Reb Zalman sends his Hattarat Nedarim / The Release of Vows. It is based upon the traditional formula usually recited erev Rosh Hashanah. This gentle prescription prepares us for the prayers and liturgy of the Yamim Noraim / The Days of Awe. Read it over to see how it resonates for you; then find three people to serve as your judges to read it some time close to Rosh Hashanah. LeShanah Tovah u-Metukah / for a good and sweet year. From Gabbai  Seth Fishman

“My friends: I ask the three of you to serve as judges in a court empowered to release one from vows. Will you please serve for me in this capacity?”

The judges: “Yes, we are prepared to hear you.”

“What follows is not intended to void promises I made to other people from which only they can release me.

“From time to time in this past year, I made vows, sometimes having spoken them out loud, or having made a resolution, or sometimes just having had the intention to change something in my actions, or to change something in my behavior, or an attitude in my mind. Some were in relation to myself, to my body, to my mind, or to my soul. Some dealt with the way in which I was to conduct myself in relation to others. Most of all, there were those that dealt with my relation to God.

“At times, I undertook a practice or a custom, doing it three or more times, but having since willingly or unwillingly abandoned it and, I know that this, too, has had the power of a vow.

“When I have asked in my prayers for people, whether prayers for healing, for blessing or for the repose of souls departed, in which the formula included, ‘Because I shall contribute to tzedakah‘, I may have forgotten to do it or may not have been aware I said it. I ask you to release me from these as well.

“All these I regret and, I ask you to recognize my regret and to release me from all these vows.”

The judges: “Hearing your regret, we release you. All is forgiven, all is released. And may it be that just as we, here below, have released you from these vows and obligations, so too may it be that you may be released from the same by the court above.“

“As I stand here, aware of my fickle nature in matters of vows, promises and resolutions, I hereby declare that for the coming year, should I again offer such vows, promises and resolutions, may they have no effect and not become binding on me. At this moment, I regret any of these and wish that they not be valid.”

The judges: “We have heard your declaration and consider it licit and legal.

“May you be blessed with a good year, inscribed in the book of life and sealed for good.“

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Ostroh (“Rav Yiivi”) z‘l (1738-1791) is commemorated on the 20th of Tishrei. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

The Rav, the Chossid, Rav Yiivi, [i.e., Yaakov Yosef of Ostroh], didn’t give special treatment to a man and he wouldn’t just flatter someone. And here, I will tell you something that really happened which I heard from the mouth of a reliable historian, an elder of our town. [Here is what Reb Yiivi did] to strengthen the mighty Reb Abeli, head of the wealthy Sussman family:

There was a foreign [non-Jewish] servant who worked in Reb Abeli’s horse stable. One time on a Shabbos, the servant rose early before the light of dawn, raked the manure from the horse stable and transported it in a cart to outside of the town.

Another, who saw this, went to the Rav Yiivi and told him of the matter. Immediately after Shabbos, on Sunday, the Rav Yiivi z’l went to Rabbi Abeli to enforce penalities because they had desecrated the Sabbath in his household.

Rabbi Abeli apologized to him, saying that the foreigner did what he had done without Rabbi Abeli’s knowledge and Reb Abeli implored Reb Yiivi that Reb Abeli might punish the servant with the paying of a penalty sum, or even that he should not take penalties from him, but rather, he thought, the servant should be publicly shamed.

However, the Tzaddik, Rav Yiivi, didn’t want to hear and he said to him, that in a place that there is a desecration of God, no regards should be paid… [In other words, Reb Abele was coming off as righteous in deciding to take his servant to task.] And regarding a great and important man such as Reb Abeli, he should especially feel compelled to heed this because the people will take note and fear.

Reb Abeli understood, for the words of the Tzaddik were just and he gave over to him the fines. They loaded the fines onto a cart and they were transported on all streets of the town and the official of the court went ahead of the cart and announced aloud:

“These fines were collected from the mighty Reb Abeli because in his household they desecrated the Sabbath.”

(Recollections of the great ones of Ostroh, [Ukraine], page 214.)

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Peshischah (“Yehudi Hakadosh“) z‘l (1766-1813) is commemorated on the 19th of Tishrei. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

Our holy teacher, (may his merits shield us!), had a practice in holiness on every night before the sleep time to make a soul redemption on behalf of his pursuers and his slanderers, and he made the redemption on their behalves that they should not be punished, God forbid.

One time the holy Yehudi, (may his merits shield us!), woke up in the middle of the night and said:

“I forgot to make the redemption on behalf of my pursuers!”

And on that particular  night, blood started flowing from the throat of one of the pursuers, and it so happened that he had been slandering the Rabbi of Lublin, (may his merits shield us!), in particular. He ran immediately to the Rabbi in order that he might help him – but  it was no use.

(Crown of the Yehudi, section 1).

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov z‘l (1772-1810) is commemorated on the 18th of Tishrei. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

About Himself, (In an Awesome Way)

“Still, at this time, the world doesn’t get me at all. Had they understood just one torah / teaching that I say along with [sensing] its melody and dance, all of them would have gotten beyond ego, [lit. nullified], to a place of complete transparency [in the presence of the One]. From the degree of power of the utmost, to-the-max, wonderful and incomparable delight in [aspiring for] actualization of [the holy potential] of the living being, [lit. completion of the nefesh / soul], the whole entire world, even animals and plants and all that there is in the world, the all and the every would have been refocused [in a direction of aspiring for the world’s potential in holiness].

[NOTE: In aspiring to perceive God’s light, one comes to feel a powerful, transformational and awesome joy.]

“And my torah does a great deal in the world. For by means of the torah, all the inspirations [of how one should be] in the world are drawn out.”

[NOTE: For example, when they hear his torah, a carpenter may be inspired to make a beautiful cabinet.]

(From, “Life of our teacher the Rav Nachman”)

“I have moments of complete clarity which are so powerful that were I to begin to reveal just a small portion of the clarity of which I am aware, people would be able to live from just the sheer delight of attainment of these moments of clarity as though no longer needing any food or drink. And through understanding my aha’s, the world would become transparent by means of aspiring for actualization of holy potential of the nefesh / soul / life-force of all. And the people [in their current way of being] would “die” [i.e. be in a new way] from the awesome power of sweetness, pleasantness, deliciousness of the clarity that I would reveal, [i.e., say goodbye to the part of ourselves that kept us separate from God.]

“But I cannot reveal them to people.”

(ibid.)

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The Yahrzeit of Reb Yisrael of Kozhinitz z‘l (1740-1815) is commemorated on the 14th of Tishrei. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

His Passion for Mitzvah Utterances

The body of the Maggid of Kozhnitz was a bit like a parched tree because, he was born when his father was old, which was just as the Besh‘t had promised [his parents] in the widely known tale. [As an infant], they were often wrapping his body in fur, in  pillows and cushions, so that he [would not be lost], so that he could be noticed, so that there was some semblance of a body there which would be recognized as a human. [And much later,] he would continually lay on his bed as a weak man and as an infirmed.

All of his utterances, on all subjects, were delivered with a melodious voice that was study and prayer. In the morning, when he came to pray, the holy Rav would pass through [the shul] wrapped in a Tallis and  adorned in Tefillin flanked by the  two rows of [standing] men [already present], a row on each side. And he was flanked by his two Shammos-es, each holding a candle [making] two burning torches. He walked through with emotion and with joy, a Sefer Torah in his hands. And he danced one skip facing the holy ark, and there, in it, [went] the Sefer Torah. And he danced [again], one skip by the stand that was there, because on it was the Menorah and there in it [went] the candles. By there he sat and stood and prayed.

At the time of the Shemonah Esrei [Amidah], he wandered to and fro by his table. After the Shemoneh Esrei prayers [were done],  he jumped from the table onto the ground, where he had a cloth stretched out made of one [animal] hide upon which he lay down and finished his prayer.

Afterwards they transported him home.

Thus was his way in holiness every day, for, at the time of prayer he girded his loins like a man of might and afterwards returned to his place like an infirmed [man] laid out upon a sick bed.

One time, they called him to a Brit Milah celebration. When it became necessary to ascend onto the wagon, they wanted to help him. Then, he said to those standing around him:

“Simpletons! Fools! And is it through your strength that I stand upright? Behold! I have good and excellent strength. It is written, ‘But those who put their hope in Hashem shall renew their vigor’. I make do with the strength of the One who is the source of possibilities, He has great strength.”

And he skipped onto the cart as a mighty man of valor.

(Sweet things)

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The Yahrzeit of Reb Avrohom HaMalach z‘l (1741-1776) is commemorated on the 12th of Tishrei. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

The Angel

Once the Tzaddik, Rabbi Israel of Ruzhyn, was speaking about the stringency of Pesach. He said:

“An angel is able to be stringent, but a person how can he be stringent?

“My grandfather, Rabbi Avraham [who was known as HaMalach / the angel] was especially stringent. And the Maggid [of Mezritch, Rabbi Avraham’s father was stringent too, for he] took the mitzvah of baking his own matzah into his household, for it was known that he [also] was very stringent.”

And further he told:

“Once Rabbi Zusha hid himself in a wheel in winter and a fear of the angels came upon him and he couldn’t endure it. And he asked of the Holy one blessed be He that He would remove the fear from him.

“So it was with Rabbi Zusha, however, my grandfather, who himself was an angel, didn’t have a need for this. For his eating was from time to time from:
עור של בר יונה / hide of son of Jonah, but a person, it’s impossible for him to live on eating like this.”

(Holy cities).

~~~

(more…)

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The Yahrzeit of the Shpoler Zeide, Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpola  z‘l (1724-1811) is commemorated on the 6th of Tishrei. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

Once, the holy Tzaddikim, Reb Leib Mochiach of Polonoy, Reb Leib HaKohen of Berditchev, Reb Meshullam Zusha of Hanipoli and Reb Mordechai of Neschiz were together on Rosh Hashanah visiting the holy Zeide / grandfather of Shpola.

These five pillars of eternity were sitting together after having returned from the table in the designated room for drinking the honey water, [sweet alcoholic drink] and, their discussion then, was on just one subject: Moshiach / Messiah and final redemption.

Amidst the conversation Reb Meshullam Zusha said these words to Reb Leib Mochiach:

“Leib: You, of all of us, have a special degree of guilt with respect to your having delayed the coming of the Moshiach, for aren’t you the Mochiach / exhorter of Israel.

[Note: Reb Yehudah Aryeh Leib was known as the Mochiach / exhorter of Polonoy after earning a reputation for taking people to task.]

“And, why didn’t you exhort them with great punishments so that they would do teshuvah?”

Then the holy grandfather [i.e., the Shpoler Zeide], rose to his feet and said:

“Verily, I can see from whence these utterances came into the mouth of Reb Meshullam Zusha.”

And then, the holy zeide raised his hand toward heaven and said:

“Master of the worlds!

“Here I am giving you my firm assurance that through sending Your punishments and suffering, You would not make Israel become significantly better in its actions.

“And why should You cause them to suffer for nothing?

“For, is it not the case that from the beginning, You foresee that which will be at the end?

“And if this is so, then: I beseech You that You will be a good father for all of Israel.

“And just as a father is merciful with respect to his son even when he is not doing what’s right in the father’s eyes, so be merciful with us and with all of Israel.”

And he wept greatly when he said these words in a voice “cleaving with flames of fire” (Psalms 29:7).

And they all cried with him.

(Tiferet Maharal, Page 99)

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The Yahrzeit of Reb Avraham Yaakov Friedman of Sadigora z‘l (1819-1883) is commemorated on the 11th of Elul. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

He Z‘l About Himself

The Tzaddik / Rebbe is like the tree-foundation and the hasidim are like branches. Just as when a single branch stops growing it hurts the foundation, so it is if one [hasid] from this Tzaddik stops traveling to another one. And all this [is applicable, too,] with other Tzaddikim, specifically as e.g., with the Tzaddik of Apta and with my beloved, the Tzaddik of Chernobyl.

However, as far as I’m concerned, “If it were to happen to me that a Hasid should tear himself off from the community,” [it would not really make a difference] because I am the name YHVH which comprises in it twelve permutations of YHVH as its organization.

(From House of Israel, subject of Messianic end)

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The Yahrzeit of Reb Pinchas Shapira of Koretz z‘l (1726-1791) is commemorated on the 10th of Elul. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

[NOTE: The purpose of publishing these stories here is to help remind us of the culture of our forebears. Unfortunately, this one contains an attitude toward non-Jews which may be considered as triumphalistic, insulting and derogatory. There are positive aspects to the story as well. I welcome your sharing of feelings, thoughts, opinions and comments. Gabbai Seth]

Reb Pinchas’ Prayer

Once on a weekday the Rav z‘l prayed Maariv / the evening service before the daybreak and when he reached the phrase:

שומר עמו ישראל / “Who protects His nation Israel”, he cried out with a great cry.

The Duchess was passing by the study hall at this moment, and she lowered herself to within the window  frame, (for the windows in the study hall of Koretz lay low), and said in the Polish language: “How sincere was this cry from the heart with no pretense whatsoever.”

When they told Reb Pinchas of this he said:

“Also those who worship false gods [lit: stars and planets] know what is truth.”

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Reb Zalman sends this mamash / amazing Wort / talk he had with Boulder Chabad‘s Rabbi Yisroel and Rochel Rosencrantz in which he speaks beyond just them to all of us. [Edited by Gabbai Seth Fishman]

Zalman:

I want to say that all this is done l’shem yichud kud’sha brich hu ush’chintey / with an intention of uniting the Holy One Blessed be He and His Sh’khinnah. We really want to help the Sh’khinnah to be connected with Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and the world needs to heal. So that’s the motivation. I’m glad to do this for you because in some ways there’s a kind of Tzava’ah, a last will and testament to say something about what I think things are about for me.

I believe that our task is to look at reality and see it most clearly from a perspective of being a Jewish cell in the body of the world. If we can do that, that’s what I call taking on ‘ol malchut shamayim / a yoke of obedience to heaven’s kingship, [a committed practitioner of Yiddishkeit], in a sense — that whatever the Ribbono shel Olam / Master of worlds has implanted in me when I stood there and they were making me swear: t’hei tzadik v’al t’hei rasha‘ / ‘Be righteous and be not wicked’ .

[NOTE: “It has been taught (Niddah, 30b): An oath is administered to him [before birth warning him]: ‘Be righteous and be not wicked'” (beginning of Sefer Tanya, Chapter 1)]

When I heard, et mi eshlach umi yelech lanu / “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”, I said hineni, I’m here. At that point the Ribbono shel ‘Olam burnt an EPROM in me.

[NOTE: Computer memory chip. Reb Zalman is saying that he was then given his marching orders on how to be the Zalman God wanted him to be in this incarnation.]

Every time I have to go and get to a place and ask, mah Hashem Elokecha sho‘el me‘imach / what does Hashem Your God ask of you, I have to do a reset on my whole system because it picks up a lot of shmutz. (This is computer language.)

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