Wednesday nights - Rav Benzion's Tanya shiur..........Please continue to daven for the good health of the Rebbe (Yechiel Michel ben Devorah Leah) and Rebbetzin (Feiga bas Sarah).

Thursday, August 4, 2011

"I Love Yidden!"

In addition to the previous vertlach in preparation of the upcoming yahrtzeit of the Rebbe Reb Yaakov Yisroel, here is a tidbit about his exceptional ahavas Yisroel.

Last year (5770), Reb Aharon Twerski, shlit"a, said that Reb Yaakov Yisroel's "ahavas Yisroel was indescribable. If ten portions of ahavas Yisroel were sent down to the world, my father took nine." Reb Aharon described how when the Rebbe, ztz"l, came to Milwaukee there was a certain Rav who "really had it in for my father, [but] my father never responded with any hate. They turned out to be the closest of friends because my father could only show people love. The fact that somebody else hated him, that was [the other person's] problem."

At the same gathering, Reb Sheya, shlit"a said, "Everyone counted and they felt it. Many times people would say, 'The way the Rebbe loves me, he doesn't love anyone else.' That's how every individual felt."

A glimpse into the Rebbe's pure and authentic ahavas Yisroel is apparent from the following story:

A Rav who was close to the Rebbe's family once asked the Rebbe, zy"a, what was the secret of his success in Milwaukee. "I see that everyone here is so connected to you and holds you in such high esteem," he said.

The Rebbe answered, "Ich hob leeb yidden." (I love [fellow] yidden.)

"Ah! S'iz takkeh ah gitteh eitzah," (That is truly good advice.) exclaimed the Rav.

"Nein, nein," insisted the Rebbe. "Ich hob takkeh leeb yidden." (I really do love yidden.)

How fitting it is that the Rebbe, zy"a, passed away on the 10th of Av, the day that the Beis Hamikdosh burned because of baseless hatred and lack of ahavas Yisroel. The Rebbe, zy"a, was a premier lover of Klal Yisroel, of each individual, and of all people. Let us take the many messages of his life to heart, especially this one and thereby  merit the Ultimate Redemption. As the song goes, "A freilichen Tisha B'Av!"

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