רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן עָנָה לְאֶחָד בְּהִכָּנְסוֹ לִיחִידוּת: ...בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וועֶרעֶן אָנגעֶרוּפעֶן נֵרוֹת. אַ נֵר אִיז כָּלוּל פוּן כְּלִי פְּתִילָה שֶׁמֶן וָאֵשׁ. מעֶן מוּז אָבּעֶר אָנצִינדעֶן דעֶם אֵשׁ אוּן דעֶמאָלט אִיז דאָס מֵאִיר. בּאַ דִיר אִיז אַ גוּטעֶר נֵר, אָבּעֶר עֶס פעֶלט דִיר דעֶר אָנצִינדעֶר. דוּרךְ הַכָּאָה בְכֹחַ אִין דעֶם אֶבֶן שֶׁל נֶפֶשׁ הַבַּהֲמִית, געֶהְט אַרוֹיס אַ נִיצוֹץ אֵשׁ, וועֶלכעֶר צִינדְט אָן דעֶם אֵשׁ אֱלֹקִי.

The Alter Rebbe once gave the following answer to a chassid in the course of a yechidus:

The Jewish people are called lamps. A lamp is comprised of a container, a wick, oil, and fire. However, we must first kindle the fire; only then will it shine. You possess a good lamp, but you lack someone to kindle it. When one forcefully strikes the stone — the animal soul — a spark flies out, and that kindles the G‑dly fire.1

A Story with an Echo

Once, during yechidus, in the Rebbe Rashab’s first years as Rebbe,a chassid related to him a serious problem that he was confronting. The Rebbe Rashab listened patiently and then responded, “I cannot help you.”

The chassid left the Rebbe’s room broken of spirit and weeping profusely. The Rebbe Rashab’s older brother, R. Zalman Aharon, happened to pass by and felt compassion for the man. “What happened?” he asked in a comforting tone.

After the chassid told R. Zalman Aharon what had occurred, R. Zalman Aharon entered his brother’s room and admonished him for having responded in such a manner. The Rebbe Rashab listened to his brother, girded himself with his gartl, and summoned the chassid to again enter the room. When he did, the Rebbe Rashab blessed him with success.

Now, was R. Zalman Aharon really more compassionate than his brother, the Rebbe Rashab? And if the Rebbe Rashab could not help the chassid at first, why was he able to bless him afterwards?

The answer may be as follows: When the chassid first came to the Rebbe Rashab, his spiritual level was so low that it was impossible to help him. But precisely because the Rebbe wanted to help him, he dealt him a crushing blow that broke through all his self-centered concerns. Once his tears washed away the barriers surrounding his heart, it became possible for the Rebbe to bless him. When the stone of his ego was struck forcefully, a spark emerged that kindled the G‑dly fire of his soul.2