Monday, February 6, 2006

Emunah sans Chassidus


(Interior of the Baal Shem Tov's shul in Mezhibuzh)

Can there be true Emunah in Achdus Hashem, Hashgocheh Protis, and Nitzchius HaTeyre without Chassidus? I say no. Judge for yourself.

In the Maymer רבא חזיי' לרב המנונא דקא מאריך בצלותי אות ט"ז the FR explains that unlike man-made laws which differ from country to country and are made according to the lifestyle of its inhabitants, Chukei HaTeyre are made to create a certain lifestyle. In the Rebbe's words; די מענטשליכע געזעצען ווערן פון לעבען, ווי מיר זעהן אז אין יעדער לאנד איז דא א בית המחוקקים וואו דארטען ווערען געשאפען אלע געזעצען ווי עס איז בעסער פאר די איינוואוינער פון לאנד. . עס איז פאראן א געזעץ וועלכער שאפט א לעבען, דאס הייסט אז עס נעמט זיך נישט פון לעבען נאר עס שאפט א לעבן, און דאס איז תורת ה In other words Torah's laws are not based on what man decides to legislate, nor on the problems of the times.

A Young Ben-Teyre attending the shiur for the first time asked about the Rambam in Meyre Nevuchim who states that the Mitzvah of Korbonos was instituted to combat the idea of sacrificing to idols, something prevalent amongst the Goyim. If so, he says, then we see that the Torah only made this Mitzvah because of Hanhogas Ho'Odom, so why does the Rebbe say otherwise? He wanted to say that once the Torah makes a mitzvah it does not revoke it because Torah's laws are Nitzchi. In reality, however, we wouldn't need it in the 3rd Bais HaMikdosh either. In other words, according to him, Nitzchiyus Hatorah is only Lemaaseh, but Taamei HaMitzvos are not.

The Maggid Shiur tells the young man that according to the AR the Teyre was only revealing "Efes Kotzeyhu" of the Ta'amei HaMitzvos, so that the Yid can have somewhat of an understanding into what he's doing, but not to think that only for that reason was the Mitzvah commanded. The Torah and its reasons are Nitzchi, but you wouldn't know that if you don't learn Chassidus. The next morning I was told by a friend that the Izhbitzer in Bais Yaakov also addresses this subject, he says that Hashem didn't ch"v scramble to "create" Korbones when Jews started idol worshipping, rather it was instituted to harness the good that comes from sacrificing animals, something that Ovdei A"Z channel the wrong way.

They say in name of Reb Chayim Brisker z"l that someone who's an Apikeyres because he's an Amehoretz and never learned the dinim is nebbach an apikeyres, but an Apikeyres nevertheless. I think the same may be said for those that fail to learn Sifrei Chassidus. Although you may think that you believe, you may be surprised to find that once the questions start, either from an inquisitive friend of yours, or from a non-religious co-worker, you'll find yourself questioning your own faith as well. For some reason many will tell you, and these people include fervent Chagas Chassidim, that learning Chabad Chassidus provokes questions that are best left unasked, "stick to the basics" they say, and you'll be free of worries.

Am I saying that all those who don't learn Chassidus are Apikorsim? No, I'm not. A Yid has Emunah B'Yerushah. Am I saying that all Chassidim are home free? Not at all. Chassidim don't get a free pass, they too need to learn Chassidus בשופי. All I'm saying is that you cannot be a believer in Achdus Hashem, Hashgochoh Protis, and Nitzchiyus HaTeyre without learning Chassidus. Limud HaChassidus thus becomes not only a luxury, but a necessity for every Jewish man, woman, and child. That's why we do Hafotzas Ma'ayonos HaChassidus, and that's why in these days learning Musar, even Chovas HaLvovos, is not nearly enough.

23 comments:

  1. Funny, Tzig. Not many other people see it your way. Maybe there's more to it?

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  2. hey, anonymous? ever hear of the 6 Mitzvos T'midiyos?

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  3. contray to your narrow mind, evrey word tanya or any other seifer chassidus you can find in chovos halvoves the AR did not invent the wheel check it out your self

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  4. narrow? no. Maybe uneducated. But do tell, where is all that mentioned in Chovas Halvovos? and why did he waste his time rewriting the Tanya?

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  5. after all it is מלוקט מפי ספרים וספורים

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  6. eli, did you ever eat cholent? it's also מלוקט many ingredients,אבער סאיז א גאר אנדערין טעם

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  7. Eli knew that, Tzibaleh. He just means to ask that if we say that Chassidus wasn't mechadesh anything then it must be that everything was written before, right Eli?

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  8. Wonderful post. As Chasiduss explains, the mitzvah of hamanas Elokus is to understand to the best of our ability.

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  9. So, if the vort from RCB is only on the 13 Ikrim, is it safe to say that the observance of the 6 mitzvos tmidiyos are dependent on limud hachassidus?

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  10. not so safe, there are many routes.

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  11. Of course there are routes to TELLING yourself you believe. What we want to know is which limud will instill in you the emunah, not just the yediyah.

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  12. Torah in general is oir. It sheds light. There is Nigleh which sheds light on the surface ( and lepoyel the most important since this is an oilom hamaaseh) and there is nistar which sheds light at the root.

    Mussar helps prod someone along the nigleh route.

    and there is Chabad Chassidus brought to "light" by a Neshomo Chadosho d'Atzilus.

    By its very defintion, Chassidus Chabad draws out the light from the deepest recesses of a persons neshomo. Chassidus Chabad brings forth the deepest levels of oir Hashem, from i.e. in the Holy Torah.

    Through Chassidus Chabad one reaches the root of Torah and the root of ones neshomo.


    once that's reached,accessed, everything else is just a natural outcome of "truth".

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  13. the AR said that Chassidus is a Nachlas HaKlal, but does that mean that no harm can come from it? What happens if someone does feel that all these new-to-him concepts are having a negative affect on him by bringing to the surface questions that he never had before, and the answers are insufficient?

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  14. anonymous
    zul er lernen mer huben a bissel bitul un gein tzu a mashpia vus ken em helfen

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  15. Chabadsker

    vos mishstu arein "Bitul"? we're speaking of a young man who feels maybe because of Katnus Hamochin, that learning Chassidus has a negative affect on him because it raises questions. Does speaking to a Mashpia who's lav davka the biggest moach always help?

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  16. Anon,
    Have you ever met someone who left the derech because of learning Chassidus???
    Ginmme a break, Chassidus has never given anyone questions that had a negative impact on their yiddishkeit.

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  17. So all the shayne Yidden who lived before the hisgalus of Chassidus were lacking something...

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  18. Kurenitzer

    they weren't lacking, but we would be. We do not have the Meychin they had.

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  19. HT
    WOW!
    I haven't been here in a long time... didn't expect such strong words... even got me inspired for a moment...

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  20. which words are you referring to, Leo? and why did you leave?

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  21. You wrote "Am I saying that all those who don't learn Chassidus are Apikorsim? No, I'm not.", but then went on to say that "you cannot be a believer in Achdus Hashem, Hashgochoh Protis, and Nitzchiyus HaTeyre without learning Chassidus." So you are saying that a great many frummer Yidden, including gedolei Torah, who didn't learn Lubavitch theology, are not believers in achdus Hashem and nitzchiyus HaTorah. But they are still good Jews ? I don't get it.

    At least you were honest here about how you feel.You should continue to be honest regarding your beliefs,so people can see what you really believe and stand for.

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  22. AMJ

    you silly man. I'm saying that unless you learn Chassidus, not "Lubavitch Theology" you're in the dark regarding the above-mentioned subjects. Just like if you don't learn Hilchos Shabbos you will come to be Mechalel Shabbos. Get it?

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