Friday, May 27, 2005

Oy, Chonye!


...He came last night and would not leave, reliving events as if they were happening right now. Begging of the young to treasure their time and energy whilst they still have it. Names flowing of people and times gone by and never to be seen again, "Zalman Kurenitzer", "Yisroel Neveler", "Shmerel Batumer", and most of all "Di Tatte."
Di Tatte was lulled to Lubavitch by a Chossid recognizing his qualities and offering him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and hear the Rebbe. He had learned with the greatest in Minsk, but was wanting. He had been in the sights of the "enlightened" of his Yeshivah but never succumbed. He lived the rest of his life with the ideals embedded in him by the Rebbe, who had told himחאניע, דו ביסט ביי מיר ווי אן אייגען קינד .
In the dark days he did not waver and continued to teach without fear. They came for him one dark night and he was never heard from again. He was shot in 1938, with his son Shmuel killed for him to see, for carrying out the Rebbe's will. The Rebbe would forego trips with his father the Rebbe just so he wouldn't miss their time learning together. He never forgot Chonye and lamented over him for the rest of his days.
"Oy, Chonye!" was the cry of the Rebbe upon seeing his son after so many years.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like your choice of words about R' Morozov BEING 'FAFIRRED' to Lubavitch, you use the word 'lulled', this is the definition 'To deceive into trustfulness: “that honeyed charm that he used so effectively to lull his victims” (S.J. Perelman).'
No better words to describe the 'fafeering' of young men to Chabad, those naive and trusting ones, the spiritual seekers.As we know see, there was good reason that discerning rabbis realized even 80 years ago, that Lubavitch will turn into it's own religion, with its own 'getsckehs'.

Stam azoi, Hirshel, your post makes very little sense.Which Rebbe forgo trips, with his father the Rebbe to learn with 'Chonyeh'?I surmise you mean Rayat'z, since, they were always 'taking trips'.Also not clear, who is 'Der Tatteh'?R'Elchonon Morozovs father?Is he the one who first became Lubavitch?

Hirshel Tzig - הירשל ציג said...

Ah Malachel your love for every Jew is very apparent in your posts.
Chonye was the first to arrive in Lubavitch. He was the Rebbe Rayatz's Chavrusa.
He was also "lulled" by every other group, including, Stolin, Slonim, Koidenov, and LeHavdil, the Haskalah.

Anonymous said...

"Nach dos benk ich".
Just a slight "literary" corection it should be der tatte und di mame.
Excellent post !

Hirshel Tzig - הירשל ציג said...

קורעניצער
א דיינק אייך פאר'ן פארריכטען
The Rebbe was very particular about Yiddish grammar as well, something lost on the Yiddsh speakers of today.

Anonymous said...

I assume you're talking about the Lag Baomer gathering in Boro-Park with Rabbi Mendel Marazov, zol er zain gezunt.
It was a truly inspiring evening, which lasted into the wee hours of the morning. I was greatly impressed and inspired.
But why is it that individuals like these are no longer produced? Who will be there for your children to see? Why is this type of Chabad Chosid a thing of the past?
Maybe I'm wrong, but it dosent seem to me that they are pruducing people like this today in 770.

Hirshel Tzig - הירשל ציג said...

Isaac, what he went through growing up is what made him into what he is today. The circumstances are diferent, so the product is as well.