.....אבל אשמים אנחנו

:מ'דערציילט א מעשה אזוי

One can imagine what took place at the wedding bar mitzvah of the young Reb Chaim Soloveitchik (Brisker.) He was the son of the Slutzker Rov, Reb Yoshe Ber, and a descendant of Reb Chaim Volozhiner. He was marrying the daughter of Reb Refoel Shapira, and she was the granddaughter of the Netziv of Volozhin. It was Yeshivishe royalty all around. They had their own yichus too. In short, the young groom bochur, for all his genius and humility may have been quite proud of the passing scene, had he stopped to take it all in. The groom bochur's father may have read his mind - and said the following: מיין נישט אז די אלע חשוב'ע רבנים און גאונים זענען דא צוליב דיר, זיי זענען געקומען צוליב מיר און די מחותן און די זיידע, so please don't get any ideas into your head. So the young groom bochur is said to have answered, "So why is so-and-so not here?" To which his father answered "That's where you're to blame. They weren't so impressed with you so they decided to pass. That lesson must've really been נושא פירות, because Reb Chaim's humility, his simplicity when it came to material matters, and his kindness despite his greatness was legendary.

Why do I say this to you today?

I get these nasty, unprovoked e-mails from the dredges of society trying to poke fun at me on this auspicious day. Auspicious because we're taught by our Rebbes that especially so on the days of הסתלקות Tzaddikim look down on those who try and follow in their ways and simply put help them in their material and spiritual needs. That may be difficult for the Hungarians and Yeshivaleit among you to understand, but that doesn't change the מציאות. Years ago I may have been hurt and disgusted by such comments; "How dare they?" but by now, with age and experience, all you feel is pity for these poor souls. They probably suffered at the hands of parents and melamdim who suffered under Hitler and his henchmen, and they cannot do anything but hate on others. They cannot stand the fact that other Jews, who may not look exactly like them, or speak Lh"K with same accent as them, are inspired on this day and by this Tzaddik. They grind their teeth, cursing under their acrid breath and rip down posters while walking the streets. They are bitter, bitter people. But we must love them too! We have no choice; G-d commanded us so. So one good deed for today would be to tell them that despite our differences and the way you feel about me we still love you, because you're still a member of Klal Yisroel, no matter what you say or how you feel. Don't turn the other cheek, but don't let him get to you, he's just in great pain and needs an outlet to express that hurt. That's why we say אלע שונאים זאלען פלאצען. Now that I've said that I may have negated the point I was about to make.....

What I was trying to say was that we are at fault. That we never took the time to do what we had to do as far as הפצת המעיינות is concerned. We never told the world properly about the great chesed that the eibershter did when he gave us the Rebbe. We assumed that all those who don't realize the Rebbe's attributes and qualities are haters. We believed that those who cling to their old-world beliefs and customs are fools, instead of respecting their beliefs but trying to show them that this generation needs a new approach. We figured that if we get it then the whole world should too! Just sell them cheap seforim, or just give it away! and they should be on their way... Organizations like Heichel Menachem - to their great credit - try to change that. They may get looks from the "geborener" but they have nothing to be ashamed about, because this is exactly what the Rebbe wants. Just like we realize that we need to "tweak" certain things for the unaffiliated, and we will defend with a vengeance - (you know what I mean...) So too can we realize that we can tweak it למעליותא if so necessary. True, some people may never be reached, but there are still plenty of good people who yearn for what Chassidus and the Rebbe have to offer, and they're waiting for you to come and teach them, to share with them about the Rebbe's Ohel and that he's פועל ישועות בקרב הארץ עד היום הזה ועד בכלל. Maybe on their level and their way, but they're still waiting, and we cannot let them wait any longer! Let this be one החלטה טובה on this great day.

(If I ever expressed these thoughts in the 8+ years we're doing this, please forgive me)