9oshe:s handsome appearance. his polite demeanor. and his methodical 1ay o$ spea7ing made a $a0orable impression on the o$$icials( 8ut most o$ all. they 1ere impressed by his $luent and idiomatic use o$ the 6ussian language. and they 1ere e0en more ama3ed by his beauti$ul and lucid )rench( *mong the o$$icials conducting the in0estigation 1ere t1o priests 1ho 1ere 0ery learned in Ne1ish history. particularly. the Talmudic period( 9ost o$ their /uestions concerned theology. and they planned to entrap the *lter 6ebbe by discussing 4hristianity( Their /uestions 1ere posed in such a 1ay that the *lter 6ebbe 1ould ha0e to ans1er in a negati0e $ashion. 1hich 1ould denigrate their religion( ?o1e0er. the *lter 6ebbe re$used to reply to /uestions on this topic. saying that he had not been summoned here $or a debate on theology( <n the other hand. 6eb 9oshe by nature lo0ed to argue. especially on religious sub>ects( ?e had been interested in theology $or the past three years(17 The chassid 6eb 9oshe 9eisel obtained $or him se0eral boo7s in ?ebre1 and )rench; some supported - and others contradicted - the doctrines o$ 4hristianity( Thus. he 1as 1ell 0ersed in the arguments they used in $a0or o$ their religion. and the 5proo$s5 they brought $rom the Tanach( ?e also 7ne1 ho1 to dispro0e these arguments( ?e too7 ad0antage o$ this opportunity. especially in his pri0ate con0ersations( *$ter the public sessions. he 1ould

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debate the t1o priests( The priests disco0ered that 6eb 9oshe had an eIcellent 7no1ledge o$ the basic doctrines o$ their $aith( 8esides that. he had a 1ealth o$ arguments that dispro0ed e0en the strongest claims they made in $a0or o$ their religion( They praised him to one o$ the elder priests. Oachar Brantchads7i. 1ho 1as already retired $rom public li$e and de0oted all his time to studying 4hristian theology( Through the t1o priests. this old priest in0ited 6eb 9oshe to 0isit him. and 6eb 9oshe did so t1ice. 1ithout the *lter 6ebbe:s 7no1ledge( They held a debate. in 1hich 6eb 9oshe emerged 0ictorious( 6eb 9oshe:s commentaries and eIplanations o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s position met 1ith the *lter 6ebbe:s appro0al. because they 1ere based strictly on logic and common sense( ?o1e0er. the *lter 6ebbe disappro0ed o$ his style o$ spea7ing. in 1hich he mani$ested his complete sel$-assurance and con$idence in his o1n /ualities( The *lter 6ebbe admonished him about this( <n Sunday. F7 Bisle0. the third day o$ 4hanu7ah. the in0estigation and hearings ended( The *lter 6ebbe 1as released. and permitted to mo0e to pri0ate lodgings - 1ith the stipulation that he must continue li0ing in the capital city o$ Petersburg (at least $or the present)( The go0ernment o$$icials had become a1are that the *lter 6ebbe 1as an eIcellent commander. and that most o$ the Ne1s throughout the country 1ere no1 $ollo1ers o$ the chassidim and their leader( 9oreo0er. the *lter 6ebbe:s great in$luence eItended e0en to chassidim o$ other $actions( 43ar Paul appro0ed the recommendation o$ the go0ernment ministers. and granted the *lter 6ebbe a $ull ac/uittal( ?e 1as released. 1ith permission to continue all his acti0ities 1ith the same 0igor as be$ore( The only condition 1as that he must reside temporarily in the &mperial 4apital o$ Petersburg. until $urther notice( ?e 1ould li0e there at his o1n eIpense( The *lter 6ebbe mo0ed into a pri0ate apartment.L 18M and >oy and happiness pre0ailed in the chassidic community( Thus. the months o$ She0at. *dar. and Nissan passed. until 43ar Paul:s death(L1,M -uring this time. 1ith the help o$ the Public Ser0ice 4ommittee o$ the 4habad 4hassidim. 6eb 9oshe made many ac/uaintances among the princes. counts and du7es( ?e $ound $a0or 1ith them. and gained admission to their pri0ate libraries( There. he 1ould spend long hours reading boo7s that captured his interest( *mong these. 1ere boo7s on theology that supported (or re$uted) the tenets o$ 0arious religions( This sub>ect interested him greatly( *t the home o$ one o$ the noblemen o$ Petersburg - *r7adi Oubaro0. an obser0ant 4hristian - 6eb 9oshe met an ambassador o$ the *ustrian go0ernment. 1ho 1as a ardent 4atholic( <ne topic o$ con0ersation led to another. and e0entually they began to discuss the di$$erences in the basic tenets o$ their respecti0e religions( 6eb 9oshe spo7e on this topic in his usual manner( 8ut most o$ his remar7s 1ere de0oted to the di$$erences in personality among the $ollo1ers o$ their respecti0e religions( ?e mentioned in detail the cruel atrocities committed by the Nesuits. compared to the merely 1ic7ed beha0ior o$ other 4hristian clergy( ?is remar7s made an un$a0orable impression. especially on the 4atholic o$$icial( Sometime later. 6eb 9oshe 1as in0ited by 4ount Oubaro0 to honor him 1ith a 0isit. and to participate in a debate that 1as being organi3ed by the priest o$ his pri0ate chapel( LFGM The debate 1ould be held at a time yet to be decided( 6eb 9oshe accepted the in0itation to participate in this debate( There. he deli0ered a lecture critical o$ ancient religions that belie0ed in polytheism in the days o$ *0raham( ?e also spo7e at length about the monotheistic religion that *0raham had preached and publici3ed( Step-by-step. in scholarly $ashion. he described the gradual e0olution o$ modern religions( ?e demonstrated that those 1ho had established these religions had contributed nothing beyond 1hat they had copied $rom the religion o$ 9oshe and &srael( ?e pointed out the ad0antages o$ the Torah (1hich is a C-d-gi0en religion) o0er all other religions (1hich 1ere in0ented by men)( This lecture made a strong impression on the audience. so that e0en the 0ery 1ise and religious 4hristian theologians 1ere lost and could ma7e no reply( *s a result. they harbored resentment against 6eb 9oshe( Se0eral o$ them eIpressed the opinion that he had been 1rong to ma7e such a speech.

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in 1hich he had re$uted the basic tenets o$ their religion( ?e had not e0en re$rained $rom spea7ing against the person 1ho 1as held sacred by a 0ery large proportion o$ the human race( 8ut 6eb 9oshe replied that. 5* thousand people 1ho can see may still learn something $rom one sighted person( 8ut e0en a thousand other blind men cannot add anything to Lthe teachings o$M one blind man(5LF1M 4ount Oubaro0 told his ac/uaintance 6eb 9ordechai =ieplerLFFM all about the religious debate that had ta7en place in the pri0ate chapel o$ his home( ?e had in0ited se0eral leading 4hristian theologians. and each had put $orth the ad0antages o$ the <rthodoI 4hristian religion o0er 4atholicism. citing passages $rom the Ne1ish 8ible that (they claimed) $oretold the birth o$ the $ounder o$ their religion. and re$erred to his teachings. his sayings. and his $aith( The assembly had included about $orty people. each o$ 1hom 1as $amous $or his 7no1ledge and scholarship( 'ach had stated his position. and bac7ed it 1ith po1er$ul e0idence $ound in ancient boo7s 1ritten by the great sages o$ old( 8ut the 5Doung 6ebbe5LF!M had deli0ered a long lecture about 'nosh. the grandson o$ *dam (1hom he described as 5the $irst man created by the Ne1ish C-d5)( &t 1as in his days that people began to 1orship the sun. moon. stars. and 0arious other idols(LF M They had in0ented all sorts o$ ceremonies $or 1orshipping these idols. and had set up a hierarchy o$ greater and lesser gods( This situation continued $or about t1o thousand years. until our Patriarch *0raham arose and in$ormed e0eryone that there is only one C-d. and taught them to 1orship only this C-d( The lecture then continued describing the e0olution o$ religions. describing ho1 e0entually t1o men had come along and in0ented the 4hristian and 9oslem religions respecti0ely( ?e then pointed out that the basic tenets o$ these t1o religions had been ta7en $rom the Torah o$ 9oshe and the Ne1ish religion( ?e also demonstrated the errors o$ the 4hristian theologians. 1ho had interpreted 8iblical 0erses as re$erring to the $ounder o$ 4hristianity( The lecture 1as 1ell organi3ed. and presented in lucid $ashion( &t had a great e$$ect on the audience. and most o$ them 1ere 0ery angry o0er the topic o$ the lecture( They did not do anything to him at the end o$ the lecture. but this insult to their religion penetrated deep into their hearts( Thus. they prepared themsel0es $or a $uture debate 1ith the Doung 6ebbe. 0o1ing that they 1ould not rest until they had 0an/uished him( The chassid 6eb 9ordechai sa1 ho1 upset 4ount Oubaro0 had become. and he understood ho1 serious the situation 1as. and 1hat the possible conse/uences might be( 6eb 9ordechai repeated Oubaro0:s 1ords to 6eb 9oshe and pointed out the dangers in0ol0ed. admonishing him se0erely and re/uesting that he re$rain $rom such actions in the $uture( Seeing that his 1ords had no e$$ect on 6eb 9oshe. 6eb 9ordechai related the 1hole a$$air to the *lter 6ebbe( The *lter 6ebbe 1as 0ery troubled by this( ?e eIplained to 6eb 9ordechai that e0erything 6eb 9oshe had said 1as the truth( 5Ne0ertheless. & am 0ery 1orried o0er the possible conse/uences; but. :-eli0erance is the =-rd:sE:L F5M5 he declared( The *lter 6ebbe then resumed spea7ing Land told 6eb 9ordechai the $ollo1ingMJ *$ter the cheirem 1as issued Lby the misnagdimM in 2ilna during the year 55 ! L178!M. ten elders o$ the ?oly Society o$ the 9aggid:s disciples con0ened( They had decided to issue a 5real cheirem as prescribed by Babbalah5LF"M against the saintly Caon 6a0 'liyahu (1hose soul is in Can 'den)( They made a ?ea0enly in/uiry. and recei0ed the reply that Lin order to issue such a cheiremM they 1ould ha0e to possess at least one-tenth o$ Lthe Caon:sM greatness( There$ore. t1o members o$ the ?oly Society approached me and re/uested that & >oin them; but & re$used( 9y son 9oshe 1as three years old at the time. and 1as standing neIt to me( <ne o$ the t1o declared angrily. 5Dou are a$raid o$ a chilul ?aShem; you yoursel$ 1ill su$$er a chilul ?aShem. 1hich this Lyoung boyM 1ill cause you(5 8ut & replied. 59ay C-d not listen.5LF7M and 5-eli0erance is the =-rd:sE5 @hen 43ar *leIander ascended the throne.LF8M he became a1are that the ma>ority o$ the go0ernment ministers and the great noblemen and counts 1ere under the in$luence o$ the academic scholars( ?e despised these intellectuals. 1ho 1ere all o$ )rench origin(

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?e there$ore sought 1ays to $ind $a0or and common interest 1ith members o$ all the nationalities li0ing in the 6ussian 'mpire. including the Ne1s( 43ar *leIander 7ne1 that there 1ere three $actions among the Ne1sJ chassidim. misnagdim. and mas7ilim( ?e set out to be$riend all three( LThere$ore.M J i( ?e granted an unconditional release to the *lter 6ebbe. including an o$$icial document stating that he 1as permitted to lead the chassidic community as he sa1 $it( ?e in0ited the *lter 6ebbe to choose Petersburg as his place o$ residence( ii( ?e sent three thousand rubles to the Ne1ish 4ommunity o$ Lmisnagdim inM 2ilna. to distribute in any 1ay they desired( iii( ?e $ul$illed the re/uest o$ the mas7ilim. granting permission $or Ne1ish children to study at non-Ne1ish schools( The *lter 6ebbe d1elt in Petersburg $or nine months and ten days - F5 Tishrei to 1G 9enachem *0( ?e spent t1o o$ these months in the Tainy So0iet prison. and se0en months in a pri0ate apartment( @hile he 1as in Petersburg. the *lter 6ebbe continued to loo7 a$ter the communal needs Lo$ the Ne1ish peopleM( The *lter 6ebbe. his son 6eb 9oshe. and their attendant 6eb Dose$ 9oshe spent $our days on the >ourney $rom Petersburg to =iadi( They tra0eled in a la0ish carriage generously pro0ided by 4ount =ubamirs7i. accompanied by t1o honor guards on horsebac7( Some o$ his closest chassidim also rode 1ith him in $our additional carriages( <n )riday. the e0e o$ Shabbos Nachamu. 1 9enachem *0 55"1 LNuly F . 18G1M. he arri0ed in the 0illage o$ =iadi (9ohile0 4ounty)( *$ter the *lter 6ebbe settled in =iadi. he 1or7ed e0en more energetically in public a$$airs( ?e assigned his son 6eb 9oshe the tas7 o$ pursuing the public campaign to settle Ne1s in small 0illages and $arms. 1here they 1ould ma7e their li0ing 1or7ing the land and selling the produce( ?e raised sums o$ money especially $or this purpose. to aid those 1ho settled on the land and 1or7ed it( Through the Public *$$airs 4ommittee o$ the 4habad 4hassidim in Petersburg. the *lter 6ebbe obtained go0ernment support $or hundreds o$ Ne1ish $amilies 1ho settled on the land and $armed it. in 6ussia and in the H7rainian counties o$ De7aterinosla0 and Polta0a( Through his son 6eb 9oshe (1hom he appointed 4oordinator o$ Public *$$airs) the 6ebbe also arranged $or them to ha0e melamdim $or their children. shochtim. rabbonim 1ho could rule on matters o$ Ne1ish la1. shuls and mi70os (he had already instituted the practice o$ heating the mi70os)(LF,M Thus. ten years passed 1ith $ruit$ul acti0ity( -uring this time. 6eb 9oshe tra0eled to Petersburg se0eral times to attend to urgent business in0ol0ing public a$$airs( C-d granted him success in these underta7ings( -uring the year 5571 L1811M. the *lter 6ebbe assigned the Public Ser0ice 4ommittee o$ the 4habad 4hasidim in Petersburg the tas7 o$ instituting a campaign among the go0ernment o$$icials to grant parcels o$ land in 4herson 4ounty. on 1hich Ne1s could settle( The Ne1s 1ould also recei0e assistance in the $orm o$ necessary $arming tools and li0estoc7( These 1ould be gi0en as loans. to be repaid o0er ten years( -uring the $irst $i0e years. the settlers 1ould be eIempt $rom taIes and military ser0ice( The members o$ the Public Ser0ice 4ommittee obeyed the *lter 6ebbe:s instructions. and $iled 1ritten applications to the go0ernment bureaus( They re/uested them to intercede 1ith the go0ernment ministers in the matter( ?o1e0er. as the 1inds o$ 1ar 1ith )rance began to blo1 in 557F L181FM. the campaign came to a halt( The *lter 6ebbe clearly eIpressed his holy opinion concerning the coming 1ar - i$ the 6ussian 43ar 1as 0ictorious. the Ne1s 1ould be secure in their moral standing( 8ut i$ 8onaparte 1as 0ictorious. heresy and $ree-thin7ing 1ould result( The *lter 6ebbe there$ore sent letters to all the Ne1s in the 6ussian 'mpire - regardless o$ $action. great and small. rich and poor - that they must all stand as one to aid the go0ernment 1ith their money and 1ith their e$$orts. and 1ith e0erything they possessed( ?e concluded the letter sayingJ 5*nd as $or yoursel0es. do not be a$raid( -o not pay any attention to the enemy:s temporary 0ictories( The $inal and complete 0ictory 1ill go to the 6ussian 43ar(5L!GM There 1ere se0eral reasons 1hy the *lter 6ebbe re$used to lea0e his hometo1n o$ =iadi during the 1ar( The main reason 1as so that the Ne1s o$ @hite 6ussia 1ould not despair(

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8ut 1hen Napoleon:s troops crossed the 8ere3ina 6i0er. and ad0anced thirty miles in a single day. The *lter 6ebbe 1as $orced to $lee =iadi( The *lter 6ebbe too7 1ith him all members o$ his $amily 1ho li0ed 1ith him. eIcept $or his youngest son 6eb 9oshe. 1ho 1as then in Hlla 0isiting his $ather-in-la1. and his brother 6eb Dehudah =eib. 1ho 1as at home in Dano0itch (2itebs7 4ounty)( *bout t1enty o$ the $oremost chassidim also accompanied him( ?e departed $rom his hometo1n on 're0 Shabbos. in great haste( 8e$ore lea0ing. he instructed the to1ns$ol7 to remo0e all household $urnishings $rom his homeJ beds. tables. benches. and the li7e( Nothing 1as to be le$t behind in the house; e0en tattered old clothes and 1orn-out slippers 1ere to be remo0ed( &$ time 1as 0ery short 1hen the enemy $orces arri0ed in to1n. they should set $ire to his house. a$ter remo0ing the Torah scrolls $rom the shul ad>acent to the house( @ithin less than three hours o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s departure $rom the city. the )rench troops arri0ed( <ne o$ the o$$icers as7ed $or directions to the home o$ Crand 6ebbe 8arucho0itch(L!1M They sho1ed him the street in 1hich the *lter 6ebbe:s house stood. and the o$$icer sped a1ay on his horse. 1ith ten horsemen $ollo1ing( 8ut 1hen they got there. they $ound the house in $lames( The o$$icer 1as $urious. and commanded that the shul be burned do1n( &mmediately a$ter Napoleon had ta7en command o$ his troops positioned at the 6ussian border. the *lter 6ebbe had instructed one o$ his closest adherents - the gaon and chassid 6eb 9oshe 9eisels - to in0estigate the latest plans o$ the high-ran7ing o$$icers in Napoleon:s armies( Since he spo7e )rench $luently. he 1as to try to obtain employment at the general sta$$ head/uarters. so that he could disco0er 1hat orders 1ere being issued by the army o$$icers o$ Napoleon:s general sta$$ to the $ield o$$icers( ?e 1as to transmit this in$ormation to the 6ussian military authorities( @hen the )rench army crossed the 6ussian borders and entered Bo0na and 2ilna. they sought out people 1ho spo7e both 6ussian and )rench( 6eb 9oshe 9eisles there$ore managed to obtain a good position in a di0ision o$ the )rench secret ser0ice. at the head/uarters that 1ere under Napoleon:s direct command( This enabled him to $ul$ill his assignment to per$ection( The *lter 6ebbe:s son 6eb 9oshe also spo7e )rench $luently( ?e mo0ed - temporarily $rom his home in Hlla to the To1n o$ -roia. 1here the )rench intelligence ser0ice had its head/uarters( There. they maintained the maps o$ all o$ 6ussia. sho1ing details o$ all high1ays and roads bet1een to1ns and 0illages. as 1ell as the $orests and streams( )rom this o$$ice. they sent smaller maps to each regiment under the command o$ the general sta$$( 6eb 9oshe became $riendly 1ith the commanding o$$icers. and assisted them in copying 0arious documents 1ritten in the =ithuanian. Polish. and 6ussian languages( Their spies had obtained these documents $rom many 0illages and settlements. 1here the inhabitants 1ould tell them e0erything they 1anted to 7no1 - $or a payment o$ cash( They 1ould 1rite this in$ormation in their o1n language - =ithuanian. Polish. or 6ussian( 6eb 9oshe 1ould later transmit e0erything to trusted agents Lo$ the 6ussian militaryM( Napoleon began the campaign on Tishah be*0. 1hen his troops crossed the 6ussian border( @ithin t1el0e days. his armies had already reached the outs7irts o$ 2itebs7 and <rsha( <n Thursday. F1 9enachem *0 LNuly !GM the troops le$t <rsha. and on 're0 Shabbos. FF 9enachem *0. 1hile it 1as still night. the *lter 6ebbe and his $amily $led $rom =iadi. spending Shabbos in a 0illage near Brasna( *$ter1ards. they continued mo0ing $rom 0illage to 0illage and $rom to1n to to1n in the 6ussian interior( )rom FF 9enachem *0 557F to 8 Te0es 557! LNuly !1 - -ecember 11. 181FM - a period o$ 1 G daysL!FM - the *lter 6ebbe and his $amily 1andered $rom place to place. be$ore arri0ing in the 0illage o$ Piena( They 1ere accompanied by about thirty additional men and their $amilies( -uring this time. shoc7ing reports reached the *lter 6ebbe about the destruction and mayhem 1rought by Napoleon:s armies in the to1ns and 0illages o$ @hite 6ussia( Tens o$ thousands o$ Ne1ish $amilies lost their homes and their li0elihoods( <n the other hand. in the counties o$ Bo0na. 2itebs7. and 2ilna. Napoleon:s soldiers became $riendly 1ith the Ne1s( The o$$icers. 1ho pursued a libertine li$estyle. became attracted to the Ne1ish girls. and 1ould in0ite them to their parties( This situation

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caused the *lter 6ebbe much grie$( <n 9ot3oei Shabbos.L!!M Parshas 2ayeit3ei. 1G Bisle0 LNo0ember 1 M. 1hile in the 0illage o$ Oemaie07e (Sambo0 4ounty). the *lter 6ebbe predicted that during the coming 1ee7 Napoleon 1ould be de$eated at 9osco1( This 1ould $ul$ill the prophecy he had seen about Napoleon and his army on the pre0ious 6osh ?aShanah( <n Sunday. 11 Bisle0 they departed $rom Oemaie07e. tra0eling $rom one 0illage to another( <n @ednesday they arri0ed in the 0illage o$ Desie07e. 1here they spent the night( <n Thursday. 15 Bisle0 a$ter 9arri0. at the conclusion o$ the $ast.L ! M The *lter 6ebbe re/uested that e0eryone drin7 =e4hayim in celebration o$ the de$eat o$ the enemy o$ the Ne1ish religion. 1ho had been $orced to retreat $rom 9osco1 that 0ery day( 8ut the *lter 6ebbe remained greatly distressed. and he 1ept pro$usely o0er the situation o$ the Ne1s li0ing in @hite 6ussia; 1hile passing through during their retreat. the )rench troops looted and pillaged 1hate0er remained( <n )riday. 8 Te0es L-ecember 11M. the *lter 6ebbe and his entourage arri0ed in the 0illage o$ Piena in about siIty 1agons( There. they 1ere able to rest a little. $or the 0illage o$ Piena 1as large; at that time it had about three hundred courtyards 1ith large houses( 9any o$ them 1ere unoccupied. $or the men had gone to the battle$ront( The residents o$ the 0illage 1ere 7indly people. and they pro0ided $ree li0ing /uarters and $ire1ood $or all the ne1 arri0als( @hen the *lter 6ebbe arri0ed in Piena 1ith his $amily and his entourage. he declared that they must arrange assistance $or our $ello1 Ne1s li0ing in the to1ns and 0illages through 1hich the enemy had passed( ?e and his $amily 1ould there$ore remain settled in =ittle 6ussia $or as long as necessary( To pre0ent the prices o$ local real estate and $ood $rom rising. it 1as his holy opinion that they should di0ide their numbers among three to1nsJ ?aditch. Bremenchug. and 6omani( The *lter 6ebbe di0ided his $orces into three groups( <ne - headed by the 9itteler 6ebbe - 1as to tra0el to the a$orementioned to1ns and arrange $or their li0ing /uarters( The second - headed by his son 6eb 4hayim *0raham - 1as to tra0el to the counties o$ Polta0a and 4herson and raise money $or the support o$ our $ello1 Ne1s li0ing in @hite 6ussia. to enable them to rebuild 1hat had been destroyed( The third - headed by the chassid 6eb Pinchas Schic7 o$ Sh7lo0 - 1as to tra0el to 2itebs7 and set up a committee to gather the necessary in$ormation to decide 1hat materials 1ere needed. and ho1 they should be distributed to support those in need. and to restore their li0elihoods( <n 9onday 1F Te0es L-ecember 15M. the *lter 6ebbe $ell ill( This illness gre1 more serious $rom day to day. as he gre1 progressi0ely 1ea7er( <n 9ot3oei Shabbos Parshas Shemos. the e0e o$ Sunday. F Te0es 557! L-ecember F7. 181FM. he passed a1ay( ?e 1as ta7en to the to1n o$ ?aditch (Polta0a 4ounty). 1here he 1as buried( )or a period o$ siIty years - 551F to 557! L175F-181FM - the *lter 6ebbe had 1or7ed to establish and build his program o$ public ser0ice( This program 1as based on $our principlesJ aha0as Disrael. disseminating Torah learning. acts o$ 7indness. and gi0ing o$ charity( Thus. he le$t as a legacy to his descendants - the 6ebbeim o$ 4habad - a pa0ed road and a broad high1ay $or continued public ser0ice( (otes0 1. (Ba*& to te+t ! The material in this *ha1ter is ta&en from a *olle*tion of the :revious ebbe>s notes- This material #as *ir*ulated amon% *hassidim in ty1e#ritten form, as 1art of a *olle*tion &no#n as ?Shimon of Famut,? or ?Shimon the $ereti*-? The remainder of this *olle*tion (in*ludin% the story of ?Shimon of Famut? itself! #ill (#ith C<d>s hel1! a11ear in /olume 3- :ortions of these notes have been 1ublished else#here by various authors2. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8A*ronym for ? eb Mena*hem Mendel,? the future Tzema*h Tzede&-; 3. (Ba*& to te+t ! The Tzema*h Tzede& related that a minyan #ould %o every day to re*ite the entire Tehillim at his mother>s %rave- They #ould then read the te+t the Mitteler ebbe had #ritten, relatin% the fa*ts of the Alter ebbe>s arrest- 9t ended #ith the statement, ?Ge, the rabbini*al *ourt (here, the individual names #ere re*ited orally!, hereby *ommand you to inform his master and ebbe the Ma%%id, and his master and ebbe the Baal Shem Tov, of our distress- May they

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4.

5. 6. 7.

8. 9.

10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

17.

18. 19.

20. 21. 22.

offer 1rayers in his behalf, so that his im1risonment #ill not affe*t his health, that he #ill emer%e vi*torious, and su**eed in all his underta&in%s-? (Ba*& to te+t ! She #as a learned s*holar, 1ossessin% a thorou%h &no#led%e of Tana*h, and Midrash- She also studied Mishnah and Cemara, but most of all she studied mussar seforim(Ba*& to te+t ! $er father #as the #ealthy eb Avraham, the holy eb Baru*h>s father<in<la#(Ba*& to te+t ! $e #as born in Adar 55=2 81782;- $e 1ossessed amazin% abilities, and his father himself set aside re%ular times to study #ith him(Ba*& to te+t ! 9n the year 5557 ( eb Moshe #as about seventeen years old!, #hen the *hassid eb Moshe Meisel *ame from /ilna to visit 0iozna, the Alter ebbe reDuested that he remain for several months (as he usually did!- $e reDuested that he tea*h his son eb Moshe ussian and 6ren*h- $avin% an e+*ellent a1titude for it, eb Moshe Dui*&ly mastered these lan%ua%es- $e dili%ently read su*h boo&s as #ere needed to im1rove his &no#led%e of the lan%ua%es, and #as therefore *onfident that < #ith his 1ersuasive s1ee*h and stron% #ill < he #ould be vi*torious(Ba*& to te+t ! eb (israel .ozi&- 8See Beis ebbe :art 1, "h- 15A :art 3, "h- 3=-; (Ba*& to te+t ! See 0i&&utei )ibburim 8En%lish version, /ol- 1, 11- 78<=1;- After the Alter ebbe #as released from 1rison, he said that he had been afraid that ten of his dis*i1les mi%ht be in :etersbur% at the same time (one of these ten #as eb Mi*hel I1otz&er!- Throu%h their holy avodah, they #ould burn the Tainy Soviet 1rison to the %round, and his aim #as birur, not destru*tion- The Alter ebbe also said that his vi*tory in the *ase #as not throu%h 1resentin% a defense, but by 1rovin% the truth(Ba*& to te+t ! eb Moshe re1orted many details of this tri1(Ba*& to te+t ! $e #as named after eb Baru*h>s father, the %aon eb Moshe- The Alter ebbe had learned mu*h from this %randfather(Ba*& to te+t ! This vehi*le #as reserved for 1risoners *har%ed #ith *a1ital *rimes(Ba*& to te+t ! Ghere they sto11ed to rest and to *han%e horses(Ba*& to te+t ! Even the non<Be#ish villa%ers *ame forth to %reet him, brin%in% bread and #ater(Ba*& to te+t ! That he mi%ht emer%e vi*torious, and #ith even %reater 1resti%e than before(Ba*& to te+t ! The Alter ebbe>s first im1risonment had been in the :eter<:aul 6ortress #hi*h at that time had been *alled Tainy Soviet (?se*ret *ommand?!- 9n the t#o years bet#een his arrests, the lar%er buildin% 8on the other side of the 'eva iver; #as *om1leted- This no# be*ame the Tainy Soviet(Ba*& to te+t ! There #as a "atholi* monastery about ten &ilometers from 0iozna, headed by a fanati* "atholi* :riest- $e #ould visit 0iozna o**asionally, and in the summertime he #ould 1rea*h a sermon in the to#n sDuare- 9t #as then that eb Moshe be%an to ta&e an interest in the beliefs of the various "hristian se*ts, as #ell as the maHor features of other reli%ions- 8More information about eb Moshe is found in 9%ros .odesh of the ebbe ayatz, /ol- 7, 1- 15ff-A /ol- 1=, 1- 1,=ff-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8$is address #as; 31 /oznies&i Street(Ba*& to te+t ! In Shabbos $aCadol, "zar :aul 1assed throu%h /oznies&i Street #hile ridin% in his *arria%e- The Alter ebbe #as standin% at the #indo# at the time, and #hen he sa# the "zar 1assin%, he observed him *arefully- Then, he de*lared that his royal bearin% had de1arted from him, and he #as nothin% more than a *ommon :ovia& 8a *oarse (iddish ni*&name, *orres1ondin% to the %entile name :aul;- That same ni%ht < the first ni%ht of :esa*h < he #as assassinated 8in a *ou1 *arried out by members of his o#n family;(Ba*& to te+t ! Many of the :etersbur% nobility had 1rivate *ha1els in their homes(Ba*& to te+t ! 89-e-, the fa*t that many 1eo1le believe in that reli%ion does not *onfer any validity u1on it-; (Ba*& to te+t ! A very #ealthy *hassid #ho had been livin% in :etersbur% for the 1ast several years-

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(Ba*& to te+t ! That #as ho# they referred to eb Moshe(Ba*& to te+t ! 8See ambam, Mishneh Torah, $il*hos Avodas .o*havim, *h- 1-; (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Tehillim 745-; (Ba*& to te+t ! A ?real *heirem as 1res*ribed by .abbalah? reDuires the follo#in%4 a *ourt of seventy<t#o rabbis fast for forty *onse*utive days (e+*ludin% Shabbos and osh "hodesh!, #ith si+ non<fast days inters1ersed #ithin this 1eriod- They re*ite Ti&&un "hatzos and other s1e*ial 1rayers, and *ertain *ha1ters of Tehillim ea*h day- They re%ularly immerse themselves in the mi&veh, and are *areful not to s1ea& of any subHe*t that is not holy, even in $ebre#- After the Maariv 1rayer at the *on*lusion of the fortieth day of the fast < #hile they are still fastin% < they s1end the #hole ni%ht studyin% Torah- Ghile it is still ni%ht, about t#o hours before da#n, the $oly Ar& is o1ened, and the *hief of the *ourt reads the te+t of the *heirem three times- They then sound the shofar4 te&iah shevarim teruah te&iah- They remove their shoes and sit u1on the %round li&e mournersAfter#ards, they immerse themselves and daven #ith %reat devotion- They daven Min*hah early, and only then do they eat their meal4 bread di11ed in salt, and #aterGith su*h a *heirem (may C<d 1reserve us! the 1erson a%ainst #hom the *heirem #as issued is *ut off from the sour*e of his soul as it on*e e+isted on $i%h- This #as done three times in history4 i! to (eravam ben 'evat 8the .in% of 9srael #ho ere*ted idols for the Be#s to #orshi1;A ii! to Elishah 8ben Avuyah; ?the Ither? 8a Sa%e of the Mishnah #ho later be*ame a &no#n sinner;A iii! to the 8founder of "hristianity, #ho #as a; dis*i1le of - (ehoshua ben :era*hiah 8one of the earliest Sa%es of the Mishnah;In*e the s1ar& of the soul that inhabits the body is *ut off from its sour*e and its essen*e, the 1erson a%ainst #hom the *heirem #as issued inevitably *onverts to another reli%ion- The Alter ebbe refused to a%ree to this be*ause of the *hilul $aShem #hi*h #ould ensue 8if the sa%es a%ainst #hom the *heirem #as issued #ould *onvert;- Be*ause of this, the tzaddi&im of :oland harbored resentment a%ainst the Alter ebbe, for havin% 1revented them from issuin% a ?real *heirem-? But the Alter ebbe *onsidered this < 1reventin% them from issuin% the *heirem < to be one of his merits27. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Tehillim ,,418-; 28. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8After the assassination of his father, "zar :aul-; 29. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See Sefer $aSi*hos 5,51, 1- 181-; 30. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8See 9%ros .odesh of the Alter ebbe, /ol- 1, 1- 152ff-A Sefer $aSi*hos 5,87, 1- 373-; 31. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8Baru*hovit*h #as the Alter ebbe>s surname, indi*atin% that he #as the ?son of Baru*h-? $ereditary family surnames #ere not used in ussia, e+*e1t for *ertain nobility- The Mitteler ebbe used the name S*hneuriA the Tzema*h Tzede& and his des*endants (and *ertain other members of the family! first used the hereditary surname S*hneersohn-; 32. (Ba*& to te+t ! 8This a11ears to be an errorA the interval is only 177 days-; 33. (Ba*& to te+t ! This 1assa%e is ta&en from the stories told by the Tzema*h Tzede&7=- (Ba*& to te+t ! The Alter ebbe al#ays fasted on 15 .islev, for he #as a member of the "hevra .adisha- 89t is a *ustom for the "hevra .adisha members to fast and re*ite s1e*ial 1rayers on this day, in atonement for any un#ittin% a*t they mi%ht have *ommitted durin% their duties in the 1ast year that offended the di%nity of the de*eased- At the *on*lusion of the fast, a feast is held in *elebration of the %reat mitzvah that it is their 1rivile%e to 1erform-;
23. 24. 25. 26.

The Previous !e e&s )ncestral Tree (ote0 This is intentionaly side1ays. so that you can print it out. and ha0e it as 5guide5 as you read through the 4hapter:s o$ the boo7( 4lic7 on the tree belo1 to print it out(

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75

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#ounders Of Chassidism C Leaders Of Cha ad-Lu avitch 8aal Shem To0 (lit(. 59aster o$ the Cood Name5)J 6( Disrael ben 6( 'lie3er (1",8-17"G). $ounder o$ 4hassidism( The Maggid of Me7ritch (lit(. 5the preacher o$ 9e3ritch5)J 6( -o0 8er (d( 177F). disciple o$ the 8aal Shem To0. and mentor o$ the *lter 6ebbe( The )lter !e e (lit(. 5the <ld 6ebbe5J Did()J 6( Schneur Oalman o$ =iadi (17 5-181F). also 7no1n as 5the 6a05 and as 8aal ?aTanya; $ounder o$ the 4habad-=uba0itch trend 1ithin the chassidic mo0ement; disciple o$ the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch. and $ather o$ the 9itteler 6ebbe( The Mitteler !e e (lit(. 5the 9iddle 6ebbe5J Did()J 6( -o0 8er o$ =uba0itch (177!18F7). son and successor o$ the *lter 6ebbe. and uncle and $ather-in-la1 o$ the T3emach T3ede7( The T7emach T7ede> 6( 9enachem 9endel Schneersohn (178,18""). the third =uba0itcher 6ebbe; 7no1n by the title o$ his ?alachic responsa as 5the T3emach T3ede75; nephe1 and son-in-la1 o$ the 9itteler 6ebbe. and $ather o$ the 6ebbe 9aharash( The !e e Maharash (acronym $or 9oreinu (5our teacher5) ?a6a0 Shmuel)J 6( Shmuel Schneersohn o$ =uba0itch (18! -188F). the $ourth =uba0itcher 6ebbe; youngest son o$ the T3emach T3ede7. and $ather o$ the 6ebbe 6ashab( The !e e !asha (acronym $or 6abbi Shalom 8er)J 6( Shalom -o0 8er Schneersohn o$ =uba0itch (18"G-1,FG). the $i$th =uba0itcher 6ebbe; second son o$ the 6ebbe 9aharash. and $ather o$ the 6ebbe 6ayat3( The !e e !ayat7 (acronym $or 6abbi Dose$ Dit3cha7; also 7no1n as der $rierdi7er 6ebbe 5the Pre0ious 6ebbe5J Did()J 6( Dose$ Dit3cha7 Schneersohn (188G-1,5G). the siIth =uba0itcher 6ebbe; only son o$ the 6ebbe 6ashab. and $ather-in-la1 o$ the 6ebbe( The !e e !a i Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1,GF). the se0enth =uba0itcher 6ebbe; eldest son o$ the saintly 7abbalist. 6( =e0i Dit3cha7. ra0 o$ De7aterinosla0; $i$th in direct paternal line $rom the T3emach T3ede7; son-in-la1 o$ the 6ebbe 6ayat3( 1lossary *ll non-'nglish entries are ?ebre1 unless other1ise indicated( *r(. *ramaic; Cr(. Cree7; 6us(. 6ussian; Did(. Diddish )or $urther de$inition o$ the terminology o$ 4hassidus. see 6abbi Nissan 9indel. Clossary. in the 8i-=ingual 'dition o$ =i77utei *marim-Tanya. Behot Publication Society. =ondon. 1,7!. p( 77 $$(. and 6abbi Nacob &( Schochet. 9ystical 4oncepts in 4hassidism. op( cit(. p( 8GF$$( *n asteris7 indicates a cross-re$erence 1ithin the Clossary( )charon Shel The last day o$ QPesach Pesach )dar ?eb( month corresponding to )ebruary - 9arch; in leap years. there are t1o months o$ *dar. called *dar & and *dar && )ggadah (lit(. 5the telling5J *r()J allegorical tales and other non-legal matter $ound in the QTalmud agunah (lit(. 5$orsa7en 1oman5; pl( agunos)J a 1oman 1hose husband has disappeared. and it is not 7no1n 1ith certainty 1hether he is dead or ali0e; she is thus $orbidden to remarry unless a) the husband is located and grants her a legal di0orce. or b) care$ul in0estigation by rabbinical authorities unco0ers admissible e0idence o$ his death (the la1s go0erning 1hat constitutes admissible e0idence o$ death are eItremely complicated) ahavas $aShem =o0e o$ C-d ahavas =israel =o0e o$ one:s $ello1 Ne1s )l Cheit a pro $orma con$ession o$ sins in alphabetic order. normally recited only on QDom Bippur )leichem ShalomD 5Hpon you. peaceE5 The traditional response to the greeting o$ QShalom *leichemE aliyah The honor o$ being called up to the public QTorah reading to recite the blessings (QSiddur. p( 7G. 18")

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)nash )t7ilus

)v avodah

Baal $aTanya aal hora&a aal >orei ar mit7vah

atei hamedrash Bavli eis hamedrash @pl3" atei hamedrashA Beis $aMi>dash en Berel" Bereniu B+$ Binah irur

ochur ochurimA Cha ad

@pl3"

(acronym $or anshei shlomeinu. lit(. 5men o$ our peace5)J the Qchassidic $raternity; usually re$ers to the $ello1ship o$ the Qchassidim 1ho $ollo1 a speci$ic Q6ebbe (lit(. 5the L@orld o$M 'manation5)J the highest o$ the $our 1orlds described in QBabbalah; the abode o$ the high angelic beings and o$ the souls o$ the greatest Qt3addi7im; o$ten 0ie1ed in Babbalah and Q4hassidus as distinct $rom the lo1er three 1orlds. and united 1ith C-dliness ?eb( month corresponding to Nuly-*ugust; also called 9enachem *0 (lit(. 5ser0ice5)J $ormerly. the sacri$icial ser0ice in the Temple. and later. the ser0ice o$ prayer instituted in its stead; in chassidic terminology. re$ers to one:s entire program o$ ser0ing and 1orshiping C-d *uthor o$ the QTanya. i(e(. the *lter 6ebbe (lit(. 5master o$ rulings5)J one 1ho has mastered the ability to issue de$initi0e rulings o$ la1 based on the QShulchan *ruch and QPos7im (collo/( $orm o$ baal 7eriah. lit(. 5master o$ reading5)J one 1ho reads $rom the QTorah scroll at the public prayer ser0ice (lit(. 5obligated to $ul$ill the commandments5)J the attainment o$ religious ma>ority at the age o$ 1!. at 1hich point a boy becomes personally responsible $or his religious practice; a lad 1ho has reached the age o$ bar mit30ah; a $east held in honor o$ the occasion. at 1hich the lad customarily recites a Qpilpul or other QTorah teaching See beis hamedrash The 8abylonian QTalmud. de0eloped in 8abylonia. and edited at end o$ the $i$th century ?ouse o$ (QTorah) study. usually ser0ing as a synagogue as 1ell; in chassidic circles. the terms beis hamedrash and Qshul are o$ten used interchangeably The ()irst or Second) ?oly Temple in Nerusalem 5son o$ (((5; used as part o$ a man:s $ormal name. $ollo1ed by the name o$ either his $ather or mother (lit(. 5little bear5J Did()J $amiliar $orms o$ the name 8er. 1hich is the Did( )orm o$ the ?eb( name -o0 (abbre0( o$ 8aruch ?aShem)J 58lessed be C-d5 (lit(. 5understanding5)J the second o$ the ten di0ine emanations; the second stage o$ the intellectual process (c$( Q4habad). de0eloping the initial conception o$ Q4hochmah (lit(. 5re$inement5)J the process o$ disco0ering the -i0ine spar7s 1ithin the material 1orld and 1ithin the $orces o$ e0il. and separating and ele0ating these spar7s through one:s Qa0odah a young man past the age o$ Qbar mit30ah. but not yet married. usually studying at a Qyeshi0ah (acronym $or Q4hochmah. Q8inah. Q-aas)J the $irst three o$ the ten di0ine emanations. and the corresponding stages that comprise the intellectual process; the branch o$ the chassidic mo0ement (see Q4hassidus) 1hose roots are in an intellectual approach to the ser0ice o$ C-d. and 1hich 1as $ounded by 6( Shneur Oalman o$ =iadi. the *lter 6ebbe; a synonym $or 4habad in this sense is Q=uba0itch. the name o$ the to1nship 1here the mo0ement $lourished 181!-1,15;

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chadorim chalat Chanu>ah charomim chassid @pl3" chassidimA Chassidus

cheder cheirem @pl3" charomimA Chevra Eadisha chilul $aShem Chochmah Chol $aMoed Chumash ,aas

davenF davenenF davening

devei>us EliyahuF

the philosophy o$ this school o$ 4hassidism; adherents o$ this mo0ement See cheder (Did()J a dressing go1n. esp( one in the style 1orn by Qchassidim (lit(. 5rededication5)J eight-day $esti0al beginning on F5 QBisle0. celebrating the recapture o$ the second Temple $rom the Syrian Cree7s. and its rededication See cheirem adherent o$ the 4hassidic 9o0ement (see 4hassidus); $ollo1er o$ a particular chassidic Q6ebbe (1hen capitali3ed) 4hassidism. i(e(. the mo0ement 1ithin <rthodoI Nudaism $ounded in the H7raine by 6( Disrael. the 8aal Shem To0. and stressingJ emotional in0ol0ement in prayer; ser0ice o$ C-d through the material uni0erse; 1holehearted earnestness in di0ine ser0ice; the mystical in addition to the legalistic dimension o$ Nudaism; the po1er o$ >oy. and o$ music; the lo0e to be sho1n to e0ery Ne1. unconditionally; and the mutual physical and moral responsibility o$ the members o$ the in$ormal chassidic brotherhood. each chassid ha0ing culti0ated a spiritual attachment to their saintly mentor. the Q6ebbe; the philosophy and literature o$ this mo0ement; see also Q4habad (lit(. 5room5; pl(. chadorim)J a Ne1ish elementary school; in Qchassidic circles. this term may re$er to a class $or a select group o$ ad0anced adult students a ban o$ eIcommunication issued by the rabbinical authorities against an indi0idual or group (lit(. 5the holy society5J *r()J the society that attends to the Qtaharah and burial o$ the deceased and o0ersees the management o$ the community cemetery (lit(. 5pro$aning the Name Lo$ C-dM5)J an act that brings discredit or re$lects badly on the Torah. Torah scholars. the Ne1ish religion. or the Ne1ish people (lit(. 51isdom5)J the $irst o$ the ten di0ine emanations; the $irst stage o$ the intellectual process (c$( Q4habad); reason in potentia (lit(. 51ee7day during the $esti0al5)J the intermediate days o$ QPesach and QSu77os. obser0ed as minor $esti0als the Pentateuch. the $irst $i0e boo7s o$ the 8ible (lit(. 57no1ledge5)J the third o$ the ten di0ine emanations; the third stage o$ the intellectual process (c$( Q4habad). at 1hich concepts. ha0ing proceeded $rom seminal intuition (Q4hochmah) through meditati0e gestation (Q8inah). no1 mature into their corresponding dispositions or Qmiddos (Did()J the prayers; in Q4habad usage also signi$ies the Qa0odah o$ praying at length. the reading o$ passages in the QSiddur being interspersed 1ith pauses $or disciplined meditation $rom memory on related teIts in Q4hassidus; used as a 0erb. e(g(. 5& am ready to da0en Q9inchah5 or 5he is busy da0ening5 (lit(. 5clinging5)J spiritual attachment to. or uni$ication 1ith the -i0ine the prophet 'li>ah

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Eliyahu $a(avi Elul Eret7 =israel far rengen

ga

ai

1an Eden gaon gartel 1emara geonim $alachah

$aTamim

$avayah hilula illuy %yar Ea alah >a alist >adosh

Eatan Eerias Shema Eiddush

Eislev Eohen

?eb( month corresponding to *ugust - September the =and o$ &srael (Did()J a chassidic assembly addressed by the Q6ebbe; an in$ormal gathering o$ Qchassidim $or mutual and brotherly edi$ication (*r()J an eIecuti0e o$$icer o$ the synagogue or other communal institution; an o$$icial o$ the Q6ebbe:s court. 1ho admits people $or Qyechidus the Carden o$ 'den (Paradise) (lit(. 5esteemed one5; pl(. geonim)J a QTorah genius; 1hen capitali3ed. 5the Caon5 usually re$ers speci$ically to 6a0 'liyahu o$ 2ilna (17FG-17,7)M (Did()J a braided sash or belt 1orn (esp( by Qchassidim) during prayer and other $ormal occasions (*r()J the QTalmud (usually re$ers to Q8a0li); the elucidation o$ the Q9ishnah. and the discussion o$ related topics. by the Sages see gaon; 1hen capitali3ed. 5the Ceonim5 re$ers to the heads o$ the QTorah *cademies in post-QTalmudic 8abylonia (lit(. 5the 1ay to go5)J the body o$ Ne1ish la1; teIts dealing 1ith this sub>ect; a particular la1 (lit(. 5the per$ect one5)J periodical publication by the Students: <rgani3ation o$ the =uba0itcher Deshi0ah in @arsa1; only eight issues 1ere actually printed. during the period 1,!5-1,!7 (litJ 5being5)J a re$erence to C-d:s -i0ine Name o$ the $our ?eb( letters yud-hei-0a0-hei. eIpressing ?is transcendence o$ time and space (lit(. 5>oyous celebration5)J traditional celebration held by Qchassidim on the Qyahrt3eit o$ a Qt3addi7 (lit(. 5ele0ated one5; pl(. illuyim)J a young (QTorah) genius; a child prodigy ?eb( month corresponding to *pril - 9ay (lit(. 5recei0ed tradition5)J the body o$ classical Ne1ish mystical teachings one 1ho studies or speciali3es in QBabbalah (lit(. 5saintly one5)J title gi0en (posthumously) to a person 1ho has su$$ered martyrdom; one 1ho leads a saintly li$estyle see Dom Bippur Batan recitation o$ the QShema (lit(. 5sancti$ication5)J blessings recited o0er a goblet o$ 1ine. during the e0ening. and again during the a$ternoon o$ QShabbos or a $esti0al. eIpressing the sanctity o$ the occasion (eg(. Siddur. p( FG1); a gathering. including light re$reshment and 1ords o$ QTorah. held in con>unction 1ith the recitation o$ this prayer ?eb( month corresponding to No0ember - -ecember 5priest5; i(e(. a descendant o$ *haron

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@pl3" EohannimA Eohen 1adol Lag BaOmer Livyasan Lu avitch Maariv maggid Malchus MarCheshvan masmid ma7el tovD melamed @pl3" melamdimA Menachem )v mesirus nefesh middos

the 5high priest.5 or chie$ o$ the QBohanim; occasionally used as a title o$ honor. $or any great person 1ho is a QBohen the thirty-third day o$ the period bet1een QPesach and QSha0uos; obser0ed as a minor $esti0al. esp( by Qchassidim a giant sea creature 1hose $lesh 1ill be ser0ed to the Qt3addi7im in the 9essianic age (lit(. 5to1n o$ lo0e5J 6us()J 0illage in @hite 6ussia (no1 in 6ussia) 1hich. $rom 181! to 1,15. 1as the center o$ Q4habad Q4hassidus. and 1hose name has remained a synonym $or it e0ening prayer ser0ice (Siddur. p( 1G"$$() a preacher; 1hen capitali3ed. 5the 9aggid5 usually re$ers speci$ically to 6( -o0 8er. the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch (lit(. 5so0ereignty5)J the last o$ the ten -i0ine emanations. intermediary bet1een Q4habad and the Qmiddos o$ the higher spiritual 1orlds. and our lo1er physical 1orld ?eb( month corresponding to <ctober - No0ember one 1ho studies QTorah constantly. 1ith great diligence (lit(. 5a good star5)J 5Cood =uc7E5; also. commonly used in the sense o$ 54ongratulationsE5 or a combination o$ these t1o sentiments an elementary QTorah teacher see *0 (lit(. 5sacri$ice o$ the soul5)J the 1illingness to sacri$ice onesel$. either through martyrdom. or through a sel$less li$e. $or the sa7e o$ the QTorah and its commandments (lit( 5attributes5)J the siI -i0ine emanations in$erior to the intellectual attributes o$ Q4habad; their corresponding human character traits or emotional attributes one o$ the classical collections o$ the Sages: homiletical teachings on the QTorah. on the non-literal le0el a ritual bath in 1hich a person immerses as part o$ the transition $rom impurity to purity. or $rom a lo1er state o$ holiness to a higher state (lit(. 5the o$$ering5)J a$ternoon prayer ser0ice (Siddur. p( ," $$() (lit(. 5the number5; pl(. minyonim)J ten adult male Ne1s; a /uorum $or public prayer. consisting o$ ten such Ne1s; a room 1here the minyan prays the germinal statements o$ la1 elucidated by the QCemara. together 1ith 1hich they collecti0ely constitute the QTalmud; any one such statement is li7e1ise called a 9ishnah indi0idual passages $rom the Q9ishnah; see QTalmud opponent o$ Q4hassidus. either as an indi0idual. or as a member o$ an organi3ed opposition group (lit(. 5commandment5; pl(. mit30os)J one o$ the "1! commandments; in a larger sense. any religious obligation or meritorious act (a) the night $ollo1ing the QShabbos day (lit(. 5set aside5J *r()J an ob>ect belonging to one o$ se0eral classes o$ ob>ects that may not be mo0ed $rom their place on QShabbos or QDom To0 1ords o$ censure or admonishment;

Midrash mi>veh @pl3" mi>vosA Minchah minyan

Mishnah Mishnayos misnaged @pl3" misnagdimA mit7vah

Mot7oei Sha mu>t7a mussar

os

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nasi niddah (issan parshah Parshas333 perushim Pesach pilpul @pl3" pilpulimA porush pose> Pos>im !a einu

Ne1ish philosophic 1or7s dealing 1ith personal conduct and character. and methods $or sel$-impro0ement in these areas (lit(. 5prince5; pl(. nesi:im)J in Q4habad chassidic usage. re$ers to the 8aal Shem To0. the 9aggid. or one o$ the Q6ebbeim a 1oman 1ho has her menstrual period or similar $lo1 o$ blood; she may not resume relations 1ith her husband until she counts se0en 5clean5 days. and immerses in a Qmi70eh ?eb( month corresponding to 9arch-*pril portion o$ the QTorah read publicly each 1ee7 the Qparshah o$((( see porush the Passo0er )esti0al. occurring on 15 QNissan. celebrating the 'Iodus $rom 'gypt a compleI scholarly dissertation (lit(. 5one 1ho 7eeps himsel$ apart5; pl(. perushim)J an ascetic and chaste indi0idual; one 1ho practices celibacy (lit(. 5decider5)J rabbi authori3ed to issue de$initi0e rulings o$ la1; one o$ the QPos7im (1hen capitali3ed) (lit(. 5deciders5)J 1or7s o$ applied Ne1ish la1; the authors o$ these 1or7s 5<ur 6ebbe.5 or 5<ur 9aster5; title pre$acing the names o$ the most prominent rabbis o$ each generation see ra0 (acronym $or 6abbi 9oshe ben 9aimon; 11!5-1FG )J 9aimonedes. one o$ the $oremost Ne1ish thin7ers o$ the 9iddle *ges; his 9ishneh Torah is one o$ the pillars o$ Q?alachah. and his Cuide $or the PerpleIed. one o$ the classics o$ Ne1ish philosophy (acronym $or 6abbi Shlomo Dit3cha7i; 1G G-11G5)J author o$ the $oremost commentaries on the 8ible and QTalmud; his commentary on the Talmud is traditionally printed together 1ith the teIt the rabbi o$ a community or congregation 56abbi5 used as a title pre$acing a name a short $orm o$ 5Q6ebbe.5 used as a title pre$acing a name; collo/(. used 1ith the name o$ any adult male. approI( e/ui0alent to the 'nglish 59ister5 (common Did( Pronunciation o$. 5my teacher Lor masterM5; pl(. 6ebbeim)J Qt3addi7 1ho ser0es as spiritual guide to a $ollo1ing o$ Qchassidim; see Q4hassidus (Did()J 1i$e o$ a rabbi or Q6ebbe; a 1oman o$ great spiritual achie0ements in her o1n right the 5'arlier Sages.5 1ho $lourished $rom the mid-ele0enth to the mid-siIteenth centuries; 1or7s 1ritten by these sages (lit(. 5head o$ the month5)J Ne1 9oon. i(e(. one or t1o semi$esti0e days at the beginning o$ the month (lit(. 5head o$ the year5)J the Ne1ish Ne1 Dear $esti0al. $alling on 1 and F QTishrei senior lecturer at a yeshi0ah;

ra onim !am am

!ashi

rav ra onimA !av !e

@pl3"

!e !e

e et7in

!ishonim !osh Chodesh !osh $aShanah rosh yeshivah

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@pl3roshei yeshivahA Sanhedrin sefer seforimA Selichos @pl3"

1hen capitali3ed. the dean o$ a yeshi0ah the central rabbinical Supreme 4ourt o$ ancient &srael. and the lo1er regional or municipal courts operating under its >urisdiction a LsacredM teIt (lit(. 5pardons5)J special prayers recited be$ore Shacharis during the 1ee7 preceding Q6osh ?ashanah; the days during these prayers are recited; special prayers recited on $ast days and QDom Bippur Batan a class o$ high angelic beings $amiliar name $or the building at 77G 'astern Par71ay. in the 4ro1n ?eights section o$ 8roo7lyn. Ne1 Dor7. containing the central head/uarters o$ the 1orld1ide =uba0itcher 4hassidic 9o0ement; the Pre0ious 6ebbe:s residence $rom 1, G until his passing in 1,5G; the 6ebbeRs pri0ate o$$ice and secretariat. and (later) also his residence; and the present home o$ the central =uba0itcher QDeshi0ah (lit(. 5Lday o$M rest5; pl(. Shabbasos)J the Sabbath the QShabbos prior to the $ast o$ QTishah be*0 (lit(. 5the Shabbos 1hen 1e bless5)J the Shabbos preceding Q6osh 4hodesh. 1hen a special blessing $or the ne1 month is recited during the morning ser0ices. and the day 1hen 6osh 4hodesh 1ill $all is announced (Siddur. p( 1,1) the QShabbos $ollo1ing the $ast o$ QTishah be*0 the QShabbos on 1hich a LnamedM Qparshah is read the morning prayer ser0ice (Siddur. p( 1F$$() (acronym $or sh:luche d:6abbanaJ *r(. 5emissary o$ our Q6ebbe5)J an itinerant emissary sent by the 6ebbe to 0isit 0arious Qchassidic communities. 1here he collects donations $or the 6ebbe:s charity $unds. transmits the 6ebbe:s latest 1ritten or oral instructions. repeats the 6ebbe:s latest chassidic discourses. and ma7es a report o$ the spiritual status o$ the local chassidim and their leaders. to be transmitted to the 6ebbe 5Peace upon youE5 a traditional greeting (lit(. 51ee7s5)J $esti0al occurring in 0ery late spring. celebrating the gi0ing o$ the QTorah on 9t( Sinai. and the sacri$icial ser0ice o$ the ne1 1heat crop in Temple times (Did)J a gentile; a Ne1 1ho is not obser0ant. or 1ho commits some in$raction o$ the rules; o$ten used as a derogatory epithet a teIt consisting o$ three passages o$ the QTorah. to be recited during the morning and e0ening prayer ser0ices. and be$ore retiring at night. beginning 1ith the 1ords QShema Disrael (Siddur. p( " int( al(); also recited as part o$ a deathbed con$ession 5?ear < &srael5J the opening 1ords o$ the QShema the eighth day o$ the QSu77os $esti0al. a holiday in its o1n

Seraphim Seven-Seventy @or +99<+A

Sha os Sha os Cha7on Sha os Mevorchim Sha os (achamu Sha os Parshas333 Shacharis shadar

Shalom )leichemD Shavuos sheiget7

Shema

Shema =israel Shemini )t7eres

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shevarim Shimalle Shlita

shochet @pl3" shochtimA shofar shul Shulchan )ruch

Shvat Siddur

Simchas Torah

sitter Sivan Su>>os taharah tallis Talmud

Tammu7 Tanach Tanya

TehillimF te>iah shevarim teruah te>iah teruah teshuvah

right. celebrated 1ith great >oy see te7iah $amiliar $orm o$ the name Shimon (acronym $or Sheyichye =e<rech Domim To0im *mein)J abbre0iation placed a$ter a person:s name. eIpressing the 1ishJ 5may he be preser0ed in li$e $or many good days. *men5 ritual slaughterer. 1ho slaughters and inspects cattle and $o1l in the ritually-prescribed manner. $or 7osher consumption ram:s horn. sounded a$ter the QShacharis ser0ice during the month o$ Q'lul. on Q6osh ?aShanah. at the conclusion o$ QDom Bippur. and certain other special occasions (Did()J a synagogue; in Qchassidic circles. the terms shul and Qbeis hamedrash are o$ten used interchangeably (lit(. 5the set table5)J the standard 4ode o$ Ne1ish =a1 compiled by 6( Dose$ Baro (1 88-1575); a later 0ersion. compiled by the *lter 6ebbe ?eb( month corresponding to Nanuary-)ebruary (lit(. 5order Lo$ prayersM5)J prayer boo7; page re$erences in the present 1or7 are to the edition (1ith 'nglish translation) entitled Siddur Tehillat ?aShem (9er7os =:&nyonei 4hinuch. N(D(. 1,7,) (lit(. 5the 6e>oicing o$ the QTorah5)J $esti0al $ollo1ing QSu77os. on 1hich the public reading o$ the Torah is annually concluded and recommenced; obser0ed 1ith great >oy. singing and dancing. and a procession 1ith the QTorah scrolls (Siddur. p( !!5$$() senior student studying at the Qbeis hamedrash o$ the Q6ebbe or o$ one o$ the prominent Qchassidic elders. not at a $ormal Qyeshi0ah ?eb( month corresponding to 9ay-Nune (lit(. 58ooths5)J se0en-day $esti0al beginning on 15 QTishrei. ta7ing its name $rom the temporary d1elling in 1hich one li0es during this period (lit(. 5puri$ication5)J ritual 1ashing and dressing o$ the deceased in preparation $or burial 1oolen cloa7 1ith Qt3it3is. 1orn during prayer the basic compendium o$ Ne1ish la1. thought. and 8iblical commentary; its tractates mainly comprise the discussions collecti0ely 7no1n as the QCemara. 1hich elucidate the germinal statements o$ la1 collecti0ely 7no1n as the Q9ishnah; 1hen unspeci$ied. re$ers to the Talmud Q8a0li ?eb( month corresponding to Nune-Nuly acronym $or Torah (i(e(. the 4humash). Ne0i:im (the Prophets). and Besu0im (the @ritings)J the 8ible the *lter 6ebbeRs basic eIposition o$ Q4habad Q4hassidus; 5Tanya5 is the initial 1ord o$ the boo7. 1hich is also called =i77utei *marim (54ollected -iscourses5) and Se$er shel 8einonim (5The 8oo7 o$ the &ntermediates5) (lit(. 5praises5)J the 8oo7 o$ Psalms the traditional order o$ the sounds o$ the Qsho$arJ a long steady blast. a series o$ short 1ailing blasts. a series o$ 0ery short sounds in rapid succession. and another long steady blast see te7iah (lit(. 5return Lto C-dM5)J repentance

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Teves Three *ee>s Ti>>un Chat7os Tishah Tishrei Torah e)v

Torah Or Toras $aChassidus Tosafos

?eb( month corresponding to -ecember-Nanuary the period o$ semi-mourning prior to QTishah be*0. commemorating the destruction o$ the Q8eis ?a9i7dash (lit(. 5midnight liturgy5)J an optional de0otional eIercise lamenting the destruction o$ the Q8eis ?a9i7dash. and the subse/uent eIile o$ the -i0ine Presence (lit(. 5Ninth day o$ Q*05)J a day o$ $asting and mourning. mar7ing the date 1hen both the $irst and second Temples 1ere destroyed ?eb( month corresponding to September-<ctober (lit( 5la15)J C-d:s re0ealed truth. communicated as the @ritten =a1 (the 8ible). and the <ral =a1 (the oral tradition communicated by our Sages throughout history. much o$ it set do1n in the QTalmud); a hand1ritten parchment scroll containing the $i0e boo7s o$ the Q4humash. used $or public reading during the prayer ser0ices on QShabbos. 9onday. Thursday. $esti0als. and $ast days (lit(. the QTorah is =ight5)J a classic collection o$ Qchassidic discourses by the *lter 6ebbe the philosophy and literature o$ Q4hassidus (lit(. 5supplements5)J classical commentaries on the QTalmud. composed by the descendants and disciples o$ Q6ashi. 1hich began to appear in the mid-t1el$th century and are traditionally printed together 1ith the teIt o$ the Talmud completely righteous indi0idual; Q6ebbe $ringes on the $our corners o$ the Qtallis 1orn by males (c$( 8amidbar 15J!7- G); a $our-cornered garment 1ith such $ringes. usually 1orn underneath one:s outer clothing QTorah passage read in public during $ast days (Siddur. p( !"") (lit(. 5time o$ year5J Did()J the anni0ersary o$ a person:s (usually a parent:s) death (Did()J a s7ullcap 1orn by Ne1ish boys and men to signi$y re0erence $or C-d; many 1ear the yarmul7e on in$ormal occasions. and substitute a hat during prayer and other $ormal occasions; Qchassidim 1ear both a yarmul7e and hat $or $ormal use pri0ate audience (more o$ an encounter o$ souls) at 1hich a Qchassid see7s guidance and enlightenment $rom his Q6ebbe the Nerusalem QTalmud. compiled in Q'ret3 Disrael and edited at the end o$ the $ourth century QTorah academy $or ad0anced students the -ay o$ *tonement. solemn $ast day $alling on 1G QTishrei and climaIing the annual penitential period (lit(. the 5little5 Dom Bippur)J the e0e o$ Q6osh 4hodesh (or the preceding Thursday. i$ 6osh 4hodesh $alls on Shabbos or Sunday). obser0ed in many communities as a minor $ast day during 1hich special prayers are recited and 2aDechal is read (lit 5Cood -ay5)J a $esti0al $amiliar $orm o$ the name Oelig (or Selig) $amiliar $orm o$ the name Oalman

t7addi> @pl3" t7addi>imA t7it7is

Va=echal yart7eit yarmul>e

yechidus =erushalmi yeshivah @pl3" yeshivosA =om Eippur =om Eippur Eatan

=om Tov ?el>e ?elmele

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1eographic Terms <nly those terms necessary $or an understanding o$ the historical and geographic bac7ground o$ the teIt are included here( Spellings are consistent 1ith the Polish spellings $ound on 18th century maps o$ the region Brys> (8rest on modern maps)J city (and surrounding territory) in south1estern region o$ modern 8elarus. bordering on Poland; $ormerly part o$ =ithuania and QPoland Bu>ovina Territory in southern region o$ modern H7raine. bordering on 6omania and 9oldo0a; once part o$ *ustria-?ungary. and later part o$ 6omania Chernigov 4ity (and surrounding territory) in northern region o$ modern H7raine; the Ne1s o$ 4hernigo0 had more in common 1ith those o$ Q@hite 6ussia than 1ith those o$ H7raine Cherson (Bherson on modern maps)J city (and surrounding territory) in southern region o$ modern H7raine 1alicia Territory no1 in southern QPoland and south1estern H7raine; $ormerly a possession o$ the *ustrian 'mpire Eiev 4ity (and surrounding territory) in northern region o$ modern H7raine. bordered by Q6eissin to the north. Q4hernigo0 to the east. and Q2ohlynia to the south Eremenchug 4ity in central region o$ modern H7raine Eovna (Baunas on modern maps)J city (and surrounding territory) in the QOamut region o$ modern =ithuania; $ormerly part o$ Poland. and later part o$ 6ussia Lita Did( name $or territory corresponding approIimately to modern =ithuania; in a broader sense (esp( as used by Ne1s o$ QPoland). includes Q6eissin and some ad>oining areas in 6ussia and Poland; in the narro1est sense. restricted to the Q2ilna region o$ southeastern =ithuania Little !ussia Territory in 1hat is no1 northern and eastern H7raine Lu avitch 2illage $ormerly in Q9ohile0 4ounty o$ Q@hite 6ussia. presently in QSmolens7 4ounty o$ 6ussia (see Clossary ) Mins> 4ity (and surrounding territory) in central region o$ modern 8elarus Mohilev 4ity (and surrounding territory) in eastern region o$ modern @also spelled 8elarus. bordering on 6ussia; MogilevA 4ity (and surrounding territory) in south1estern region o$ modern H7raine; to distinguish it $rom the $ormer. it 1as o$ten called 59ohile0 on the -nester.5 and (by the Ne1s) 5Tur7ish5 9ohile0 Podolia Territory in south1estern region o$ modern H7raine; once part o$ the QPolish 'mpire; together 1ith Q2ohlynia. it is o$ten called 2ohlynia-Podolia. or Podolia-2ohlynia Poland at its height. the Polish 'mpire included modern Poland. and much ad>oining territory in 1hat is no1 eastern Cermany. southern =ithuania. 8elarus. and H7raine; in general Did( usage. includes only modern Poland; to the Ne1s o$ Q=ita. the term 5Poland5 also includes Q2ohlyniaPodolia and some other territories no1 in H7raine; $or most o$ the period o$ 17,5-1,18. Poland did not eIist as an independent entity. and 1as partitioned among Cermany. *ustria-?ungary. and 6ussia; during this period. the term 5Poland5 usually re$erred only to the 6ussian sector (1hich 1as sometimes called 54ongress Poland5); the *ustrian sector 1as called QCalicia

86

Poltava !eissin Sh>lov Smolens> Vilna

Vite s> Vohlynia @also spelled VolhyniaA *hite !ussia ?amut

4ity (and surrounding territory) in northeastern region o$ modern H7raine Did( name $or Q@hite 6ussia To1n in Q9ohile0 region o$ Q@hite 6ussia. and (along 1ith Q2ilna) a principle center o$ the misnagdim in the late 18th century 4ity (and surrounding territory) in 1estern 6ussia. bordering on eastern 8elarus (2ilnius on modern maps)J city in southeastern region o$ modern =ithuania; Did( name $or entire region o$ southeastern =ithuania (see last de$inition under Q=ita) 4ity (and surrounding territory) in northeastern region o$ modern 8elarus. bordering on 1estern 6ussia Territory in 1estern region o$ modern H7raine (see Podolia) Territory corresponding approIimately to modern 8elarus Did( name $or territory in north1estern region o$ modern =ithuania