לזכות הילד החייל בצבאות ה' מנחם מענדל שי' לרגל ה"אפשערניש" שלו ביום ד' ניסן תשע"ה נדפס ע"י הוריו הרה"ת ר' בנציון וזוגתו מרת בלומא שם טוב PHOTO: JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE / 74992 PHOTO:

SURPRISE

As Chassidim, we carefully follow the ’s every move in anticipation to learn as much as possible from his actions, just as we do from the he teaches. There are ש"פ נשא times when the Rebbe does things that are seemingly out of the ordinary and may be תנש"א difficult to understand, which makes us appreciate them even more. On Shabbos Parshas Nasso 5751 something happened that came across to be so exceptional, that it borderlines mysterious. After conducting the usual farbrengen at 1:30 in the afternoon, the Rebbe appeared in the shul a second time just minutes before shkia. The few lucky ones who happened to be present at that moment were in for a surprise… The following description of that memorable shabbos is based on numerous diaries and recollections of those present at the time. Among them: Yoman Ar’enu Niflaos, Beis Chayenu, an extensive article by Rabbi Yossi Lew, and more.

This Shabbos, Yud-Beis Sivan, was a which were almost entirely dedicated to Vesimchu Besimchas Hageula’, while the direct continuation of the Yom Tov of the theme of matan Torah. Rebbe encouraged the singing, showing Shavuos. Most of the guests were still Shacharis was also held in a festive mode; special attention to a group of French present at 770, and many additional ‘Sim Shalom’ was sung, and the Rebbe visiting from Montreal. shluchim and rabbanim who could not vigorously encouraged the singing, The first sicha dwelt on the occasion leave their congregations over the holiday motioning for the tune to be repeated of receiving the Torah anew this past joined as well, to catch the ‘last licks’ of three times. week. The Rebbe spoke at length about the Yom Tov’dike atmosphere. our obligation to begin learning Torah Indeed, a very large crowd was present, Typical Shabbos on an entirely new level, with the same and the feeling of Shavuos was strongly A lebedike tune was sung as the excitement we would have for something felt; not only in the air, but also, and Rebbe entered the packed shul for the brand new. At the conclusion of the primarily, in the sichos that the Rebbe farbrengen. After the Rebbe recited lengthy sicha, those in attendance sang spoke during the afternoon farbrengen, , the crowd began to sing ‘Sisu the Kislev Nigun, with the

SIVAN 5775 | 7 Rebbe’s strong encouragement. During the singing, the Rebbe gave a piece of cake to one of the Sharf children. The Rebbe then turned to his left side, facing the guests from Montreal, and began saying: “Guests are present; surely they will say l’chaim, and the entire congregation will join them. “Since some of them are from France and do not understand , therefore [the Rebbe continued in French:] They should say l’chaim three times, with zrizus, and this will be a preparation for the geula ha’amitis v’hashleima through Moshiach Tzidkeinu.” The guests immediately began singing Ho’aderes V’haemunah excitedly, and the whole crowd joined in, with the Rebbe again encouraging the singing with his arm. [The Rebbe also motioned the number two, and then the number three with his JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE / 74949 PHOTO: fingers to the group, indicating that they THE REBBE GIVES OUT KOS SHEL BRACHA AFTER THE SURPRISE FARBRENGEN. should say l’chaim a second time and After the last bottle was presented, home for the Shabbos meal, while others third time. It is interesting to note the the Rebbe began singing the hakafos remained to hear chazzarah of the sichos following: nigun of his father, which was followed that were just spoken; and yet a third Three times on their way back to by Sheyibone, led by Chazzan Moshe group headed out to conduct Shabbos Montreal they encountered, and Teleshevsky. The Rebbe then started gatherings at shuls in the neighboring overcame obstacles. First the wheels ‘Nyet Nyet Nikavo,’ and with this the areas1. of the bus went flat twice during the farbrengen came to a close. All in all, with this it seemed that the journey, and then they collided with As the Rebbe recited the brocho Shavuos festivities of this year had a deer crossing the road. In all three acharona, (after reminding everyone concluded. There had been a farbrengen instances, no one was hurt. After the to do so as well), the bochurim began on Shabbos-Erev Yom Tov; a short third incident, they understood the to sing ‘shuva’, this year’s Yud Aleph Sicha outside 770 said to the tahalucha Rebbe’s motions to them as a clear Nissan Niggun, being that it had not participants upon their return on the indication that they will arrive home been sung yet at the farbrengen. The second night of Yom Tov; a regular Yom safely despite the three obstacles]. Rebbe encouraged the singing, and Tov farbrengen on the second day, with At the conclusion of the third sicha, the started walking towards the shtender near kos shel bracha distribution afterwards Rebbe distributed the customary bottles his seat. Anticipating the beginning of lasting until 2:00 a.m.; during the week of mashke for different events of hafotzas davening, the crowd quieted down, but there was a yechidus klolis for the guests hama’ayanos occurring during the coming the Rebbe continued encouraging the that spent Shavuos with the Rebbe; and week around the world. Due to the large singing even as he reached his davening now we just ended the post-Shavuos crowd, a total of 23 bottles were placed place. was recited, after which the Shabbos farbrengen. This should have on the table. Each person announced Rebbe sat down to recite the first perek of drawn to close all the Shavuos related the event that was to take place, received Pirkei Avos. events for this year. Or so we thought… l’chaim from the Rebbe, and then received Due to the large amount of guests his bottle, which was to be distributed The Shock present, was scheduled to take partly at the farbrengen, and the rest at The time was 3:55 p.m. when the crowd place in the large shul downstairs, as the event. at 770 slowly dispersed. Some headed opposed to in the small upstairs zal,

8 | A CHASSIDISHER DERHER where it was normally held on Motzoei reach the platform where he davens. handed a to the Rebbe. The Rebbe Shabbos. As the afternoon progressed, Placing the kvort on the bima, the Rebbe made Hamotzi, tearing the challah into some people started to gather in 770 to requested that a shissel be brought so he two, and then—with a slight smile on his 2 learn, participate in the seder niggunim can wash his hands before the shkiah. face—‘dipped’ one piece into the other . led each week by Rabbi Nochum Kaplan, Chants were suddenly heard from all The Rebbe then told Rabbi Klein that or simply to be in 770. The atmosphere over, “A shissel! A shissel!” he wishes to sit on the platform so that was subdued, as people calmly went the crowd will be able to see him better. about minding their own business; The Rebbe waited as Reb Avrohom Holtzberg ran to bring the large coffee So after the Rebbe stood up and walked nobody anticipated what was about to up the stairs, the chair was immediately happen. urn, (usually used to serve coffee to the Chassidim before the Rebbe’s farbrengen situated on top of the bima in the corner, At 8:05 p.m. the Rebbe suddenly every Shabbos). Remnants of coffee facing the crowd. The Rebbe sat down, appeared alone—without any of the spilled all over the floor as Reb Avrohom balancing his siddur on top of the mazkirim—at the door in the back of pushed his way through the crowd until banister. The position in which the Rebbe the shul, holding his siddur in his right he reached the Rebbe. sat was totally unprecedented; the Rebbe hand, and a silver-colored kvort filled sat in his chair directly facing the crowd with water along with a pink towel in The Rebbe’s chair was brought over and with no table between them. 3 placed on the floor next to the platform. his left hand. The estimated 50 people The tenseness in the air was almost who were present at the time watched in As none of the mazkirim were present palpable. No one knew what to expect amazement as the Rebbe walked towards when the Rebbe appeared, Rabbi Levi after such an unusual appearance. the aron kodesh. After recovering from Garelik hurried to his father-in-law’s the initial shock of the scene, they began house, Rabbi Binyomin Klein—who Second farbrengen following the Rebbe until he reached lives a few doors down from 770—and Opening his siddur, the Rebbe instructed the bleachers—still standing from the notified him of the surprise. that the crowd sing B’nei Heichala, and afternoon farbrengen—which blocked his All the while, the Rebbe continually he sang along with everyone. Since only path to the aron kodesh. The bochurim wiped his hands with the towel until a handful of people, mainly bochurim, hurried over and hastily moved them to Rabbi Klein appeared at the scene and were present, and they were unsure of the the side, allowing the Rebbe to pass and PHOTO: JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE / 74953 PHOTO:

SIVAN 5775 | 9 PHOTO: JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE / 74956 PHOTO: THE REBBE ENCOURAGES THE SINGING.

ברוך הגבר ,words—and perhaps a little confused— encouragement during the latter. closing words of bentching the song ended relatively quickly, with When singing Lechatchila Ariber, the , the Rebbe explained that many wordless “ay yai yais” substituting Rebbe signaled with strong head motions one must believe, expect, and await for the words. The Rebbe looked up from that the high note be sung ten times. Moshiach’s coming daily; and not just his siddur and asked Rabbi Klein, “They All present felt that these were truly that he may arrive someday, but rather finished already?” So the singing of the special moments within a very unique that he will arrive on that day mamosh! tune without words was continued for a farbrengen. In the absence of a table, everyone could bit longer. The final nigunim were Nigun Hachana, see the Rebbe’s holy hands as he was When the singing finished, the Rebbe the Beinoni, and Hu Elokeinu5. talking. Unlike regular , closed the siddur, placing it back on where the Rebbe holds his holy hands As time progressed, word that the Rebbe top of the banister and began with the under the table, here everyone was able was holding a farbrengen spread swiftly first sicha. The Rebbe spoke fervently to see the Rebbe gesturing with his across the neighborhood, and 770 was of the imminent geulah, connecting hands. For example, when the Rebbe gradually filling up. Bleachers began to עצם כשאתה תופס“ ,it with the current time and date, and mentioned the saying rise in all directions, surrounding the he displayed the - ”במקצתו אתה תופס בכולו then concluded: “As is the custom at 4 bima completely, and very soon the all- these farbrengens , we will now sing the act of “grasping” by grasping one hand too-familiar ‘pushing’ began. nigunim of all the rabbeim [the Rebbe with the other. specified each one by name], concluding The second sicha was regarding the At the conclusion of the sicha, the with the niggun of my father-in-law, the unique avodah that is required right Rebbe began singing his father’s hakafos [Frierdiker] Rebbe, and with this nigun before the coming of Moshiach. The nigun. By this time, 770 was filled from we will finally go out of golus!” Rebbe explained that we have already wall to wall. Lots of people had the completed the work that was expected The singing of the nigunim, with their opportunity to see the Rebbe, and be part from klal Yisrael, and the only thing solemnity as well as excitement, took of this historical and unusual, heavenly remaining is to serve Hashem with oneg; a significant amount of time, and the experience. Those that merited to stand— primarily regarding the study of Torah Rebbe’s expression was unusually serious or hang on to the edge of a bench—close with chayus and pleasure. throughout. to the front of the shul, sang joyously, During the ‘Shalosh Tenuos’ of the The Rebbe also revealed that the with those scattered throughout the shul Ba’al Shem Tov, Maggid and Alter farbrengen would conclude with the joining along. distribution of kos shel bracha, and Rebbe, the Rebbe made strong motions Throughout the farbrengen, the Rebbe then he greatly encouraged the study of encouraging the singing. Keili Atah, the made numerous extraordinary statements Pirkei Avos, Chitas, and the anticipation Mitteler Rebbe’s Kapelye, and Yemin about our proximity to the time of Hashem followed, with the Rebbe’s of Moshiach’s arrival. Mentioning the

10 | A CHASSIDISHER DERHER geulah, and about the uniqueness of the cup and wine to the table that had been people stretched through the shul, current time and location. All of these, placed to the Rebbe’s left, and he filled the waiting for their turn to approach the understandably, had a deep effect on Rebbe’s becher. Rebbe and receive a bit of wine in their all of the assembled chassidim, which The Rebbe lead bentching with zimun, cups. This kos shel bracha was much heightened the uplifting feeling that was and in addition to the regular parts that different than every Motzaei Yom Tov, already felt in the room. he usually concludes out loud, he added as it never took place in this setting and .for everyone to location לעולם אל יחסרנו the words Bentching hear. After a few minutes of the line moving The Rebbe then began a third, shorter Bentching was followed by maariv, slowly, the Rebbe turned to his right, sicha. He asked if ten people had washed and then the Rebbe returned to make towards the aron kodesh, and waved with for Hamotzi, in order to say birkas havdalah at the spot he sat during the the left hand, instructing the people there hamazon with a zimun and with ‘nevarech farbrengen. (The Rebbe’s brown wooden to move away and to get into the line. Elokeinu’ (or at least three, or even one, table was brought over in the meantime.) After a few more minutes, the Rebbe did who—out of ahavas yisrael—can include so again, with a more definite motion. everyone, because he recites every day As the Rebbe recited havdalah, the tall After a while towels were brought to ‘Hareini mikabel’ etc.). Then the Rebbe table upon which the Rebbe generally catch the dripping wine, and more towels concluded with a fervent wish that from distributes dollars after tefiloswas to serve as an armrest for the Rebbe. Yud-Beis Sivan we go directly to the brought up onto the platform for kos News of the surprise farbrengen had geulah ha’amitis vehashleima. shel bracha; but the Rebbe motioned that the distribution will take place on the spread like wildfire as soon as Shabbos At the conclusion of the sicha, the floor, from the same spot as dollars and was over, and streams of people began pushing and shoving around the Rebbe’s kuntreisim were distributed (whenever pouring in from all over the city and place had grown unbearable and the they took place in the downstairs shul). beyond, no one wanting to miss out on makeshift bleachers, which had sprung this momentous occasion. up on all sides, blocked a large part of While the Rebbe descended the steps, At the beginning of the distribution, the crowd from participating in the Rabbi Meir Harlig wrapped the Rebbe’s the Rebbe did not react to the nigunim. farbrengen. People were climbing on and siddur with the yellow towel and held it, However, in the midst of the chalukah, off bleachers and ladders, and there was wrapped in the towel. Rabbi Shlomo Cunin passed by the lots of noise and confusion. Bochurim crowded around, piled on Rebbe, enthusiastically singing Didan The Rebbe instructed that everyone benches and tables, joyfully singing Notzach. The Rebbe powerfully waved should go down and stand on the floor. various nigunim, while a long line of his arm in his direction, encouraging Within seconds, the bleachers were dismantled, but there was still a great commotion and disorder in the room. The Rebbe began motioning to all of those who were standing on benches to get down. “Everyone should go to their places. We will not begin bentching until everyone is in their places,” the Rebbe said, asking that the gabba’im restore order. The Rebbe remarked that if the gabba’im cannot take control, new gabba’im should be appointed.

Kos Shel Bracha After some time, a semblance of order was restored. The Rebbe turned to Rabbi Groner, asking him if there was a minyan of people who had washed for Hamotzi. Rabbi Groner answered in the affirmative, and Rabbi Berel Junik—the Rebbe’s ‘sar hamashkim’ after the passing

of Rabbi Mentlik—brought the Rebbe’s JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE / 74979 PHOTO: AFTER KOS SHEL BRACHA, THE REBBE SAYS BRACHA ACHRONA. SIVAN 5775 | 11 the joyous singing, and from that point holding the siddur, as well as the becher definitely one of the more “heavenly” on, the Rebbe vigorously encouraged the with a napkin and the tray covering over ones ever experienced. singing in all directions, during almost its top. The time was 12:15 a.m. While we may not know how the every nigun. Shortly afterwards, the Rebbe came out process of geulah will work, we do know One of the special moments was when for . that when it happens—speedily in our the Rebbe encouraged the singing This entire event, from the beginning days—it will surely be a most unexpected towards the end of Stav Ya Pitu, when the to the end, is extremely difficult to surprise, ushering in the most incredible crowd sang “un mir zogen aleh, tzuzamen adequately describe; the excitement and “heavenly” experience in history. l’chaim.” delight of all those who merited to take This farbrengen was a taste of that. Another individual that received special part was unimaginable. After kiddush 1. About a year and a half before, on Shabbos attention was Mr. Shmuel Shmueli, editor levana, a spontaneous joyous dance Parshas Noach 5750, the Rebbe reinvigorated a of the newspaper Yisrael Shelanu, to broke out. Everyone placed his hand on custom that he had started many years earlier, whom the Rebbe also waved his arm in his fellow’s shoulders—while attempting called ‘hak’holas kehillos.’ Bochurim would go to encouragement. to catch another vort that he may have shuls around New York to speak and farbreng missed from the farbrengen—celebrating with the congregants about Yiddishkeit and After about an hour-and-a-half, the Chassidus. the unbelievable occurrences that they chair and brown table were brought and 2. Later on when salt was brought, the Rebbe the Rebbe sat down. Reb Meir Harlig were privileged to experience. dipped the challah into the salt. removed the siddur from the towel and Later that night, a tzeischem l’shalom was 3. Someone had brought up a table, in front of placed it on the table for the Rebbe to say organized by Agudas Chassidei Chabad which the Rebbe could sit. But the Rebbe did not want it in front of him. It seemed as though the a bracha achrona. for the many guests that had been in Rebbe preferred to be closer to the crowd. Only The Rebbe then stood up to say Veyiten town for Yom Tov. a small table was placed on the floor where the Challah and water were held. Lecha and was facing north (i.e. 770’s left After the amazing events everyone 4. I.e. Yom Tov farbrengens when the Rebbe side), with the siddur on the table. At that had just experienced, the atmosphere point, several latecomers arrived and the washed before shkia and continued into the was understandably electrified, and all night. Rebbe gave them kos shel bracha. agreed that this totally unprecedented 5. Normally, the Rebbe’s nigun sung on similar Once that was done, the Rebbe began and completely unusual farbrengen was occasions was Atah Vechartanu. singing Ki Besimcha, and left the shul PHOTO: JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE / 74994 PHOTO: THE REBBE LEAVES SHUL AS THE TEEMING CROWD LOOKS ON. 12 | A CHASSIDISHER DERHER