Weekly Moment With the Rebbe

Humility. A natural trait stressed in Torah law and proper conduct. Yet should we shy away when duty calls? The Avner Institute presents two private moments with two individuals hesitantly embarking on outreach.

Humility. A natural trait stressed in Torah law and proper conduct. Yet should we shy away when duty calls? The Avner Institute presents two private moments with two individuals hesitantly embarking on outreach: the first a letter encouraging a young woman to seek guidance and socialization in community affairs; the second a private audience encouraging a Chabad rabbi to conduct a campus event with outward pride in his heritage – all proving, in the end, that “life is with people.”

In loving memory of Hadassah Lebovic A”h

“Seclusion is not the way”

By the Grace of G-d
5 Tishrei 5720
Brooklyn, NY

Miss Chaya Golda Hamm
675 Empire Blvd.
Brooklyn 13, NY

Blessing and Greeting:

I received your letter of the 20th of Elul.

Needless to say, it is one of the basic mitzvoth to take care of one’s health, as it is written in the Torah, and as you rightly mention in your letter. Since this is one of the mitzvoth, it is impossible that it should conflict with the observance of other mitzvoth. Therefore, there must be a way in which to arrange your good activities in such a way as not to affect your health. If you find it difficult to arrange such a schedule, I trust that your teachers at the Beth Jacob, who know you personally, will be able to help you in this.

You write that you are disposed to avoid meeting with people, etc. Seclusion is not the way, for there are great benefits to be derived from associating and meeting with people. Firstly, meeting and talking with people gives one a clearer insight as to the viewpoint of Torah and mitzvoth on the practical aspects of life. Secondly, one can also benefit from guidance, which is more objective when it comes from other people. Needless to say, I am speaking of the kind of people and environment which is permeated with Torah and mitzvoth.

As for the question of tzedakah, you surely know that the custom is to set aside ma’aser [tithe], that is at least 10% of one’s earnings, and up to 20%.

With regard to the question of the differences of opinion, I note that the other people in question are also shomrei Torah [observant], who would yield to the authority of the Torah. Therefore, it would be well to visit a Rav, so that each party can explain their point of view and then the Rav could mediate between the disputing parties.

Let me conclude with the general observation with regard to all above, that though it is always necessary to act in accordance with the Torah, Toras Chaim, it is always also necessary to act in a pleasant and peaceful manner, and this is possible to do without compromising the strictest observance of the Torah and mitzvoth.

May G-d grant that you will soon have good news to report in all the matters mentioned above.

Wishing you a chasima ugmar chasima tovah [sealed for a good New Year].

With blessing,

[signature]

“The unity of all Jews”

The notes of this yechidus, a private audience held 3 Adar Sheni 5722/March 9, 1962, were taken from a letter written to Rabbi Asher Zelingold, a few days after the yechidus took place. Rabbi Zelingold—who today is a Rav and Chabad emissary in S. Paul, MN—was at that time a sort of junior emissary studying in Brunoy, France. It is being printed here with Yaakov Hanoka’s permission.

For some time now Yaakov Hanoka had been invited to Penn State University for a Shabbaton with his friends there. Finally, the administration gave him permission to go for Shabbos Parshas Pikudei. A week and a half earlier, he wrote in a letter to the Rebbe asking for advice and a blessing on the trip. He did not receive any answer.

Thursday evening before Rabbi Hanoka left, after Maariv, the Rebbe’s secretary Rabbi Isaac Mordechai Chodakov told him that the Rebbe shlita would answer his letter in person, and that he should go into yechidus that night. He went in at 9:00 and came out sometime after 9:30.

THE REBBE: Good evening, Mr. “Chanukah.”

The Rebbe asked how he’s progressing, if he understands Yiddish, and if he listens to any lessons in the Yeshiva, etc.

THE REBBE: How do you like the yeshiva? You needn’t answer if you don’t want, on this.

YAAKOV HANOKA: I don’t mind answering, but I don’t want to waste the Rebbe’s time. I am convinced that coming to yeshiva was the right thing, and I have no regrets for the move I made.

THE REBBE: How are you doing financially? You needn’t answer on this either. I don’t believe in asceticism; it’s not Chassidus.

YH: So far, I still have some money. I can tutor college boys when I am out of money. I am not worried about money.

THE REBBE (with a smile): You must feel like a pioneer.

YH: I don’t like to be an example. I don’t yet feel fit to represent what they expect of me.

THE REBBE: When you go to Penn State tomorrow for Shabbos, act yourself. This Shabbos you must not act like what’s expected from you for next Sunday. On the other hand, Monday should not be like Sunday, but better. Convey to the students your true feelings, and don’t be afraid that it might chase them away or distance them. Don’t lead them to believe that you lack anything as a result of coming to yeshiva.

And as for being an example, it’s not your choice! Every Jew, by virtue of the giving of the Torah, is automatically—whether observant or not—whether aware or not—an example to the world. This is one of the reasons for antisemitism. So don’t feel bad about being an example, because you are one whether you like it or not.

Yaakov had been having trouble with his feet. The Rebbe told him: Give tzedakah before putting on tefillin. (The Rebbe also gave an explanation on the connection of tefillin and the feet, but Yaakov couldn’t remember the details.)

This was the year when the Rebbe began a massive campaign to encourage people to fulfill two of the Purim mitzvoth: mishloach manos (sending gifts to a friend) and matonos le’evyonim (giving gifts to the poor).

THE REBBE: When you are at Penn State, you should convey the message of Purim and its two mitzvoth to your friends there. They are easy, and might seem small, but are still important.

To understand this: Moshe Rabeinu was the ultimate in da’as [knowledge], and a thirteen-year-old American who knows almost nothing is very low in da’as. Yet, they are equal in two things:

Ma’aseh [action]: both have an equal obligation to wear tefillin, etc.
Emunah [faith]: Moshe Rabeinu needs emunah as much as a young boy. As great a level as one can attain with ta’am voda’as [knowledge and reason], Hashem is still higher, and you need emunah. Similarly, just like the greatest and lowest must equally submit themselves to Hashem, so too, the biggest and smallest mitzvoth are equally vital in the detail of bitul haratzon (self-abnegation). The two mitzvoth of Purim, no matter how small they seem, are vital.

These mitzvoth also have a deep spiritual significance. They represent the unity of all Jews from re’yim [friends]—“gifts of food from friend to friend.”

“Friend” represents someone close in spirituality to poor [“and presents to the poor”], and “poor” represents the strongest nuance to describe someone destitute, who lacks everything.

On Friday afternoon, when Rabbi Hanoka had already arrived at Penn State, a long-distance call came in from Rabbi Chodakov. The secretary said that he had asked the Rebbe Shlita and confirmed the two points about tzedakah before tefillin (but that the Rebbe did not repeat the connection), and about Moshe Rabbeinu and the boy.

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