sWxc A Tzaddik and His Students Many Jews are attracted to spirituality but never think to look in their own religion to find it. Still more are unaware that chassidic philosophy and its practice are the “soul” and spiritual core of Judaism. The starting point of the chassidic way of life is a chassid’s connection A Tzaddik to his or her Rebbe. But like many of the more spiritual concepts in Judaism, the role and function of a Rebbe -- and the chassidic movement and in general -- has been largely cloaked in mystery, misinterpreted, or simply unknown. In this book, A Tzaddik and His Students: The Rebbe-Chassid His Students: Relationship, Rabbi Shloma Majeski takes the reader on a step-by-step journey into the spiritual world of the Rebbe-chassid relationship, explaining the nature and purpose of a tzaddik/Rebbe, his connection THE REBBE-CHASSID with his chassidim, and the relevance of this phenomenon in the lives of every human being today. RELATIONSHIP Rabbi Shloma Majeski is the dean of Machon Chana Women’s Institute of Jewish Studies in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, home of the By: Rabbi Shloma Majeski World Headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. A renowned lecturer on chassidic philosophy for over thirty years, Rabbi Majeski is (Chapter 5) the author of the acclaimed book The Chassidic Approach to Joy and a tape series entitled “The Basic Principles of Chabad Chassidic Philosophy.” 5 Published by Sichos In English 788 Eastern Parkway • Brooklyn, N.Y. 11213 57685770 •* 20102008 Year of Faratzta For this and other books on Moshiach & Geulah, go to: http://www.torah4blind.org 28 RUACH HAKODESH AND PROPHECY_____________________________ 85 A Tzaddik and His Students: kindness, Providence has led you here so I could help you The Rebbe-Chassid Relationship rectify your deeds.” Published and Copyrighted © by The Baal Shem Tov used his holy vision to ascertain the Sichos In English remedy for the man’s terrible mistakes. If he would support the 788 Eastern Parkway • Brooklyn, N.Y. 11213 poor man’s family for the rest of his life and open his house so Tel. (718) 778-5436 that poor people could come to get help, the slate with his friend would be clean. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, In this and the other stories, only a tzaddik with ruach including photocopying, without permission in hakodesh or the gift of prophecy could accomplish such writing from the copyright holder or the publisher. extraordinary feats of spiritual perception — all orchestrated to help a Jew rectify his past or receive blessings in the future. ISBN-13: 978-0-9814631-2-4 ISBN-10: 0-9814631-2-6 The Benefit of Ruach HaKodesh For further reading about this and other topics in chassidic philosophy, information on how to obtain Rabbi Majeski’s book The Chassidic Knowing that a Rebbe can see the past, present, and future Approach to Joy, and his tape series on chassidic philosophy, contact your may enhance one’s appreciation of a Rebbe, but that’s not the local Jewish bookstore, [email protected], or call 718-778-5436. main thrust of one’s relationship with a Rebbe. When a chassid seeks the advice and spiritual insight of a 5 tzaddik, he knows the tzaddik is using ruach hakodesh or prophecy to communicate to him what G-d wants him to know. That’s why a chassid is absolutely committed to Reprinted with permission by: following the Rebbe’s words because he is assured that G-d is Moshiach Awareness Center, personally communicating His desire and directive to him a Project of: through the tzaddik. Enlightenment For The Blind, Inc. 602 North Orange Drive. Although the average Jew may not perceive the spiritual Los Angeles, CA 90036 forces present in the world, experiencing a tzaddik’s ruach Tel.: (323) 934-7095 * Fax: (323) 934-7092 hakodesh or prophecy gives him the spiritual confidence http://www.torah4blind.org necessary to develop a love and passion for G-d and elevate his e-mail: [email protected] Divine service to a whole new level. This is one of the most Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov, important functions of the Rebbe-chassid relationship. Executive Director Printed in the U.S.A. 2 23 84 ____________________________ THE REBBE-CHASSID RELATIONSHIP him. It was decreed that the selfish friend should die and be sent to Gehinnom18 as punishment for what he did. He came up to the Heavenly Court but in the midst of being judged, TABLE OF CONTENTS the ‘good’ friend made very animated and adamant demands: ‘I won’t be able to enjoy my reward in heaven knowing that Foreword................................................................................v my friend is suffering. Don’t send him to Gehinnom!’ Chapter One “Finally the Heavenly Court agreed that both souls would The Rebbe-Chassid Relationship: go down to the world again and the ‘bad’ friend would be A Fundamental Principle of the Torah................................ 1 given another chance to help the ‘good’ friend. If he did, his sin would be repaired and he would have a clean slate. So both Chapter Two souls reincarnated in the same predicament; one poor and the But Is It Jewish...?............................................................ 19 other rich. Chapter Three “This time, though, they were strangers; neither was aware Like the Beis HaMikdash ................................................. 35 of their past connection. The rich person unfortunately hadn’t Chapter Four changed, and when the poor person knocked on his door for The Significance of Miracles ............................................. 51 help, the same behavior repeated itself and he selfishly refused. Dejected and despondent, the poor man passed out and died Chapter Five outside the rich man’s door. Ruach HaKodesh and Prophecy ....................................... 67 “Now when the poor person’s soul went up to the Chapter Six Heavenly Court, they wanted to bring up the rich person’s A Rebbe’s Advice and Instruction .................................... 87 soul as well to give it the punishment it deserved. The ‘good’ Chapter Seven friend said, ‘Please. I love him so much. Don’t punish him. The Blessings and Prayers of a Rebbe ............................. 107 Find a way for him to repent and correct his ways.’ ” When the Baal Shem Tov concluded this story, the man to Chapter Eight whom he was speaking paled and began to tremble. Indeed, The Ultimate Purpose of It All....................................... 131 just days before, a poor man died at his doorstep when he refused to give him charity. The Baal Shem Tov looked at him and said, “You are one of the souls in this story. Had you given your ‘friend’ the charity he requested, your whole life would have been rectified. But now, because of your friend’s 18. When a person passes away, his soul may go to Gehinnom, a place of purification, to be spiritually cleansed before entering the World to Come. 22 3 RUACH HAKODESH AND PROPHECY_____________________________ 83 weak from hunger, he made the difficult trip on foot and finally arrived at the home of his friend. “Joyous at seeing his old friend, he welcomed him with open arms, offering him a room and a bed in his home to recuperate. Instead of giving him a loan, he did something IN LOVING MEMORY OF truly incredible. He took all the money he had, divided it in Horav Schneur Zalman Halevi v"g half, and gave one-half to his friend. ‘Just like when we were ben Horav Yitzchok Elchonon Halevi s"hv kids,’ he said warmly. Shagalov “The man went back home and invested the money in a Passed away on 21 Tamuz, 5766 business and became very successful. Reb Dovid Asniel ben Reb Eliyahu v"g Ekman “The wheel of fortune changed and the other friend now Passed away on 5 Sivan - Erev Shavuot, 5765 became poor. He lost his entire fortune and also had to beg in Mrs. Devora Rivka bas Reb Yosef Eliezer v"g order to survive. One day, the thought popped into his head: Marenburg ‘I’ll go to my dear friend whom I was so glad to help and he Passed away on the second day will surely help me.’ Making the long, difficult trip on foot, he of Rosh Chodesh Adar, 5766 finally arrived at his friend’s home, full of hope. Reb Yitzchok Moshe (Ian) “But this friend was not so generous. Along with his ben Reb Dovid Asniel v"g newfound wealth came the insidious traits of selfishness and Ekman (Santiago, Chile) Passed away on the 24th day of Shevat, 5769 stinginess. When the poor friend came to the door, the servant /v /c /m /b /, said, ‘My boss can’t see you now. You’ll have to come back AND IN HONOR OF tomorrow.’ whj,a Mrs. Esther Shaindel bas Fraidel Chedva “ ‘Tell him it’s me!’ cried the man. ‘Tell him my name!’ Shagalov But the answer came back, ‘He is very busy today. He will see DEDICATED BY you tomorrow.’ Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Y. and Gittel Rochel uhjha “The man was so weak and physically broken from the trip Shagalov that the hope of seeing his dear friend had been the only thing keeping him alive. But the disappointment of his friend’s reaction was the final blow, and now that that dream had been shattered, he crumbled in despair. Nobody knew he was by the door, and he died there of a broken heart. “When his soul came up to heaven, there was a tremendous uproar about how terribly his friend had treated 4 21 82 ____________________________ THE REBBE-CHASSID RELATIONSHIP Seeing One’s Past Lifetimes Through Ruach HaKodesh CHAPTER FIVE Then we find that the tzaddik’s spiritual ability goes RUACH HAKODESH beyond perceiving the past, present and future of a person’s lifetime and extends to a person’s previous lifetimes.