The Rebbe’s conversation on Sunday night, the week of Noah, 5570/1809:304Weeks are designated by the Torah reading of their concluding Shabbat. This was Sunday, 28 Tishrei (October 8, 1809) (see Tzaddik #171; Yemey Moharnat #39).
“My teachings are very great. They are filled with Divine inspiration and can be used to predict the future. Listen carefully and pay close attention to my lessons, and you will see the future. After things happen, you will also see that they were predicted in my lessons. It all has been set forth in my teachings.”
I heard this after the Shabbat of Bereshit,305When the first portion of Genesis (1:1-6:8) is read. 5570/1809. I had come to the Rebbe on Sunday night to show him the lesson, “In the Beginning … Before the Eyes of All Israel”306The first and last phrases of the Torah. (Likutey Moharan II, 67).307In the Hebrew text, this lesson is erroneously numbered as 68 rather than 67. That week, we actually saw the Rebbe’s words come true. The lesson of that Shabbat had actually revealed deep secrets and predicted future events.
On the previous Thursday, 25 Tishrei, the famed tzaddik and holy light, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev,308The dean of all Chassidic leaders at that time. Considered one of the leading disciples of Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was seventy years old at the time of his passing. passed away. Friday night was the Shabbat of Bereshit and the Rebbe revealed the lesson, “In the Beginning … Before the Eyes of All Israel.” In this lesson, the Rebbe spoke of the “glory of Israel.” He said that when a tzaddik passes away, this “glory of Israel” is eclipsed.
News of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s passing did not reach us until the following Monday. When the Rebbe revealed this lesson, we had no idea of his inference.
When we later heard of the passing of this great tzaddik, we then understood the Rebbe’s meaning. The lesson speaks of the eclipse of the “glory of Israel,” a title that the Rebbe had often given to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak. He also spoke of him as the attribute of tefilin.309During the previous summer, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak had traveled through Wallachia and Rebbe Nachman had had his tefilin examined. He explained that both are the “glory of Israel” (Yemey Moharnat #38-39).
Etrogim had not been available that year, and only arrived miraculously at the last moment (see “His Wisdom” #125). The Rebbe said that he knew etrogim would come, for he trusted in the tzaddikim of our generation – particularly in the great tzaddik, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, the glory of our congregation (Yemey Moharnat #38).
Therefore, it is obvious that with Divine inspiration, the Rebbe revealed in that lesson that the sainted Rabbi Levi Yitzchak had passed on. Look carefully into this lesson and you will see that it all speaks about this. Search and you will find it.
When the Rebbe saw this lesson in writing, he also said, “The religious exhortations in my lessons are very deep and wondrous. Had this been delivered as a sermon, it would have aroused you and broken your heart. For it is all a very great, logical, moral exhortation (see “His Wisdom” #124).
“Do as I told you and make my lessons into prayers (see “His Wisdom” #145). When you bring this lesson into words of inspiration and prayer, it will greatly inspire you and break your heart” (see “His Wisdom” #41).
שִׂיחָתוֹ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁל רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, אוֹר לְיוֹם שְׁנֵי פָּרָשַׁת נֹחַ תק"ע:
The Rebbe’s conversation on Sunday night, the week of Noah, 5570/1809:304Weeks are designated by the Torah reading of their concluding Shabbat. This was Sunday, 28 Tishrei (October 8, 1809) (see Tzaddik #171; Yemey Moharnat #39).
הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁלִּי גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד. וְהִיא כֻּלָּהּ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וִיכוֹלִין לֵידַע מִמֶּנָּה עֲתִידוֹת, שֶׁמִּי שֶׁיַּטֶּה עַצְמוֹ וְיַאֲזִין וְיַקְשִׁיב הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁלִּי יָכוֹל לֵידַע עֲתִידוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אַחַר כָּךְ כְּשֶׁנַּעֲשִׂין הַדְּבָרִים בָּעוֹלָם, שֶׁאָז יְכוֹלִין בְּוַדַּאי לִמְצֹא הַכֹּל בְּתוֹךְ הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁלִּי וְלִרְאוֹת וּלְהָבִין שֶׁהַכֹּל מְבֹאָר בְּתוֹךְ הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרָה כְּבָר.
“My teachings are very great. They are filled with Divine inspiration and can be used to predict the future. Listen carefully and pay close attention to my lessons, and you will see the future. After things happen, you will also see that they were predicted in my lessons. It all has been set forth in my teachings.”
כָּל זֶה שָׁמַעְתִּי אַחַר שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית שְׁנַת תק"ע, בְּעֵת שֶׁהֶרְאֵיתִי לוֹ הַתּוֹרָה "בְּרֵאשִׁית לְעֵינֵי כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּכְתָב הַנִּדְפֶּסֶת בְּ"לִקּוּטֵי תִּנְיָנָא" סִימָן ס"ז. וּבְאוֹתוֹ הַשָּׁבוּעַ רָאִינוּ בְּחוּשׁ כָּל הנ"ל, אֵיךְ בְּהַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁלּוֹ הוּא מְגַלֶּה נֶעֱלָמוֹת וַעֲתִידוֹת. כִּי מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁהָיָה כָּךְ הָיָה:
I heard this after the Shabbat of Bereshit,305When the first portion of Genesis (1:1-6:8) is read. 5570/1809. I had come to the Rebbe on Sunday night to show him the lesson, “In the Beginning … Before the Eyes of All Israel”306The first and last phrases of the Torah. (Likutey Moharan II, 67).307In the Hebrew text, this lesson is erroneously numbered as 68 rather than 67. That week, we actually saw the Rebbe’s words come true. The lesson of that Shabbat had actually revealed deep secrets and predicted future events.
כִּי בַּשָּׁבוּעַ הַקּוֹדֶם בְּיוֹם חֲמִישִׁי שֶׁהוּא כ"ה תִּשְׁרֵי שָׁנָה הַנַּ"ל נִסְתַּלֵּק כְּבוֹד הָרַב הַגָּאוֹן בּוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא הֶחָסִיד הַמְפֻרְסָם מוֹרֵנוּ הָרַב רַבִּי לֵוִי יִצְחָק זצ"ל, אַב־בֵּית־דִּין דִּקְהִלַּת קֹדֶשׁ בֶּרְדִּיטְשׁוֹב, וּבְשַׁבָּת שֶׁאַחַר יוֹם חֲמִישִׁי הַנַּ"ל שֶׁהוּא שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית, אָז נֶאֶמְרָה הַתּוֹרָה הַנַּ"ל מִפִּי רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, הַמַּתְחֶלֶת "בְּרֵאשִׁית – לְעֵינֵי כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל", הַמְּדַבֶּרֶת מֵהַעֲלָמַת הַפְּאֵר שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּהַיְנוּ הַעֲלָמַת וְהִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַצַּדִּיק שֶׁהוּא הַפְּאֵר שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל.
On the previous Thursday, 25 Tishrei, the famed tzaddik and holy light, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev,308The dean of all Chassidic leaders at that time. Considered one of the leading disciples of Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was seventy years old at the time of his passing. passed away. Friday night was the Shabbat of Bereshit and the Rebbe revealed the lesson, “In the Beginning … Before the Eyes of All Israel.” In this lesson, the Rebbe spoke of the “glory of Israel.” He said that when a tzaddik passes away, this “glory of Israel” is eclipsed.
וּבְעֵת שֶׁשָּׁמַעְנוּ זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה מִפִּיו הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁל רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, לֹא הָיִינוּ מְבִינִים כְּלָל לְהֵיכָן מַגִּיעַ כַּוָּנָתוֹ, כִּי אָז בְּאוֹתוֹ הַשַּׁבָּת עֲדַיִן לֹא נוֹדַע כְּלָל מִפְּטִירַת הַצַּדִּיק הַנַּ"ל עַד יוֹם שֵׁנִי אַחַר שַׁבָּת.
News of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s passing did not reach us until the following Monday. When the Rebbe revealed this lesson, we had no idea of his inference.
וְאַחַר כָּךְ בַּשָּׁבוּעַ שֶׁאַחַר שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית, נוֹדַע לָנוּ מִצָּרָתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּסְתַּלֵּק הַצַּדִּיק הַגָּדוֹל הַנַּ"ל. אָז הָיִינוּ מְבִינִים לְמַפְרֵעַ שֶׁרַבֵּנוּ ז"ל גִּלָּה בְּהַתּוֹרָה הַנַּ"ל, כִּי זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה מְדַבֶּרֶת מֵהַעֲלָמַת הַפְּאֵר וְכוּ' וְהַצַּדִּיק הַנַּ"ל הָיָה נִקְרָא בְּפִי רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, "פְּאֵר שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל", בְּחִינַת תְּפִלִּין (כַּמְבֹאָר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר).
When we later heard of the passing of this great tzaddik, we then understood the Rebbe’s meaning. The lesson speaks of the eclipse of the “glory of Israel,” a title that the Rebbe had often given to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak. He also spoke of him as the attribute of tefilin.309During the previous summer, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak had traveled through Wallachia and Rebbe Nachman had had his tefilin examined. He explained that both are the “glory of Israel” (Yemey Moharnat #38-39).
וְכֵן בְּאוֹתָהּ הַשָּׁנָה לֹא הָיוּ אֶתְרוֹגִים מְצוּיִים וְאַחַר כָּךְ בָּאוּ אֶתְרוֹגִים עַל פִּי נֵס. וְאָמַר רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל: שֶׁהָיָה בָּטוּחַ עַל צַדִּיקֵי הַדּוֹר וּבִפְרָט עַל הַצַּדִּיק הַנַּ"ל שֶׁהוּא פְּאֵר הַקְּהִלָּה שֶׁלָּנוּ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אֶתְרוֹגִים וְכוּ'.
Etrogim had not been available that year, and only arrived miraculously at the last moment (see “His Wisdom” #125). The Rebbe said that he knew etrogim would come, for he trusted in the tzaddikim of our generation – particularly in the great tzaddik, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, the glory of our congregation (Yemey Moharnat #38).
עַל כֵּן רָאִינוּ בְּבֵרוּר שֶׁרַבֵּנוּ גִּלָּה בְּרוּחַ קָדְשׁוֹ בְּהַתּוֹרָה הַנַּ"ל הִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַצַּדִּיק הַנַּ"ל (כַּמְבֹאָר עַתָּה לְהַמְעַיֵּן שֶׁמַּמָּשׁ כָּל הַתּוֹרָה הַנַּ"ל מְדַבֶּרֶת מֵעִנְיָן זֶה, דּוֹק וְתִשְׁכַּח).
Therefore, it is obvious that with Divine inspiration, the Rebbe revealed in that lesson that the sainted Rabbi Levi Yitzchak had passed on. Look carefully into this lesson and you will see that it all speaks about this. Search and you will find it.
גַּם אֵלֶּה דִּבְרֵי רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, בְּעֵת שֶׁרָאָה הַתּוֹרָה הַנַּ"ל בִּכְתָב: "הַמּוּסָר שֶׁל הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁלִּי נִפְלָא וְעָצוּם מְאֹד. אִלּוּ הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה בְּלָשׁוֹן אַחֵר בִּלְשׁוֹן מוּסָר, הָיָה מְעוֹרֵר וּמְשַׁבֵּר אֶת הַלֵּב מְאֹד, כִּי כֻּלָּהּ מוּסָר הַשְׂכֵּל, מוּסָר גָּדוֹל וְנוֹרָא מְאֹד.
When the Rebbe saw this lesson in writing, he also said, “The religious exhortations in my lessons are very deep and wondrous. Had this been delivered as a sermon, it would have aroused you and broken your heart. For it is all a very great, logical, moral exhortation (see “His Wisdom” #124).
עַל כֵּן צָרִיךְ לִזָּהֵר לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁהִזְהַרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת מִן הַתּוֹרָה תְּפִלָּה. כִּי תֵּכֶף כְּשֶׁמַּתְחִילִין לְהַכְנִיס זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה בְּתוֹךְ דִּבְרֵי הִתְעוֹרְרוּת וְשִׂיחָה שֶׁל תְּפִלָּה בְּוַדַּאי תְּעוֹרֵר וּתְשַׁבֵּר אֶת לִבּוֹ מְאֹד כַּנַּ"ל".
“Do as I told you and make my lessons into prayers (see “His Wisdom” #145). When you bring this lesson into words of inspiration and prayer, it will greatly inspire you and break your heart” (see “His Wisdom” #41).