jewish thought
Feeding Faith Yoseph Janowski
I
often encounter people who want to know what was special about the Rebbe. Sometimes, it’s hard to know where to start describing someone whose vision was so vast and who influenced the world and so many people in so many ways, myself included. So maybe that’s a good place to start. In the last Chassidic discourse delivered by the Rebbe, he discusses the topic of strengthening faith, by allowing the essential personal connection with G‑d to shine and permeate one's entire being, spiritually and physically. Many of my experiences of the Rebbe reflected this. As a child, I attended a Chabad-run overnight camp near Detroit for about six years in a row. That was, I think, my first connection to Lubavitch and the Rebbe. Later, my older brother Yisroel Yitzchok Eliyokum of blessed memory (who passed away a few months ago), was studying in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Montreal. He would write me letters about the Rebbe, and when he came home for holidays, he would talk to me about his positive experiences. When I was about fourteen years old, I attended overnight camp in Montreal where Yisroel was still studying, and at the end of the camp season he arranged for me to join a group of students traveling to New York, where I experienced a farbrengen (Chassidic gathering) with the Rebbe for the first time. The following day I was blessed to have a private audience with the Rebbe, during which he stressed the importance of knowing the names of my grandparents. I had asked for a blessing for my parents, but I didn't know their parents' names, and the custom is that when asking for a blessing for someone, we mention their name and their mother's name. "How is it that you don't know such a commonplace thing?" the Rebbe asked. He then gave me a blessing. During my late teenage years, I studied at Lubavitch yeshivas in Montreal and Brooklyn, so I had the opportunity to see and hear the Rebbe quite often. What I remember most is how the Rebbe taught us how to look at life, to focus on helping others, how to
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renew our energies, retain our optimism, and how to be happy knowing that we are close to G‑d and bringing Him joy through living a Jewish life and being kind to others. He would quote the teaching of the Alter Rebbe, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, based on the verse (Psalm 149): "Israel will rejoice with its Maker," saying that every Jew has reason to be happy simply due to the joy we bring to G‑d by being His partners in making this world into a Divine dwelling. The privilege that we all have, as simple beings, to be part
of something infinite, should bring joy to every moment. I once entered the Rebbe's study on the occasion of my birthday, and the Rebbe told me, "Together with the happiness of your birthday, G-d is rejoicing with you." I remember walking out feeling elated, that G-d Almighty is rejoicing and sharing in my personal happiness. I felt quite profoundly and deeply a G-d Who relates to me on a personal, intimate level.
July 2022 / Tammuz 5782
