Self Sacrifice - Then and Now

BY RABBI MENDEL FELDMAN, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF THE MARITIMES

The 10th day of the Jewish month of Shevat (in Hebrew Yud Shevat, this year Shabbat January 23rd) marks the 71st Yahrtzeit of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson (1880-1950) of Righteous Memory.

On the day of a person’s yahrzeit, we remember the person and learn from their good deeds. This is especially true on the yahrtzeit of a Tzadik (a righteous person).

The Previous Rebbe led a life of mesirus nefesh (self sacrifice) and complete selflessness. Mesirus nefesh was his motto and way of life wherever he was, first in Russia, then in Poland and eventually in the USA.

IN RUSSIA

In 1920 the Previous Rebbe accepted the leadership of the Lubavitch movement located in Rostov (Southern Russia) at the time. Three years earlier the Communist Party had wrested control of the Russian Empire, and the party’s Yevsekzia (“Jewish Section”) embarked on a ruthless war against Judaism. Schools, synagogues, and religious institutions were shut down. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak led the struggle to keep Judaism alive, dispatching his emissaries to the length and breadth of the land to establish underground schools, mikvahs, and supply lines of financial aid and kosher food. Despite terrible hardships, being arrested, imprisoned, and beaten, he still persisted.

IN POLAND

After his release from prison in 1927 (for spearheading the underground Jewish network), he was forced to leave Russia and arrived in Poland. In Poland, the previous Rebbe had a different form of challenge and self sacrifice.

The previous Rebbe vested much effort, energy and funds creating a network of yeshivos in small towns scattered throughout Poland. However, he was confronted by many Jewish leaders there, who did not agree with his approach. They argued that it is hard enough to support and maintain the big yeshivos that already exist in the main cities, why spend so much effort and funds setting up yeshivos in small, scattered towns. Nonetheless, this did not deter the Rebbe from forging ahead with his vision and goals.

IN AMERICA

Escaping the war, the Previous Rebbe arrived on American shores in March of 1940.

Ahead of him lay a spiritual desert, a community of Jews that was assimilating at a rapid rate. America’s open society posed no physical threat to Jewish life but made it all too easy for Jews to abandon their spiritual heritage in favor of the America dream.

Despite personal illness and frailty, he made intensive efforts both to save Jews from the Nazi onslaught, and to lay down a foundation for the perpetuation of Jewish life in America. The Previous Rebbe’s first statement (and campaign) was: “America is no different!” With enormous mesirus nefesh, he persuaded Jews to keep the Torah and mitzvos openly and proudly. That paved the way for America to become a haven where Jews practice their Yiddishkeit with pride and joy!

So too, on the very evening of his arrival, he re-established Chabad’s central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim, in New York, there to imbue a new generation of American Jews with the potent spirit of Chassidism.

As we approach the Previous Rebbe’s 71st Yahrtzeit (this year on Shabbat January 23) lets internalise his message and make an effort to grow in our Yiddishket though it may require some sacrifice on our part.