A TRUE P’NIMI IS SOMEONE WHO DECLARES “YECHI"

Dear Reader Sh’yichyeh,

This Shabbos, Matos-Massei, is Shabbos Mevarchim Chodesh Menachem Av. It is critical, especially as we approach the Nine Days, that we farbreng about the Avoda that needs to be done now to bring the Geula and turn the month of Menachem Av into happy and joyous days forever.

In the HaYom Yom of 24 Tammuz, the Rebbe writes: “The Tzemach Tzedek used to say: A p’nimi is a chassid for whom the very notion of asking [his Rebbe] for a blessing for [success in his] avoda is empty talk. [A p’nimi understands that] the approach should be to ‘let the work fall heavily on the people.’”

This is evident in the following chassidic story. A chassid once came to the Tzemach Tzedek and asked him to bless his grandson with a good memory, for then the boy would retain what he heard from the Rebbe, “and then automatically he will be G‑d-fearing.”

The Tzemach Tzedek responded: “For more than fifty years, my grandfather (the Alter Rebbe), my father-in-law (the Mitteler Rebbe) and I have been urging Chassidim to acquire a fear of G‑d through the labors of their own avoda, so that it should not come automatically.”

It is interesting to note that in a letter (Igros Vol. 9 p. 219) the Rebbe clarifies that this rejection of the notion of asking for a blessing from the Rebbe is only when it is for a “blessing in success in Avoda,” as opposed to a blessing for having the ko’ach to do actual Mitzvos, which is not negated. Avoda, by definition, means working on something from within oneself and not being rescued from Above.

In the year 5751, the Shabbos of Parshas Pinchas fell out on 24 Tammuz. In the farbrengen that Shabbos the Rebbe spoke strongly about the avoda of a P’nimi (which is footnote 41 of that sicha where the Rebbe connects it to that day’s HaYom Yom). The Rebbe emphasized especially how this applies to our avoda to bring Moshiach. In that special farbrengen, the Rebbe spoke at length and told over two stories:

It is known that before the Rebbe Rashab would say a maamer, the Chassidim would sing a special niggun as a preparation for the maamer. One time, the Rebbe Rashab sensed that the Bachurim were singing the niggun very fast, in order to get to the maamer. The Rebbe Rashab gave a whole talk explaining that one should never rush something in order to get to the main thing. Whatever one does, he must do it while completely focused and with truth. One must complete each thing properly and then move on to the next thing.

The second story is well known: A Chassid once asked the Tzemach Tzedek for a bracha to go live in the Holy Land so that he could devote his life there to Torah study and Avodas Hashem. The Tzemach Tzedek replied, “Make here Eretz Yisroel.”

There are many lessons that the Rebbe learns from the above in our avoda, especially the avoda of bringing Moshiach. Here are just a few.

There are many who feel that if they were living in a different place or time, they would be able to do their avoda better. From their perspective, they are only in a small place with limited global influence, so what is the benefit of their Avoda?

Similarly, many young people say to themselves: if we would be living “before Gimmel Tammuz,” then we would be dedicated Chassidim of the Rebbe. But since we are living in 5777, we feel abandoned and we do not see that our avoda is accomplishing anything. If so, why should we invest ourselves in avoda?

To this we respond: You must be a P’nimi! You must live fully in your moment and place. A person must internalize that if Hashem, Who knows and plans everything, put an individual in a certain place and time, it is because he has the ability to do and accomplish the avoda of that time. Our avoda is to “make here Eretz Yisroel,” to bring the Geula. By each individual doing his avoda, in the most complete manner, in his place and with his unique ability, the entire world will be made ready for Geula.

Another point that the Rebbe makes is that a person must be actively thinking of how he can bring Geula into his day and avoda. These are the words of the Rebbe: “As we stand in such close proximity to the Redemption, every Jew must accustom himself to this reality. Everyone must internalize a state and feeling of Redemption, by making his personal day a ‘personal day of Redemption,’ and transforming one’s private space into the land of Israel. One achieves this by performing, at each moment and in every place, one’s service in thought, speech and action to utter perfection.”

One of the examples that the Rebbe brings, which is especially relevant for the avoda of the month of Menachem Av, is to make siyumim every day of the nine days, continuing through 15 Av, without exception.

The reason is as follows: During the Nine Days one is not supposed to eat meat. The exception is if it is a Seudas Mitzva. So many people will go to a siyum, so that they can eat meat. Because this is their motivation, they do not make a siyum on Shabbos, as it is permissible to eat meat then anyways. The minhag Chabad is not to eat meat in the Nine Days even if we hear a Siyum.

The reason the Rebbe wants us to make siyumim every day of the Nine Days is not so we can indulge in meat. It is so that this way we can Halachically bring joy into the Nine Days and begin experiencing the Nine Days with a taste of the Geula. Therefore, it is self-understood that we should also hear a siyum on Shabbos.

The third explanation is the major revolution of the Sicha. In order to be a P’nimi, the Avoda must express itself in all three garments of expression, thought, speech and action. The Rebbe explains at length a seemingly extra miracle that took place at the time of the division of the land of Eretz Yisroel to the twelve Shvatim. The Torah (Pinchas 26:56) tells us: “The inheritance shall be apportioned between the numerous and the few, according to lot.” Rashi (ibid) says: “According to lot: Heb. עַל-פִּי הַגּוֹרָל , lit. by the mouth of the lot. The lot spoke out, as I explained above (verse 54). This tells us that it was divided by the Divine Spirit. This is why it says, ‘In accordance with the L-rd’s word.’”

The Rebbe asks: Why was it so important to make such a miracle that the lots themselves spoke?

The explanation is as follows: A person has three garments of expression, thought, speech and action. Hashem is teaching us that when it comes to entering Eretz Yisroel (i.e., our avoda to bring the Geula) we must be such a P’nimi that it is expressed in all the garments of expression.

In the words of the Rebbe: Also, the result of perfecting one’s service (in thought, speech and action) must be expressed in one’s speech. That is, just as the “the lots themselves spoke,” so too when one has internalized one’s Divine service to “make Israel here,” to the point of penetration of one’s very core, one speaks to others about it with enthusiasm. At that point, one will eagerly publicize the directive of “make Israel here” to one’s family and acquaintances, and certainly to one’s students, and ultimately to all those he can reach.

“Because this message comes from within, one’s words are words which come from the heart, which are guaranteed to enter the heart and will have their intended effect. When one becomes a living example of this ideal in his own efforts, he can certainly have the effect on others. This is true to such an extent that the listeners themselves become speakers –  – ‘the lots themselves begin to speak.’”

I would like to finish with a lesson that I have taken from this sicha as it relates to the avoda of Kabbalas HaMalchus and saying “Yechi” to our Rebbe. There are many who say, “Chabad demands P’nimius.” They interpret this demand to mean that we should keep the message of Moshiach and Kabbalas HaMalchus to ourselves and not express it in speech. From this sicha, we see that the opposite is true! The true way to know if we reached the ultimate p’nimius is when it expresses itself in speech! May we continue learning and teaching about the Beis HaMikdash, speaking to others about Moshiach and Kabbalas HaMalchus, and may we merit the final hisgalus of Menachem Av, the Rebbe, our dear father, now!

Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought-after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com