Chabad - Gerrer Rebbe's regard for the Lubavitcher Rebbe

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THE HOLY ADMUR: RABBI YISROEL ALTER ZATZAL OF GER (GUR)

From Shemen Sasson Meichaveirecha
by Rabbi Shalom Dover Ha’Levi Wolpo

Translated by Alexander Zushe Kohn Part III

THE GREATEST LEADER IN OUR GENERATION

The gaon Rabbi Nachum Kornbisser, rosh yeshiva of the Chiddushei HaRim yeshiva related’ the following:

“During the month of Shevat 5730 (January-February, 1970) when letters were being sold for the Torah scroll of Moshiach, I was staying with the Beis Yisroel at his home in Kfar Shmaryahu. Some Chabad shluchim came to visit the Admur in connection with the matter of the Torah scroll. The Admur later told me: ‘I inscribed a letter, and I also gave them money. I heard a rumor that there is someone who opposes the Rebbe’s declaration that this Torah scroll can bring the Redemption; I am completely incapable of fathoming this opposition.’

“At that time, there was also a rumor that a certain individual described the matter of the Torah scroll as idolatry, G-d forbid. In reaction to this, the Beis Yisroel told me: “I find it very hard to believe that so-and-so said this; but if I were to find out that he did indeed say it, I would no longer wish to meet with him. I once had a visitor who called Breslov “idolatry”; after that, I was no longer prepared to meet with him. You should know that the Lubavitcher is an awesome person [a moradiker mentch], leader of Israel.’ I heard many times from the Admur’s holy mouth that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is the greatest leader of our generation.” (Kfar Chabad Magazine issue 127.)

I heard from prominent Gerrer chassidim, relatives of the Gerrer Admurim, that when the Beis Yisroel received “complaints” that Lubavitcher chassidim are calling their Rebbe Moshiach, he said, “As long as he comes already.”

AT THE HEAD OF AN ARMY OF THOUSANDS OF JEWS

At the Siyum HaRambam of 5747, the gaon, Rabbi Yisroel Piekarski zatzal, related the following:

“I remember how over twenty years ago, when I was by the Admur of Ger, the Beis Yisroel zatzal, and we spoke about the greatness of Lubavitch, the Admur spoke in glorious terms of the activities of Lubavitch in bringing Jews back to the folds of Torah. He said: “When the complete Redemption will come, the tzaddikim of all the generations will be called upon to demonstrate their achievements. One can easily imagine the awesome scene, when his holy honor, the Admur of Lubavitcher shlita, will approach at the head of an army of tens of thousands of Jews whom he brought back to Torah and mitzvahs, and to their Father in Heaven.”

ENCOURAGES THE YESHIVA STUDENTS TO STUDY TANYA

On 25 Nissan 5755 (April 25, 1995), the gaon and chassid, Rabbi Shabsai Slavtitzki of Antwerp, wrote to me as follows:

1. “When I was learning in the Kol Torah yeshiva in Jerusalem (about twenty-five years ago), there was a bachur who came from a Gerrer family. When a match was proposed for him, he went to ask the Beis Yisroel about it, and the Beis Yisroel gave him his blessings. Since this bachur studied Chabad chassidus, and had a connection to Chabad, he also asked the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach about the proposed match. The Rebbe answered him that based on his written description of the woman in question she is not for him.

“The bachur did not know what to do. As a good friend of this bachur, I suggested that he go back to the Gerrer Rebbe, tell him what the Rebbe said, and ask him what to do. He followed my suggestion, and the Beis Yisroel told him to as act in accordance with the Rebbe’s advice because, ‘He sees high.’1 Another match was subsequently proposed for the bachur, and again, he went to receive the Beis Yisroel’s blessing. The Admur asked him: “Did you ask the Lubavitcher Rebbe for a blessing?’ When the bachur replied that he had not, the Admur instructed him to ask the Rebbe do so.

2. “During that time, there used to be a Tanya class late at night for the students of Kol Torah, in the home of the Amshinover Rebbe, in Bayit Vegan. The Gerrer Rebbe used to visit the Amshinover Rebbe from time to time, and on one such occasion, he saw us studying the Tanya in a large group. He was very pleased, and he said, “Fine, fine, learn, learn,”2 indicating his pleasure by tapping us with his cane.

3. “One of the bachurim who studied in this Tanya group came from a Gerrer family, and he had asked the Beis Yisroel if he should join our class. The Admur told him to participate because “it is impossible to be G-d fearing without learning the first twelve chapters of Tanya.” When the Admur heard that there were yeshivas that did not permit the study of Tanya, he responded with very sharp words – words that I do not wish to repeat.”

THE REBBE STANDS UP

In the seifer Rosh B’nei Yisroel,3 the gaon and chassid, Rabbi Yosef Segal relates an amazing story:

Towards the end of Elul 5720 (September, 1960) he traveled to the Rebbe. Before his departure, he asked the Beis Yisroel – with whom he was very close – for a blessing. When the Admur heard that he was traveling to the Rebbe, he said,” Give the Rebbe my regards, and bless him, in my name, with a k’siva va’chasima tova.4

When he later had a private audience with the Rebbe, and he began to relay the Gerrer Rebbe’s blessing, the Rebbe suddenly rose from his chair, and listened to the blessing while standing. When Rabbi Segal completed the blessing, the Rebbe responded “Amen!” sat back down, and said, “G-d should help that all the blessings that Jews give one another should be fulfilled.” (See there the rest of this awesome story, which reveals the deep soul connection the Rebbe and the Beis Yisroel shared.)