Shabbos Parshas Va’Yeira; 15th Day of MarCheshvan, 5751
1. In connection with Parshas VaYeira and Chaf MarCheshvan, it is related that the Rebbe Rashab as a child went to his grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek, for yechidus before his birthday. When the child entered the room, he began to cry. After his grandfather calmed him, he asked the reason for his outburst. The Rebbe Rashab answered that in cheider he learned that G-d revealed Himself to Avrohom. He was disturbed and wanted to know: "Why doesn’t G-d reveal Himself to me as well?"

The Tzemach Tzedek replied to him, "When a Jew who is a tzaddik is ninety-nine years old and decides to circumcise himself, he is worthy of Divine revelation."

Since this story is told in connection with the Rebbe Rashab’s birthday, a day of general importance when "the spiritual source of his soul shines powerfully," we can appreciate that it includes the totality of his service and clarifies what the central point of his service was.

To explain: All the Rebbeim are Nesiim and share certain common dimensions. Nevertheless, each one is characterized by a particular dimension that reflects his individual nature. Pinpointing this quality is a challenge because it is difficult for people of our spiritual level to differentiate between the service of individuals like the Rebbeim who are on a much higher spiritual plane. Nevertheless, each of the Rebbeim manifests certain qualities more prominently than the others. It is worthy to mention these differences with the intent that this lead to an increase in the fear of Heaven and the service of G-d.

In general, all of the Chabad Rebbeim were distinguished by their ability to draw down and clothe the teachings of pnimiyus HaTorah within the limits of human intellect. This gave their followers the potential to internalize their teachings and personally identify with spiritual ideas, thus producing an increase – and indeed, a new dimension – in the service of G-d. The increase in knowledge of G-d led to an increase in the love and fear of G-d and an increase in actual service, since love is the source for the fulfillment of all the 248 positive commandments and fear is the source for the fulfillment of the 365 negative commandments.

This approach was powerfully revealed by the Rebbe Rashab, whose discourses are characterized by detailed intellectual explanations, drawing down the teachings of Chassidus within the limits of human intellect to a degree that surpasses his predecessors’ achievements. He would present a summary and a conclusion of the discussion of spiritual concepts in a manner that allowed them to be easily understood and thus applied in actual life.

To be sure, this approach was also evident in the previous Rebbeim’s teachings. The Alter Rebbe revealed the Chabad (wisdom, understanding, and knowledge) approach. The Mitteler Rebbe expressed those teachings in greater depth, being comparable to "the expansiveness of the river." The Rebbe Rashab’s teachings, however, put a far greater emphasis on bringing out a conclusive summary of the subject matter so that it would be able to be implemented in the Chassidim’s everyday lives. For this reason, the Chassidim referred to the Rebbe Rashab as "the Rambam of Chassidus." The Rambam’s uniqueness was expressed in his collection of the entire Oral Law and it’s presentation in the form of easily comprehensible directives governing every aspect of our conduct. The Rebbe Rashab made a similar contribution within the context of the Chabad tradition.

The Rebbe Rashab’s approach was revealed in the hemsheichim (treatises that include a series of maamarim). In particular, the hemsheichim that began in the years 5666 and 5672, which explain fundamental Chassidic concepts in a clear manner enabling them to be understood and applied in actual life.

This approach was also expressed in the Rebbe Rashab’s establishment of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim. The yeshiva was intended to allow for a systematic and settled approach to the study of Chassidus. In the yeshiva, nigleh (the revealed teachings of Torah law) and Chassidus were both studied in a manner that reflected how they are two dimensions of a single Torah. The students were taught to appreciate a Chassidic dimension in their nigleh studies and to approach a Chassidic concept with the same thorough intellectual approach that characterizes Talmudic study. This, in turn – enhanced by the sharing of ideas and intellectual and spiritual give and take among the students that characterizes yeshiva study – gave a student the opportunity to apply the concepts he learned in his own life and to share them with others.

In this way, the founding of the yeshiva was associated with the service of disseminating the wellsprings of Torah, the wellsprings of nigleh and the wellsprings of Chassidus as they are fused together. In this manner, the students of the yeshiva become "candles that illuminate" and fulfill their mission as T’mimim, as the Rebbe Rashab emphasized in his discourse "Whoever goes out to the wars of the House of David."

The founding of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim by the Rebbe Rashab added a further stage of completion in the effort to make G-dliness appreciated and grasped through studying Chassidus, and that this study should lead to deed.

In particular, this refers to the deed of "raising up many students," beginning with the founding of the yeshiva by the Rebbe Rashab. Furthermore, the Rebbe’s intent when founding the yeshiva was that it should spread, and that new branches should be established in many places. This activity was furthered by the director of the yeshiva, the Rebbe Rayatz, who brought the yeshiva to "the lower hemisphere of the world" (America), from which branches were established throughout the world.

There is a connection between the above concepts and the Rebbe Rashab’s tear-felt outburst that G-d should reveal Himself to him just as He revealed Himself to Avrohom Avinu. What the Rebbe Rashab wanted, even as a young boy, was to see G-dliness openly revealed. Throughout his life, he worked towards that goal, which was the purpose of his achievements of revealing Chassidus and of establishing the yeshiva.

To express these concepts on a deeper level: G-dliness is revealed within and through the medium of the Torah, which is G-d’s will and wisdom and which is totally united with Him – "G-d and His Torah are one." G-d invested Himself in the Torah, as evident by our Sages’ interpretation of the word "Anochi" as an acronym for the Hebrew words meaning "I wrote down and gave Myself over."

This was revealed in an open and manifest manner at the time the Torah was given, as the Torah declares, "You have been shown to know that the L-rd is G-d." Then, we actually saw the revelation of G-dliness. The Ten Commandments, which include the entire Torah, reflect His inner will, where there is no concealment or veiling.

Within the various disciplines of Torah, there is a greater dimension of revelation in the realm of halacha. Thus, our Sages interpreted the expression "the word of G-d" as referring to halacha, and the expression "G-d is with him" [i.e., the halachic authority] as "the halacha follows his view."

Similarly, there is a greater dimension of Divine revelation associated with the study of pnimiyus HaTorah, which is described as "the Tree of Life, where there are no questions emanating from the powers of evil." In this realm of knowledge, G-dliness and spiritual subjects are discussed openly in contrast to the study of nigleh, where these subjects are not openly revealed.

Within the realm of pnimiyus HaTorah itself, there is a unique emphasis on the maamarim recited by the Rebbeim. Rav Hillel of Paritch would say that hearing a Rebbe recite a maamer is like receiving "the word of G-d on Mount Sinai." This particularly applies regarding the Rebbe Rashab, the Rambam of Chassidus, who would bring out spiritual concepts in the form resembling a clear halachic decision that could be applied in one’s service of G-d.

The preparation for and the first stage of the Rebbe Rashab’s service was reflected in his tear-felt desire that G-d reveal Himself to him. He wanted to see the actual revelation of G-dliness. It was this desire that was expressed through and channeled the direction of his service and his revelation of Chassidus in the years that followed.

This service was continued by the Rebbe Rayatz, who explained and amplified his father’s Chassidic teachings. Furthermore, he instructed that these teachings be translated into other languages. Similarly, he continued his father’s work in expanding the activities of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, transferring its base to America and establishing new branches throughout the world.

In addition to the insights the story reveals concerning the Rebbe Rashab and his lifework, the story itself serves as a fundamental lesson for every Jew. Every Jew, even a young child, must desire the revelation of G-dliness within the context of his life within this material world.

We must express this desire with the simplicity and single-mindedness of a child, for each Jew possesses a childlike dimension, as the verse relates, "Israel is a youth and I love him."

This story also provides insights regarding the education of our children. We should educate our children so that G-d is a real and powerful force in their lives. They should care about G-dliness and feel a genuine lack that G-d does not reveal Himself to them.

This desire is more than a preparation for the study of Torah and the service of G-d at a later time. It is itself a stage of service which must continue at all times. Before studying Torah, it is necessary to recite a blessing which reflects our appreciation of G-d, the Giver of the Torah. Similarly, our study of Torah and service of G-d should constantly be vitalized by the earnest desire for the revelation of G-dliness.

In particular, the above is relevant this year, the 130th anniversary of the Rebbe Rashab’s birth. From year to year there must be an increase in the influence of the Rebbe Rashab’s birthday, the day when the "spiritual source of his soul shines powerfully," for "we must always increase in regard to holy matters." Each year, a birthday is a day of general importance. This is particularly true regarding the birthday of a Nasi, who is a general soul.

The uniqueness of this day was reflected in the Rebbe Rashab’s custom of reciting a maamer to the Rebbe Rayatz on the day of his birthday. This custom continued even after the Rebbe Rashab’s passing. The Rebbe Rayatz related a detailed vision describing how on the Rebbe Rashab’s birthday the Rebbe appeared to him on Chaf MarCheshvan and recited a maamer. (He was also joined by the Rebbeim who preceded him, who each recited a maamer, as well.)

The number 130 reflects a unique level, for it is 5 times 26 (the numerical equivalent of the name Havaya). Five is connected with the Torah, the Five Books of Moshe. Five is also intrinsically related to the Rebbe Rashab, for he was the fifth of the Chabad Nesiim.

Since the Rebbe Rashab was a general soul, the heights reached on his birthday (and particularly this year, the influence of five times the numerical equivalent of the name Havaya) is relevant to every Jew. Each Jew is given the potential to serve G-d in a manner in which G-dliness becomes part of his mundane day-to-day experience. Each Jew should feel a yearning desire for G-dliness, which should motivate an increase in the study of Torah (both nigleh and Chassidus, and in particular, the maamarim of the Rebbe Rashab). Furthermore, this study should be grasped and comprehended within our intellectual faculties and bring about a change in our actual conduct.

This should lead to spreading the teachings of Chassidus outward and "raising up many students" with the establishment of branches of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in new places. There should be a stress on Jewish education, and in particular, on raising children with a desire and yearning that G-d reveal Himself to them.