11. A Story

A favorite story of the Rebbe, central to his activist view of life:

Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the first rebbe of the Lubavitch dynasty, led the services for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. He stood wrapped in his prayer shawl, profoundly entranced in the cleaving of the soul to its source. Every word of prayer he uttered was fire. His melody and fervor carried the entire community off to the highest and the deepest journey of the spirit.

And then he stopped. He turned, cast off his prayer shawl and left the synagogue. With a bewildered congregation chasing behind, he walked briskly to the outskirts of town, to a small dark house from where was heard the cry of a newborn infant. The rabbi entered the house, chopped some wood and lit a fire in the oven, boiled some soup and cared for the mother and child who lay helpless in bed.

Then he returned to the synagogue and to the ecstasy of his prayer.

The Rebbe added:

Note that the rabbi removed his prayer shawl. To help someone, you must leave your world, no matter how serene, to enter the place where that person lives.

« Previous

Microhealing

Return to One

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

More articles by Tzvi Freeman | RSS

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.

E-mail

Sort By:

NewestOldest

October 23, 2012

same idea

A similar story told to me a few years back went as follows :
A Rebbe was on his way to shul for Kol Nidre. Some of his congregation were following behind. The Rebbe walked past the shul. Surprised, some of the congregation followed. The Rebbe stopped at the home of a woman who was running a high fever. He lit a fire and boiled some water for her. By this time the congregants had run back to shul. The Rebbe arrived a bit later.

I like these stories because they show a dialed in perspective. Anybody can make it to shul on time for Kol Nidre. There are extraordinary times and extraordinary people who have a higher understanding. Not different. Higher. These stories sound like they have the same source.

Anyhow, whatever the true story was, the ending is exquisite.

Anonymous

June 3, 2010

To Smadar

Nice insight, Smadar!

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

June 3, 2010

A Story

I wonder ... was the Rabbi leaving the ecstasy of prayer, when he left the synagogue - or was he moving in harmony with it. Isn't the cry of the newborn baby the most perfect prayer? Look how quickly it was answered.

Smadar
Thornhill, ON/Canada

June 3, 2010

Nice Rabbi Zalman

This was a wonderful story, and illustrates how one should leave the study hall and your prayers to teach the ignorant, and help them with their daily travails.

Dr. Harry Hamburger
Miami, Fl

June 3, 2010

Chabad Credo

Thank you for reminding me of Chabad credo.

Kayo
Tokyo, Japan

June 3, 2010

Chop Wood...Start a Fire

The previous comment reminds me of the story of the Akeida. Avraham was willing to sacrifice his own for the sake of G-d. In the end however, Hashem stopped Avraham and made a great nation from Isaac.

Dovid
Kalamazoo, MI

November 12, 2004

This is a perfect example of bikur cholim.

bh
This story is a perfect example of not only bikur cholim, but also of how a Jew is supposed to behave. The rabbi left his prayers to CHOP WOOD and START A FIRE on the holiest day of the year. These two melachas are ordinarily forbidden on this or on any Yom Tov, but to save a life they are most certainly permitted, and the rabbi was obviously saving the life of that poor woman and her newborn.
He knew that helping this woman and her baby took precedence over davening. He had his priorities in order.
May we all merit to live by his example.

Natana Kulakofski
Worcester, MA