On Sukkot 5570/1809, the Rebbe spoke about the etrog, saying that one’s Days of Awe the beauty of one’s etrog. This was discussed earlier (see note 245, p. XX). Etrogim were impossible to find that year and the community had already resigned itself to do without one at all.
There was not an etrog to be had in the entire land until just a day before Sukkot. Then, in His own miraculous ways, God made it that the needed etrogim reached several nearby towns. These fetched premium prices, and in some communities were sold for as much as fifty rubles and more.
Here in Breslov, the Rebbe was able to obtain a particularly beautiful etrog (see Yemey Moharnat #38-39). He was so overjoyed that he asked us to bring musical instruments and play for him, making it an occasion of celebration. For three continuous days, he was so inspired by the etrog that he did not feel his terrible illness at all. His joy was so great that it literally revived his health.
He continued to speak about this etrog even after Sukkot. He said that we had no idea how precious is the mitzvah of etrog and how high its level. The fact that Jews spend more money for the observance of this mitzvah than for any other is not without significance. It shows that this mitzvah is precious beyond all measure, even though we might not be aware of it.
If people knew the true greatness of the etrog, they would do “who knows what” for it. The Jews are a holy people (Isaiah 62:12). They are very wise and not easily fooled. They spend much money for etrogim, and this is certainly not without good reason (Yemey Moharnat #38).
בְּחַג הַסֻּכּוֹת תק"ע, אָז אָמַר מֵעִנְיַן הָאֶתְרוֹג: שֶׁלְּפִי בְּחִינַת הַיָּמִים נוֹרָאִים רָאוּי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ אֶתְרוֹג נָאֶה (כַּמּוּבָא לְעֵיל), וּבְאוֹתָהּ הַשָּׁנָה לֹא הָיוּ מְצוּיִים אֶתְרוֹגִים. וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם סְבוּרִים שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לָהֶם אֶתְרוֹגִים כְּלָל.
On Sukkot 5570/1809, the Rebbe spoke about the etrog, saying that one’s Days of Awe the beauty of one’s etrog. This was discussed earlier (see note 245, p. XX). Etrogim were impossible to find that year and the community had already resigned itself to do without one at all.
וְלֹא הָיָה שׁוּם אֶתְרוֹג בַּמְּדִינָה עַד עֶרֶב סֻכּוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ נִסִּים וְסִבֵּב סִבּוֹת בְּדֶרֶךְ נֵס שֶׁבָּאוּ אֶתְרוֹגִים לִקְצָת עֲיָרוֹת. וְהָיוּ נוֹתְנִים אָז מָמוֹן הַרְבֵּה בְּעַד אֶתְרוֹג, בִּקְצָת קְהִלּוֹת נָתְנוּ חֲמִשִּׁים אֲדֻמִּים וְיוֹתֵר בְּעַד אֶתְרוֹג אֶחָד.
There was not an etrog to be had in the entire land until just a day before Sukkot. Then, in His own miraculous ways, God made it that the needed etrogim reached several nearby towns. These fetched premium prices, and in some communities were sold for as much as fifty rubles and more.
וְגַם לִקְהִלַּת בְּרֶאסְלַב בָּא אֶתְרוֹג מְהֻדָּר מְאֹד לְיַד רַבֵּנוּ זצ"ל. וְהָיָה שִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד לְרַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, וְאָמַר לְהָבִיא לוֹ כְּלֵי זֶמֶר מִגֹּדֶל הַשִּׂמְחָה. וּשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים רְצוּפִים הָיָה לוֹ חִיּוּת גָּדוֹל מִן הָאֶתְרוֹג. וְהָיָה בָּרִיא כָּל אוֹתָן הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים וְלֹא הָיָה מַרְגִּישׁ כְּלָל הַחוֹלַאַת הַקָּשָׁה שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ, מִגֹּדֶל הַשִּׂמְחָה שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ מִן הָאֶתְרוֹג.
Here in Breslov, the Rebbe was able to obtain a particularly beautiful etrog (see Yemey Moharnat #38-39). He was so overjoyed that he asked us to bring musical instruments and play for him, making it an occasion of celebration. For three continuous days, he was so inspired by the etrog that he did not feel his terrible illness at all. His joy was so great that it literally revived his health.
וְגַם אַחַר סֻכּוֹת סִפֵּר הַרְבֵּה מִן הָאֶתְרוֹג וְאָמַר: שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים כְּלָל גֹּדֶל יִקְרַת מַעֲלַת מִצְוַת אֶתְרוֹג. וַהֲרֵי אָנוּ רוֹאִין שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל מְפַזְּרִים מָמוֹן הַרְבֵּה בִּשְׁבִיל מִצְוָה זוֹ, יוֹתֵר מֵעַל שְׁאָר מִצְווֹת וּבְוַדַּאי לֹא עַל חִנָּם הוּא. מִסְּתָמָא מִצְוָה זוֹ הוּא יְקָרָה מְאֹד מְאֹד אֲשֶׁר אֵין לְשַׁעֵר רַק שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין גֹּדֶל מַעֲלָתָהּ.
He continued to speak about this etrog even after Sukkot. He said that we had no idea how precious is the mitzvah of etrog and how high its level. The fact that Jews spend more money for the observance of this mitzvah than for any other is not without significance. It shows that this mitzvah is precious beyond all measure, even though we might not be aware of it.
אֶפְשָׁר אִם הָיוּ יוֹדְעִין גֹּדֶל מַעֲלַת מִצְוָה זוֹ, הָיוּ עוֹשִׂים מַה שֶּׁהָיוּ עוֹשִׂים בִּשְׁבִיל מִצְוָה זוֹ, כִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַם קָדוֹשׁ הֵם חֲכָמִים וְקָשֶׁה לְהַטְעוֹתָם. וּבְוַדַּאי כְּשֶׁהֵם מְפַזְּרִים מָמוֹן הַרְבֵּה בִּשְׁבִיל מִצְוָה זוֹ, לֹא לְחִנָּם הוּא.
If people knew the true greatness of the etrog, they would do “who knows what” for it. The Jews are a holy people (Isaiah 62:12). They are very wise and not easily fooled. They spend much money for etrogim, and this is certainly not without good reason (Yemey Moharnat #38).
וְעוֹד הֶאֱרִיךְ בְּסִפּוּר זֶה וְהִפְלִיג מְאֹד בְּמַעֲלַת מִצְוַת אֶתְרוֹג.
The Rebbe spoke about this at length, emphasizing the importance of the etrog.