ר' מֹשֶׁה מַייזְלִישׁ סִיפֵּר: דעֶר רֶבִּי (רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן) האָט אוּנז געֶלעֶרעֶנט, אַז דעֶר אָלֶף פוּן חֲסִידוּת אִיז, אוֹיסצוּנִיצעֶן דִי טִבְעִיּוּת אִין עֲבוֹדָה. אוּן רֵאשִׁית הָעֲבוֹדָה זאָל זַיין אוֹיסְצוּנִיצעֶן דִי טֶבַע הַכֹּחוֹת, ווִי לְמָשָׁל דִי טֶבַע פוּן מוֹחַ שַׁלִּיט עַל הַלֵּב.

R. Moshe Maizlish1 once related: “The [Alter] Rebbe taught us that the starting-point2 of Chassidus is the utilization of one’s natural inclinations in his avodah. And the beginning of avodah is the utilization of the innate nature of one’s faculties;for example, the mind’s innate ability to rule over the heart.”3

A Story with an Echo

In the letter from which this teaching is taken, the Rebbe Rayatz tells how R. Moshe’s own ability to internalize this teaching literally saved his life.

When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, the Alter Rebbe sided with the Czar — not because he valued the Czar’s policies, but because he foresaw the consequences of Napoleon’s victory. The Alter Rebbe argued that “if the Czar prevails, the Jews will continue to suffer materially, but they will prosper spiritually; if Napoleon prevails, they will prosper materially, but will falter spiritually.”

Some of the chassidim thereupon took an active role in supporting the Russian war effort. R. Moshe served as a spy. Posing as a translator for the French, he communicated their military secrets to the Russians.

Once, when the French strategists laid out their maps to plan their next attack, R. Moshe’s presence aroused Napoleon’s suspicion. He questioned him sharply and suddenly placed his hand over R. Moshe’s heart to determine his spontaneous reaction. However, the chassid’s heartbeat remained so calm and he answered with such confidence that Napoleon was convinced of his innocence.

R. Moshe later described the above encounter to one of his colleagues — and it was then that he made the above statement on “the mind’s innate ability to rule over the heart.”