What A Chassidishe Farbrengen Can Accomplish
By Y. ben Mordechai

Once, the Chassidim of Reb Menachem Mendel of Harodok were farbrenging, and the Alter Rebbe was present, as well. Torah thoughts were exchanged, with a focus on the holy talks of Reb Menachem Mendel.

A Chassid, afflicted with various ailments (may Heaven protect us) was also present. So serious was his malady that no doctors could find for it a cure. At one point he began to beg those present to bless him with a speedy recovery.

Some Chassidim began to laugh and ridicule his request, while others derided his foolishness to place his faith in simple men such as themselves. “Only a true tzaddik merits that his blessings will come true,” they claimed.

The Chassid, in dire need of a speedy recovery, began to cry and plead earnestly. The Chassidim began to hum a Chassidic melody, hoping to stifle his request in this manner.

The Alter Rebbe, witnessing this event, called for silence, and declared, “My brothers and friends, have you forgotten that even the angel Michoel cannot accomplish what a Chassidishe farbrengen can accomplish?”  The Chassidim remembered, and blessed their unfortunate brother with wishes for a complete recovery.

Reb Hillel Paritcher quoted Reb Zalman Zezmer, who was present at the gathering, who said,  “The Alter Rebbe explained the power of a Chassidishe farbrengen with a remarkable parable:

“Little children in general want the best for themselves, not caring about their friends. They carefully guard their possessions but look to those of their friends with jealousy and even derision, reacting with anger and displaying negative character traits. The demeanor of such children sorely pains a father. To improve his children’s character development, he will hire a professional melamed. After a few months he will evaluate his children’s attitude and behavior towards others. If they now feel that the welfare of their friends is as important as their own, and even disregard their own good for that of their friends, then the father is filled with nachas. He will graciously fulfill their requests with an open hand, in a more expansive manner than before, in addition to happily paying the melamed for his efforts.

“Reb Zalman Zezmer concluded, ‘The bracha of a Chassid can arouse great mercy, akin to that of the angel Michoel.’”

Reb Hillel commented on this as well, after relating what he heard from Reb Zalman:

“I explain the statement to myself in the following manner: What a fraternal Chassidishe farbrengen can accomplish, the angel Michoel cannot accomplish. That is, besides the blessings given at a farbrengen accomplishing more than the angel Michoel, in the realm of children, life, and sustenance, it also affects the spiritual, as well. It refines the behavior of the children, and great is the Supernal pleasure experienced from it.  (Based on Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rayatz: volume 3: pages 412 to 414)