He finally decided that although he could not make such a promise, nor could he forgo the opportunity. Let Jews keep Torah and mitzvos for several months and what would be would be. He hoped with all his heart that when they made such an enormous commitment, that Hashem would bless them. He did not want to think about what would happen if things did not work out.
MAKING PROMISES
I heard the following story many years ago from my father a”h:
One of the first shluchim that the Rebbe sent to Australia did his work faithfully as shluchim do. He had connections with many Jews, some of who became religiously observant and even Chassidim. Others were in earlier stages of religious commitment, some more and some less. There were also those whom he kept in touch with, who had made no apparent changes in their lifestyle.
Among these latter ones was a pleasant fellow who respected the shliach but refused to do a single mitzva. The shliach tried talking to him again and again, attempting to convince him to put on t’fillin, at least once, or have his wife light Shabbos candles, eat matza on Pesach, Sukka, Dalet Minim, etc. but he wasn’t interested. It was like talking to the wall. The man refused firmly, with a faint smile. There was nothing to discuss – I respect you, but don’t mix into my life. This went on for years.
One day, when the shliach met him once again, the man said: Can you give me some time? I’d like to discuss something that’s on my mind.
The shliach was happy to oblige and they sat down to talk. The man said: I have a problem for some years now and I’ve come to the conclusion that only you can help me. We are married for many years and have no children. We have been to the best doctors and have tried many things, but nothing has worked. In the meantime, the years have gone by and we are getting older. We are soon going to reach an age when we won’t be able to have children. My wife and I are ready to do anything, anything at all, even if you say we must change our entire way of life, if only we have a child.
The man gulped and it looked as though he was finding it hard to say what came next, but he continued: I know you for many years as a man of integrity. I would rely on what you tell me. If you promise us a child, we will start living a religiously observant lifestyle, according to your guidelines. But this is a non-negotiable condition. And you know that within months we will be able to see whether your promise is fulfilled or not.
The man finished his speech and waited for the shliach’s response as though his life depended on his answer.
The shliach tried to explain to him that this matter did not depend on him (the shliach). He suggested that the man write to the Rebbe and he was sure that when the vessel for the bracha was a willingness to take on so much, going well beyond what would be expected, that Hashem would respond in kind. But the man wasn’t interested in this. He insisted: If you promise me a child, I will rely on your say-so and do everything you tell me; if not, there’s nothing to discuss.
The shliach didn’t know what to do. On the one hand, how could he take this responsibility and make this kind of promise? On the other hand, was he allowed to forgo this opportunity to enable this couple to lead a religious life, which would lead to a Kiddush Hashem and a Kiddush Sheim Lubavitch? Although, on further thought, if they did not have a child, wouldn’t that be a Chilul Hashem?
He wondered what the Rebbe would want him to do. Surely the Rebbe would want this couple to be religious, and here was the opportunity! But how could he make this promise?
He finally decided that although he could not make such a promise, nor could he forgo the opportunity. Let Jews keep Torah and mitzvos for several months and what would be would be. He hoped with all his heart that when they made such an enormous commitment, that Hashem would bless them. He did not want to think about what would happen if things did not work out.
With trembling heart, the shliach gave his promise that he would have a child. The man took him at his word and began transforming his house into one that follows Torah and mitzvos.
The shliach was afraid to write to the Rebbe about his promise and procrastinated about doing so, but when several months had gone by and the man reminded him of his promise, he had no choice but to write the entire story to the Rebbe.
A few days later he received a response which was: When you don’t have the wherewithal to carry through, it is forbidden to promise. Still, since he already made the promise, may Hashem fulfill the promise and may they have a child.
Needless to say, after such a response, the end of the story is that the couple had a child.
LET IT BE SO
During the Gulf War 5751, Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein passed by the Rebbe for dollars. He was supposed to fly to Saudi Arabia as a chaplain for the Jewish soldiers in the American army there. He told the Rebbe that he would be taking along a Megillas Esther since Purim was approaching. The Rebbe smiled and said, “Surely there will be a Megilla in the desert but you won’t have to read it.” From this response many understood that the Rebbe was saying that the war would end by Purim and this was publicized in the media.
On Kol Yisroel and Galei Tzahal, Ronnie Daniel announced that reporter Michael Tochfeld had spoken with the Rebbe’s secretary who said that the Rebbe already foresaw the end of the war. This is a transcript of the broadcast:
I just spoke with the Rebbe’s secretary. He told me that with the opening of hostilities, the Rebbe quoted the Torah that says the eyes of Hashem are constantly upon Eretz Yisroel from the beginning of the year till the end of the year, and this is true now too. These are days of wonders which mark the end of the Galus and the start of the Geula, so says the Lubavitcher Rebbe. It is interesting to note that the Rebbe also foresees the end of the conflict. One of his Chassidim, Yaakov Goldstein, who is an officer in the American army, asked the Rebbe for a bracha before leaving for the Gulf. He said that he was taking a Megillas Esther for Purim. The Rebbe smiled and said that he would be home by Purim. Just to remind you, Purim is less than a month and a half away.
In the end, R’ Goldstein was not sent to the Persian Gulf but to Eretz Yisroel, so he had no reason to take a Megilla along with him. But this doesn’t seem to have any connection with the timing of the end of the war.
They say that when the Rebbe went to the Ohel during this period of time, the secretary showed him the advertisements stating that the Rebbe said that the war would be over by Purim. The Rebbe was taken aback by this and said: When did I say that?
Then the Rebbe made a dismissive motion with his hands and said: Since it was publicized, may it be so.
And indeed, the Gulf War ended on Purim.
WHY ARE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED?
There are many things, of course, that do not depend on us. When the Rebbe takes responsibility and promises us as a prophecy regarding “the time of your redemption has arrived,” and “immediately Moshiach is coming,” as well as “Eretz Yisroel is the safest place,” these matters are completely assured and must occur. It makes no difference how we relate to it all.
Nevertheless, there is room for gradations as to what extent matters penetrate the world and come to pass more immediately. The more we accept things as they are and publicize them, the more quickly they occur.
Obviously, we are not allowed to recklessly make promises and count on the Rebbe coming to the rescue, but when it entails something the Rebbe asked be publicized, then the more readily we accept it we will create a greater vessel for the speedy fulfillment of the promise already made.
As R’ Leibel Groner related: The Rebbe once spoke at a farbrengen about a certain thing that needed to be done. The next day, the Rebbe asked me what had happened in that regard. I said that those in charge were uncertain about how to do it. The Rebbe said: Ach, why do they ask questions? Why don’t they do as I said? If they did as I said, it would be successful.
The Rebbe went on to say: What do you think, that when the Jewish people approached the Yam Suf that Moshe Rabbeinu couldn’t take them over the water as one walks on dry land? Then they wouldn’t have needed the “stretch out your hand,” or the staff or Hashem making the wind blow all night to split the sea. All of that would have been unnecessary if the Jewish people had believed in Moshe Rabbeinu.
When Moshe Rabbeinu says to go, we don’t need a Nachshon and we don’t need a “stretch out your hand.” If they did not ask questions, they would have walked on the sea just as we walk on dry land.
Why are they asking questions? In the time of Moshe Rabbeinu they started asking questions – and the Jewish people cried out. Who needs the crying out? When you start with the crying out, then you first need to start looking for other solutions.
The message is clear. It is our job to accept and proclaim it with the utmost simplicity and sincerity without question. This will surely hasten the complete fulfillment of the Rebbe’s prophecy, when the entire world will join in proclaiming, “Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed!”