branches-of-the-chassidic-menorah.doc

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Branches Of The Chassidic Menorah - Volume OneBiographical Stories Based On The Essay Fathers Of ChassidusBy The Previous Luavitcher !ee" Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn#irst pulished in the classical columns of $aTamim

Translated by Shimon NeubortPublished and copyright by Sichos %n English(718) 778-5!" # in$o%Sichos&n'nglishorg # *+ (718) 7!5-1!,

Translator&s %ntroduction

uring my early teen years. & $re/uently 0isited the home o$ a cousin ho is a $er0ent2is3nit3er 4hassid &n his li0ing room hung a picture o$ the chassidic tree - a $amousdraing o$ a tree. ith names o$ the chassidic 6ebbeim superimposed The trun. o$course. is the aal Shem To0 and the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritch The main limbs o$ the tree arethe 9aggid:s disciples The branches and tigs are their disciples and descendants. andtheir later successors

olloing the main limb o$ the *lter 6ebbe. that diagram only ent as $ar as theT3emach T3ede; a later edition o$ the same diagram also includes the 6ebbe 9aharashut ithin this chassidic tree. these nesi:im o$ 4habad appear to occupy only a smallcluster. almost lost among other branches and tigs *nd yet. the 4habad branch o$4hassidus has played a central role in the de0elopment and dissemination o$ the4hassidic 9o0ement. $ar beyond the proportion o$ space it as granted on the treeoin the con0ersation as the =uba0itcher representati0e9y remars ere /uicly cut short by the others Though each claimed that his on6ebbeim ere superior to the others. all seemed to agree that =uba0itch as somethingseparate and di$$erent. and had no place in a discussion o$ mainstream $actions o$

4hassidus 4habad is a separate philosophy and a di$$erent ay o$ li$e $rom all othertypes o$ 4hassidus. ob>ected one el3er 4hassidThe aal ?aTanya as. a$ter all. only one o$ the 9aggid:s many disciples. and theyoungest at that @hy do you =uba0itchers act as i$ you ha0e a monopoly on the aalShem To0A demanded a chassid o$ Barlin-Stolin eing by $ar the youngest personpresent. & /uicly retreated and le$t the others to continue the con0ersationTo tell the truth. the points they had brought up troubled me as ell 9y on roots layin the 4hassidus o$ Calicia and uo0ina. and to me =uba0itcher ays and customsappeared strange and unchassidicDears later. hen & had become (hat these days passes $or) a $ull-$ledged =uba0itcher.the /uestions raised long ago no longer bothered me. but they remained unansered*nd then. the periodical ?aTamim as reprinted & no came upon the Pre0ious 6ebbe:s

essay athers o$ 4hassidus. - and the accompanying introductory letter - hich anserthese 0ery /uestions *nd the /uestions had been ased by none other than the 6ebbehimsel$E&n this essay. the Pre0ious 6ebbe presents us ith an historical o0er0ie o$ the4hassidic 9o0ement. its $ounding. de0elopment. and dissemination - $rom the beginningthrough 1,FG =ie much o$ the Pre0ious 6ebbe:s historical or. it is ritten $rom abiographical perspecti0e &t $eatures the se0en generations o$ Nesi:im. $rom the aalShem To0 through the 6ebbe 6ashab. hich the Pre0ious 6ebbe calls the se0enranches o$ the 4hassidic 9enorah &ncluded are stories illustrating the ay o$ li$e o$young Torah scholars o$ @hite 6ussia during the de0elopment period o$ 4hassidusHn$ortunately. only the $irst three branches o$ the 9enorah ere actually printed in?aTamim urther publication ceased ith the impending outbrea o$ @orld @ar &&Some o$ the material prepared $or later issues remained in the Pre0ious 6ebbe:s library.and later became a0ailable to chassidim in typeritten $orm ($or eIample. the ebatein 9ins)This 0olume contains the $irst part o$ the essay athers o$ 4hassidus. the Pre0ious

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6ebbe:s letter concerning the essay. and additional supplementary material Theremainder o$ the essay and more supplementary material ill appear(ith C-d:s help) in 2ol Franches o$ the 4hassidic 9enorah continues our series o$ translations o$ the Pre0ious6ebbe:s historical and biographical narrati0esJ The 9aing o$ 4hassidim. and =ins in

the 4hassidic =egacy =ie those translations. the present or $irst appeared in myeely column iographical Setches in eis 9oshiach 9aga3ine*s printed in ?aTamim. the Pre0ious 6ebbe di0ided the essay into numbered sections.indicating that he considered the order to be important @e ha0e there$ore departed$rom our pre0ious practice. and re$rained $rom rearranging the teIt &nstead. headingsha0e been inserted to guide the reader in na0igating the narrati0e $lo@e ha0e also di0ided the teIt into chapters (most o$ the chapter breas and titles donot appear in the original teIt) & ha0e added some eIplanatory $ootnotes andbibliographic re$erences; these are enclosed ithin bracets ootnotes ithout bracetsappeared in the original teItThe map o$ 'urope has changed many times in the past F5G years. and many o$ thegeographic names used in the teIt ha0e since been changed. or ha0e disappeared $rom

the map altogether ect; and Dose$ Dit3cha Turner. ho prepared the$inal printed teIt* recurring theme in the 6ebbe:s teachings is that the study. dissemination. andpractice o$ the aal Shem To0:s teaching is the $inal step in the messianic process - aprocess that has been ongoing since the 4reation. and no reaches its imminent climaI9ay our study o$ the li$estyles o$ our 6ebbeim and their disciples. lead us to a deeperstudy o$ their teachings. so that e may $ollo the path they ha0e set out $or us - thepath leading to the messianic age and the aaening o$ those ho dell in the dust.immediately N


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beteen the misnagdim and the chassidim The *lter 6ebbe did not $ight againstanyone Though he stood in the midst o$ a 0ery stormy con$lict. he ne0er launched anattac ?is energies ere not $ocused on negati0ity at all &nstead. he studied and hetaught Kuietly. lo0ingly. ith genuine care. he reached out to e0eryone ?e respectedthe positi0e /ualities. that others - e0en his opponents - possessed ?e reali3ed that it

as not by diminishing ho they ere that he ould in them to his side. but byshoing them the positi0e 0irtues hich 4hassidus possessed ?e as con0inced thate0en his antagonists. hen eIposed to the approach he taught. ould appreciate thathe met their standards o$ Torah leadership *nd he $elt that there ould be many hoould understand ho this ne approach broadened their hori3ons and ele0ated theiri0ine ser0ice&n the essay athers o$ 4hassidus. hose translation is presented here. the Pre0ious6ebbe emphasi3es these themes. demonstrating ho the *lter 6ebbe countered theopposition hich 4hassidism met at its inception. and ho he pa0ed the ay $or the toapproaches to be reconciled

(orms )nd Beyond The (orm

ect the norms hich theothers suggested &nstead. he shoed eIcellence in those areas. and simultaneously.emphasi3ed that this eIcellence comes as a result o$ a more comprehensi0e approachthat is based on a di$$erent standard. a higher and more $ar-reaching appreciation o$ C-d and our obligation to ser0e ?im

Turning #ire *ithin

* reader may be $eel challenged by a conceptual di$$iculty hen reading this essay orthe essay as ritten by the Pre0ious 6ebbe in response to /uestions $rom the 6ebberegarding the di$$erences in approach beteen 4habad 4hassidus and the approach to4hassidus $olloed in 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia. and the $act that on the sur$ace. theintellectual thrust o$ 4habad appears to be a departure $rom the aal Shem To0:sapproach Ne0ertheless. instead o$ $ocusing primarily on that issue. the essay appearsto shi$t the stress and elaborates on the con$lict beteen the chassidim and themisnagdim and the *lter 6ebbe:s approach to it&t is true that both issues di0ided the 9aggid:s students along almost the same linesThe leaders o$ 4hassidus in 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia ho placed the emphasis on the

spiritual poer o$ the t3addi. ere the same ho called $or harsh spiritual measures tobe employed in the con$lict ith the misnagdim *nd con0ersely. the ma>ority o$ thoseho accepted the *lter 6ebbe:s emphasis on indi0idual i0ine ser0ice. appro0ed o$ hise$$orts to educate rather than combat the misnagdimThis as not. hoe0er. a matter o$ a mere consensus &nstead. one position as theoutgroth o$ the other The leaders o$ 4hassidus in 2ohlynia-Poland-Calicia sa theoutard eIpression o$ spiritual 0itality as the highest goal *nd since their $ire asdirected outard. hen con$lict arose. they sought to meet it head onThe *lter 6ebbe. by contrast. placed the emphasis on an inard thrust. reali3ing thespiritual potential that each indi0idual himsel$ possesses * person in0ol0ed in suchi0ine ser0ice is not daunted by eIternal challenge &ndeed. any such challenges areconsidered as prods to cause him to loo deeper inside himsel$ and $ind a more poer$ultruth. con$ident that the integrity o$ his approach ill ultimately be recogni3ed by his

ad0ersary. $orL1M The uni/ue dimension o$ truth is that accord is re$lected $rom e0eryside

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+%n Those ,ays" )t This Time+

The *lter 6ebbe:s conduct is not >ust a story o$ the path. but a legacy $or our time


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The 6ebbeLFM possessed a soul deri0ed $rom *t3ilus No it is true that all souls ha0etheir source in the orld o$ *t3ilus This is hat is meant by the passage. the soulhich Dou ha0e gi0en ithin me is pure.L!M hich e0ery eish man and omanrecites each morning This. hoe0er. means only that the source o$ e0ery soul is inthe orld o$ *t3ilus *s $or the 6ebbe. by contrast. e0en the soul as mani$est ithin

his body as a soul o$ *t3ilus This is something eIceptional. and deser0es to be0ieed ith special respect

esides this. he as a natural born mentor. leader. and commander ?e possessedall the instincts. $aculties. and abilities that a mentor. leader. and commander mustha0e 9oreo0er. he eIcelled mar0elously in these areas

rom the 0ery beginning. organi3ation and acti0ity played a ma>or role in the chassidiccamp '0en be$ore the aal Shem To0 re0ealed himsel$. hile his identity as stillhidden. he and his $ello hidden t3addiim ere eItremely ell organi3ed Theyestablished centers in 0arious locations. and each pursued his endea0ors in his oncenter rom time to time. they ould send detailed reports to the aal Shem To0:shead/uarters The names o$ se0eral o$ these early hidden t3addiim (eg. 6eb

9ordechai. 6eb Behos.) appear in papers and letters $ound in the recently-disco0eredarchi0esLM*ccording to tradition. the principal mission in hich the aal Shem To0 and hiscompanions - the hidden t3addiim - ere engaged as to encourage the eish peopleand to strengthen their hearts The years 5G8-G, L1"8M ere years o$ terrible decreesagainst the eish people Tens o$ thousands o$ people perished. and all their moneyand property ere lost*$ter these tragedies. the eish population began to concentrate in large cities andsettlements. $or they ere a$raid to continue li0ing in smaller colonies 9ost o$ thesees ere unemployed and po0erty stricen Their po0erty as accompanied by a deepdepression o$ their spirits because o$ their bitter eIileThe spiritual status o$ the es in those days remained on the highest le0el o$ pietyNe0ertheless. the eish regional councils ould dispatch itinerant preachers andsermoni3ers These ould tra0el $rom city to city and $rom settlement to settlement.reprimanding the esTheir style o$ preaching as to spea ords o$ mussar tempered ith parables or themost part. they ould thro $ear into the listeners. telling them that C-d as punishingthem because o$ their iced deeds &n their sermons they ould remind the audienceo$ hat had happened to their parents and grandparents during the years o$ the crueldecrees (may C-d ha0e mercy) Their ords depressed the spirits o$ the es e0en$urther

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*t that time - about the year 58G L17FGM - the aal Shem To0 and his companions. thehidden Lt3addiimM. began a campaign to persuade the es o$ Podolia and the

surrounding territories to mo0e $rom the cities and the larger settlements to 0illagesand small settlements There. they ere to or the land and engage in other manuallabor. hile the omen learned to spin yarn and to raise cattle. $ol. 0egetables. andthe lieThe aal Shem To0 and his companions. the hidden t3addiim. ent about their mission- reassuring the es. raising their depressed spirits. and eliminating their $ears andanIieties They persuaded the es to li0e in small 0illages and rural colonies. andengage in manual labor They accomplished these tass in a onder$ully organi3edmanner (according to the standards o$ those days)The *lter 6ebbe told his grandson the T3emach T3ede that his on LspiritualMgrand$ather.L5M the aal Shem To0. had said that the $irst goal o$ the tas he and hiscompanions. the hidden t3addiim. undertoo as to heal the bodies o$ the eishpeople


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re0ealed himsel$ did he use his e$$orts in behal$ o$ the students and Torah scholars (hoconstitute the soul and spirit o$ the eish people)uring the abo0e-mentioned discourse. my saintly $ather recited to me the teachingthat he had heard $rom his saintly $ather. ho had heard it $rom his saintly $ather theT3emach T3ede. ho heard it $rom his grand$ather the *lter 6ebbe The teaching is

based on the 0erse.L"M *nd on the 0ine there ere three tigs

The Sages o$ blessed memory teach usL7M that the 0ine re$ers to the eish peopleThe main theme o$ the teaching is that the grape 0ine di$$ers $rom all other trees into respectsJ i) e0ery part o$ the 0ine - e0en the lea0es - ser0es some purpose ithrespect to the $ruit; ii) e0ery part o$ the 0ine possesses some 0ital characteristic not$ound in the other parts '0en the lea0es possess a $eature that is superior to the$ruit. $or they ser0e to protect the $ruits &t is ob0ious that the entity o$$eringprotection must possess poers greater than - and superior to - the thing hich isprotectedL8M

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uring all the years that the aal Shem To0 remained hidden. he and his companions.

the secret t3addiim continued oring toard the goal mentioned abo0e in anorgani3ed manner @hen the aal Shem To0 $inally re0ealed himsel$. he establishedpublic centers 'ither he sent one o$ his close disciples to li0e in a particular center. orelse he ould establish the center in a place here one o$ the disciples already li0ed@e $ind that by the year 55GG L17GM. our master the aal Shem To0 as surrounded bymighty disciples and geonim. $ighting the battles o$ the Torah esides his disciples andcolleagues ho ere hidden t3addiim. there ere orld-class geonim ho ere openlyhis disciples They also ored in a highly organi3ed and energetic $ashion. each at hisappointed tas. in the location designated $or him by the aal Shem To0@ithin about $i$teen years. the aal Shem To0:s outstanding organi3ation. his C-dlyprogram o$ aha0as Disrael. and the mesirus ne$esh dedicated to the campaign o$ hisholy disciples. bore $ruit The aal Shem To0:s teachings spread throughout the land

urthermore. he had captured the hearts o$ the eish people - not only in Poland. butalso in =itaThe aal Shem To0 held se0eral debates ith the ranists. and $inally pre0ailed o0erthem (This is documented at length in the abo0e-mentioned archi0es)L ,M This 0ictoryearned the aal Shem To0 and his holy disciples a concealed hatred on the part o$ theranists Ne0ertheless. the highly-organi3ed discipline Lo$ the aal Shem To0:scampaignM pro0ed ad0antageous or o$$ensi0e against them The ranists too.ere roused to oppose the aal Shem To0:s disciples. and they carried out se0eral plotsagainst them @ere it not $or their organi3ation and their steel discipline. the chassidimould ha0e been unable to maintain their position

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*s & mentioned in my pre0ious letters. hen my saintly $ather the 6ebbe L6ashabM spentthe summer o$ 5"55 L18,5M in the 0acation resort ali0a. he arranged a speci$ic time totae his stroll This occurred each day eIcept 9onday. hen he ould tra0el to=uba0itch to 0isit his mother. the 6ebbet3in L6i0ahM. and to recei0e the 0isitors hohad come to =uba0itchThe time spent during these strolls as 0ery dear to me


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his $ather-in-la. the saintly 6ebbe. 6eb Dose$ Dit3chaL1GM li0ed or 0arious reasons -primarily because o$ his poor health - my saintly grand$ather the 6ebbe 9aharash asunable to mae the trip to *0ruch to attend the edding uring one o$ our als in thesummer o$ 5"55. ather told me the details o$ that story9y $ather ent on at length about the greatness o$ my saintly grand$ather (his on

$ather-in-la) 6eb Dose$ Dit3cha. his outstanding diligence in study. his philanthropicnature. and (most o$ all) his humility ?e also repeated to me e0erything his $ather the6ebbe 9aharash had told him about the greatness o$ his on brother. my grand$ather6eb Dose$ Dit3cha9y saintly grand$ather. the 6ebbe 9aharash. said to his son. my saintly $atherJ

Dour $ather-in-la is a master o$ a0odah @hen he still li0ed ith his on $ather-in-la. 6eb Daao0 Disrael o$ 4herassy. he as once ased ho he da0ened 9ybrother replied that - as much as possible - he prayed bet3ibbur. Lunderstood tomeanM ith the congregation


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$olloersM ere aare o$ hat the misnagdim ere doing at all times &n those days. atrip $rom 9e3hibu3h to Shlo0 or 2ilna too se0eral ees Ne0ertheless. there asconstant communication. by means o$ tra0elers ho >ourneyed bac and $orth @hat ismost ama3ing. is that no outsiders ere aare o$ this at all

(otes01. (Ba*& to te+t! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,?

$aTamim, /ol- 3, - 17


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There$ore - my son - relin/uish your position as Nasi to him. in the presence o$ theentire ?oly Society =et him sit in my place at the head o$ the table. hile you - myson - tae his seat Bno that because o$ this you ill all ha0e success. $or hepossesses a double measure o$ prophecyL!M

@ithout $urther delay. 6eb T30i turned to the holy 6eb o0 er and ished him ma3elto0E ?e too o$$ his outer cloa and ga0e it to our saintly master 6eb o0 er Then. hesat don in 6eb o0 er:s seat The saintly 6eb o0 er immediately too the seat atthe head o$ the table. hile all members o$ the ?oly Society stood up to hear the Torahdiscourse that ould be deli0ered by the ne Nasi *ccording to tradition. the $irstdiscourse he deli0ered as a homiletic commentary on the 0erse Their appearance andtheir or as as i$ it ere a heel ithin a heelLMThe saintly 6ebbe. the T3emach T3ede. told his son. my grand$ather. the 6ebbe9aharash. that the discourse Their appearance and their or printed in Torah


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public centers had been establishedJi in =uba0itch. under the leadership o$ the abo0e-mentioned holy 6eb Dissachar

o0;ii in Barlin. under the leadership o$ the holy 6eb *haron;iii. in ?orodo. under the leadership o$ the abo0e-mentioned holy 6eb 9enachem

9endel o$ 2itebsL8M*t about that time. the holy 6eb *0raham o$ BalisL ,M gathered to himsel$ numerousyoung scholars and taught them Toras ?a4hassidus ?oe0er. since he possessed aneItremely eIcitable and emotional nature. the results ere less than satis$actory4hassidim called his disciples the Tol chassidim; this hole a$$air is ell non amongchassidimL1GM


$aTamim, /ol- 3, - 1=2s *hassidim in 0ita- Amon% them#ere the holy eb Mena*hem Mendel of Mins& (author of :>ri $aAretz he #asborn in a small villa%e near Mins&, and later moved to Mins& itself this eb M-Mof Mins& #as later &no#n as eb M-M of /itebs& or eb M-M of $orodo&; amon%the Torah s*holars of Mins&, he #as *onsidered a youn% %enius! and the holy ebissa*har )ov of .abilni& (a small villa%e in Ghite ussia he later be*ame ama%%id in the villa%e of 0ubavit*h!- But they #ere unhay #ith the #ay the*amai%n #as *arried out, and durin% the first three years they %re# indifferentto it-

7. (Ba*& to te+t! See The Ma&in% of "hassidim, Aendi+ B-;8. (Ba*& to te+t! on his return from Mezrit*h, he moved from Mins&; to the *ity

of /itebs&, #here he resided for several months- Then, follo#in% the Ma%%id>sinstru*tions, he moved to the to#n of $orodo&, #here he remained until thesummer of 557 1777;, #hen he and his follo#ers emi%rated to Eretz israel-

More about him aears in the ne+t *hater;-9. (Ba*& to te+t! A small villa%e in Ghite ussia, near 0iozna-10. (Ba*& to te+t! See The Ma&in% of "hassidim, - 5


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the day be$ore he passed aay ?e had instructed Lthe *lter 6ebbeM to use his utmostin$luence to arrange that his son. 6eb *0raham. should accept the position o$ Nasi &$ heere unilling to accept. then the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel =it0aL FM as to beappointeduring 4hanuah. a committee o$ three disciples as appointedJ i) the holy 6eb

Dehudah =eib ?aBohen. author o$


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*s & stood there in con$usion and orry. & recalled that my holy master had sent $or meand my associates. the holy 6eb =eib ?aBohen and the holy 6eb Ousia o$ *nipolia ?ehad then said to me. Tell me eIactly hat happened hile & as asleep The e0ent here$erred to as the $olloingJThe holy 6eb PinchasL5M opposed our master and 6ebbe:s practice o$ deli0ering

LchassidicM Torah lectures be$ore the multitudes ?e maintained that one had to be aryo$ disseminating such high and lo$ty sub>ects


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tra0eling to 0arious places to in0estigate the condition o$ the 9aggid:s disciples. and theor they ere doing in the 0arious centers. to insure that it $olloed the agenda set bythe 'Iecuti0e 4ommittee Some o$ these trips ere made openly. and some ere insecret*t that time. he secretly 0isited Shlo0. 9ins. and 2ilnaL8M The *lter 6ebbe spent siI

ees in 2ilna during that secret mission ?e ould ander $rom one beis hamedrash toanother. disguised as a 0isiting tra0eler '0en on Shabbos. he ould eat nothing butbread and aterThe gaon 6eb Dehudah =eib. the *lter 6ebbe:s brother. told my great-grand$ather theT3emach T3ede that hile the *lter 6ebbe as in 2ilna. he discussed pilpul ith all thegreat Torah scholars ut he re$rained $rom engaging the Caon 6a0 'liyahu indiscussion. $or $ear that he ould be recogni3ed ?e did. hoe0er. submit se0eral/uestions to him through to o$ his adherents & soon learned hom & as dealing ith.and >ust ho great his noledge o$ the Torah as. said the *lter 6ebbe to his brotheruring these tra0els. the *lter 6ebbe ac/uired numerous disciples &t as his custom tosee out outstanding Torah scholars and discuss pilpul ith them. until they begged himto arrange a program o$ study $or them * $e years later. some o$ them came to him in

=io3na There$ore. e $ind that among his later disciples. some came $rom 0ery distantplaces These ere the disciples he had ac/uired during the a$orementioned >ourneysThe *lter 6ebbe:s main concern as. hoe0er. the young Torah scholars o$ =ita uringthe three to $i0e years that he spent in these tra0els. he ac/uired students ho came tohim in =io3na - a$ter they had completed the course o$ study he had arranged $or themin their on hometons &t as ith these students that he established the $irst andsecond chadorim. to be described laterL,M

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&n the year 55!" L177"M all o$ the 9aggid:s disciples met at a general con0ention &t asthen decided thatJ

i 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ ?orodo ould mo0e to the ?oly =and;ii the *lter 6ebbe ould be the leader o$ all the chassidim in =ita;

iii the *lter 6ebbe ould be the Ceneral 4oordinator&n the same year. the *lter 6ebbe established the $irst center - in his hometon o$=io3na * proclamation ent out that young scholars ho ere being supported by theirparents or their parents-in-la. ere in0ited to 0isit =io3na $or to or three months andrecei0e a program o$ study y order o$ the ra0. their room and board ould be pro0idedat communal eIpense&n those days. =io3na as one o$ the tons here people made a prosperous li0ing. $orits citi3ens carried on trade ith the cities o$ 6ussia proper *lthough =io3na itsel$ asstill part o$ the Polish 'mpire. it as 0ery close to the 6ussian border.L 1GM and tradedith the cities o$ the 6ussian interior The residents ere mostly 0ery simple $ol. hosemain occupation as commercial enterprise

243

The *lter 6ebbe:s proclamation spread lie ild$ire. and ithin a short time about $ourminyonim o$ young scholars gathered in =io3na; they came $rom the nearby cities andtons o$ 2itebs. esheno0itch. ?orodo. Dano0itch. 6udnia. Balis. =uba0itch. Ne0el.and the lieThe young scholars ere all under the impression that in =io3na they ould $ind thesame system that had pre0ailed in the pre0ious centers o$ =uba0itch and ?orodoThere each o$ the young students had been permitted to study independently. hate0erTorah sub>ect he chose Croup study as. $or the most part. reser0ed $or learning thechassidic teachings o$ our master the aal Shem To0 and his disciple the 9aggidTo their surprise. they soon disco0ered that the *lter 6ebbe had instituted a nesystemJ

i they ere no re/uired to study Cemara in depth. hole groups studying a

single sub>ect The groups ere organi3ed according to their abilities. and theyere re/uired to study together $or no less than $our hours a day;

ii sometime during the ee they ere re/uired to study a predetermined

13


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curriculum. hich they ere to no thoroughly;iii a more cursory study o$ Cemara as also re/uired - not less than one page per

day;i0 tice a ee - the days and times to be determined - they must discuss their

studies amongst themsel0es; each ould present the di$$iculties that had arisen

during his study. and suggest possible solutions The administrator o$ thisprogram as the *lter 6ebbe:s brother. the gaon and t3addi 6eb 9ordechai;

0 they ere re/uired to study ?alachah in depth. $olloing the abo0e schedule. $orno less than to hours per day Shulchan *ruch as to be studied no less thanone chapter per day (a 0ery long chapter could be di0ided and studied o0er todays). completing the $our sections o$ the Shulchan *ruch in order Theadministrator o$ this program as the *lter 6ebbe:s brother. the gaon andt3addi 6eb Dehudah =eib

'ach ee at a speci$ied time. these to brothers ould report to the *lter 6ebbe aboutthe young scholars: progress in their studies. and hether each one:s conduct $olloedthe indi0idual program that the *lter 6ebbe himsel$ had assigned him9y great-grand$ather the T3emach T3ede told his son. my grand$ather the 9aharash.

all about the abilities and pro$iciencies o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s brothers. 6eb Dehudah =eib.6eb 9ordechai. and 6eb 9oshe They all possessed onder$ul talents. and displayedama3ing diligence in their studies 'ach one had some special abilityThe gaon 6eb Dehudah =eibL11M as outstanding at issuing halachic rulings @hene0erhe studied a topic. no matter ho compleI it as. he managed to deri0e some practicalapplication in ?alachah $rom each logical point o$ the discussion ?e had a mar0elousnoledge o$ the detailed las $ound in all $our sections o$ Shulchan *ruch. and theirsources in the Talmud a0li. Derushalmi. and 6ishonim ut beyond all this. he asadept at disco0ering no0el rules o$ la by means o$ his ingenious logical deductionsThe gaon 6eb 9ordechaiL1FM had a onder$ully incisi0e mind. employingstraight$orard. yet 0ery pro$ound. logic @hen he studied some topic. he ouldprogress $rom the simpler to the more complicated aspects o$ the problem ?e ouldre0ie each topic $i0e or siI times 'ach time. he ould disco0er e0er more penetratingno0el ideas. as though ascending a ladder rung by rung @hen he discussed pilpul. itas a pleasure to listenThe gaon 6eb 9osheL1!M had a onder$ul talent $or eIplaining things L@hen he spoe.it as as i$M his mouth spouted precious >eels @hen he lectured on a Torah topic -regardless o$ hether it as re0ealed Torah or 4hassidus - he ould gi0e the mostonder$ul and ele0ated interpretations6eb Dehudah =eib and 6eb 9oshe concentrated mainly on the study o$ 4hassidus 6eb9ordechai. on the other hand. concentrated mainly on the Talmud and Posim 6ebDehudah =eib told my great-grand$ather the T3emach T3ede that all three brothers hada regularly-scheduled study session together. three times a eeJ Sunday. Tuesday. andriday L'ach session lastedM $i0e or siI hours. continuouslyThe abo0e-mentioned $i0e years lasted $rom 55F, to 55! L17",-177M Somehere in

my diary & ha0e ritten at great length about the eIcellence o$ those study sessions. asrelated by 6eb Dehudah =eib to my great-grand$ather the T3emach T3edeThe *lter 6ebbe created to special classes. called the $irst cheder and the secondcheder These chadorim ere eIclusi0ely $or the most outstanding students. and the$irst cheder as higher than the second cheder The young scholars in the to chadorimstudied indi0idually. each according to the program that the *lter 6ebbe had set $orhim The *lter 6ebbe ould deli0er pri0ate chassidic discourses especially $or the tochadorim These teachings that he deli0ered be$ore them ere called by chassidimpri0ate teachings&n those days. there ere three types o$ lecture on 4hassidusJ

i community teachings - deli0ered mainly on Shabbos and Dom To0;ii public teachings - deli0ered once or tice a month be$ore an assembly o$ the

students o$ the to chadorim. and the other young scholars ho sat therestudying;iii pri0ate teachings - deli0ered tice a month (generally on eedays) be$ore the

to chadorimL1M

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2.3

uring the year 55!7 L1777M. the schedule as interrupted. because the *lter 6ebbedesired to >oin those members o$ the ?oly Society - headed by the holy 6eb 9enachem9endel o$ 2itebs - ho ere departing $or the ?oly =and9y uncle. the chassid 6eb Oalman *haron.L15M related to me hat he had heard $romhis great-uncle. the t3addi 6eb L9enachemM Nachum.L1"M in the name o$ his great-uncle. the t3addi 6eb Dehudah =eibJ The *lter 6ebbe as greatly tormented o0er hisdecision hether to mae the >ourney to the ?oly =and Se0eral times he sa a 0ision o$his master and 6ebbe. the 9e3ritcher 9aggid (hile aae - not in a dream). pleadingith him not to lea0e the country Ne0ertheless. he decided to depart uring 4hol?a9oed Pesach. he announced that immediately a$ter Pesach he ould begin his>ourney ?is conduct on that *charon Shel Pesach as di$$erent $rom that o$ otheryearsL17M*t the beginning o$ &yar. the *lter 6ebbe departed $rom =io3na. along ith his entire$amily. and his brothers 6eb Dehudah =eib. 6eb 9ordechai. and 6eb 9oshe - and their$amilies *ccompanied by many students o$ the to chadorim. they made their ay tothe city o$ 9ohile0 on the nester

uring this >ourney. se0eral students o$ the chadorim - ho had already studied in=io3na $or a year - remained in the 0illages through hich they passed 'ach o$ them sethimsel$ up in a place here he could mae his li0ing The chassid 6eb OalmanOe3merL18M told the chassid 6eb ?illel o$ Paritch that se0eral o$ the elder chassidim o$his day ere the 0ery ones ho had been students in the chadorim that the *lter 6ebbehad established in 55!"The students o$ the chadorim ere greatly saddened by the nes that the *lter 6ebbeas departing $or the ?oly =and They ept bitter tears be$ore him and begged him notto abandon them ut the *lter 6ebbe replied that. according to the Talmud. one mustgi0e priority to his on needsL1,M @hen the students sa that the *lter 6ebbe and his$amily ere determined to lea0e. they decided to accompany them on his ay&n e0ery place through hich they passed. the *lter 6ebbe deli0ered a pilpul in public

'ach ended ith ords o$ mussar and instructions $or their program o$ a0odah inorshiping C-d &n certain places (according to 6eb Oalman Oe3mer). the *lter 6ebbedeli0ered separate lectures on pilpul and mussar These lectures made a mightyimpression on the local Torah scholars '0ents then e0ol0ed so that se0eral students o$the chadorim remained in those places9y holy grand$ather 6eb Dose$ Dit3cha repeated to Lhis son-in-laM. my saintly $ather.hat he had heard $rom 4hernobyler chassidim in the name o$ their elders They spoeabout the young scholars. students o$ the =io3na chadorim. ho accompanied the *lter6ebbe on his ay to the ?oly =and

253

6eb Oalman Oe3mer told 6eb ?illel LParitcherM the details o$ an e0ent that as ellnon among chassidim. concerning a $amous ?alachic in/uiry Ldealing ith the las o$

niddahM in the city o$ 9ohile0 on the nester ?e himsel$ had heard the $olloing details.$rom the students ho had been present at the timeJThe in/uiry as ell non throughout the 0icinity. because o$ the many responsa sentbac and $orth among the rabbonim concerning the matter * oman had been unableto puri$y hersel$ $or o0er to years *ll had declared that the oman in /uestion asunclean ut hen the in/uiry as presented to the *lter 6ebbe. he declared that - inspite o$ the general rule that in the present time. e are not /uali$ied to distinguish onetype o$ blood $rom anotherLFGM - in this particular case he as certain that the bloodas pigeon:s bloodThe *lter 6ebbe ad0ised her $ather that hen the neIt opportunity came $or her topuri$y hersel$. she should go to li0e somehere $ar $rom her on home and her $amily:shome She should remain con$ined to her room. and no one - eIcept her $ather and

mother - should no her hereabouts. nor should anyone come to 0isit her @hen sheent to immerse hersel$. no one but her mother as to accompany her. and no otheromen ere to be present at the mi0ehThe oman:s $ather $olloed all o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s instructions To the ama3ement o$

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the oman and her mother. hen the time $or her puri$ication arri0ed. e0erythingproceeded normally and she as able to immerse hersel$ at the proper time ?erhusband. hoe0er. as an outstanding. C-d-$earing Torah scholar ?e as a$raid to relyon this. and so he decided to ait until the $olloing monthuring that summer. there as an epidemic o$ cholera (may e all be spared) in the

0icinity o$ 9ohile0 The rabbis decreed that e0eryone must obser0e precautions againstbecoming in$ected They also too the opportunity to arouse the populace to teshu0ahand repentance $or sins committed against C-d. and those against their $ello es9any residents o$ the city became 0ery $rightened by this* certain oman then came to the 4hie$ 6abbi o$ the city in tears *s part o$ herteshu0ah. she con$essed to him that she had committed a gra0e o$$ence against thea$orementioned oman &n order to cause that oman su$$ering. she had arranged it sothat the oman as unable to puri$y hersel$ $or the past to years@hen the oman maing the con$ession as a young girl. a match had been proposedbeteen hersel$ and the man ho as no the other oman:s husband or 0ariousreasons the match did not or out. and the man had e0entually married the otheroman She hersel$ had been compelled to marry a simple man

Since then. she had borne a grudge against the other oman. and had decided toa0enge hersel$ There$ore. she had pretended to be her good $riend ut hene0er hertime to puri$y hersel$ ould arri0e. she ould slaughter some bird or pigeon. and stainthe other oman:s garments ith the blood

263

The *lter 6ebbe also 0isited the Podolia-2ohlynia region during that same year. 55!7.remaining there the entire summerLF1M The chassid 6eb Oalman Oe3mer told 6eb ?illelLParitcherM - in the name o$ the elder chassidim - that our masters 6eb 9enachem9endel o$ 2itebs and 6eb *0raham o$ Balis ere greatly saddened by the $act that the*lter 6ebbe and his $amily had come to 9ohile0 They attempted to persuade him not tolea0e the countryThe *lter 6ebbe remained in 9ohile0 together ith 6eb 9enachem 9endel and 6eb

*0raham $or about three ees uring this time se0eral young scholars. ho ere the*lter 6ebbe:s disciples. arri0ed 6eb 9enachem 9endel and 6eb *0raham ere /uitepleased ith them @hen they heard the young scholars begging the *lter 6ebbe not toabandon them. they $orbade the *lter 6ebbe to lea0e the country They reminded him o$hat he had said to the 9aggid. and they promised him that he ould ha0e success Li$he remainedMThe elder chassidim related that $or a $ull ee be$ore 6eb 9enachem 9endel and 6eb*0raham le$t 9ohile0 $or the ?oly =and. the *lter 6ebbe met ith them pri0ately. $ormany hours each day *$ter 6eb 9enachem 9endel and 6eb *0raham and theirentourage actually departed $or the ?oly =and. the *lter 6ebbe ent into seclusion $orto ees*$ter that. ord ent out that the *lter 6ebbe as returning to =ita The geonim and

t3addiim - the *lter 6ebbe:s brothers - returned to =io3na ith their $amilies as soon asthey heard that the *lter 6ebbe as returning to =ita There as as yet no de$inite ordabout eIactly here the *lter 6ebbe ould be li0ing. but there ere 0arious theoriesJ

i he ould return to =io3na LThe basis $or this rumor as that the *lter 6ebbeM hado$ten praised that ton. saying that $rom the day he had $irst settled there. theresidents had obeyed all his instructions concerning charitable donations andproper conduct;

ii 6eb 9enachem 9endel had ased the *lter 6ebbe to settle in ?orodo andbecome his successor;

iii the holy 6eb *0raham had ased the *lter 6ebbe to settle in Balis and becomehis successor LThe basis $or this rumor as that 6eb *0rahamM had spoen inpraise o$ the local residents;

i0 because o$ the or needed in the campaign to disseminate the teachings o$ theaal Shem To0 and his disciple the 9aggid. it ould be better i$ the *lter 6ebbesettled in one o$ the large cities such as 9ins or Shlo0. or in one o$ their nearbysuburbs

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283

The residents o$ =io3na ere 0ery simple $ol. as already mentioned Ne0ertheless. theyere C-d-$earing people and de$erential to Torah scholars They appreciated thebene$its they had gained on account o$ the young scholars ho had mo0ed to theircommunity to be ith the *lter 6ebbe They ere 0ery orried that the Torahinstitutions o$ their ton ould cease to eIist Li$ the *lter 6ebbe mo0ed elsehereM@hen they $irst heard that the *lter 6ebbe. his three brothers ith their $amilies. and alarge number o$ the Torah scholars and students o$ the chadorim ere LplanningM tolea0e $or 'ret3 Disrael. the se0en members o$ the =io3na 4ity 4ouncil con0ened a massmeeting The agenda o$ the meeting as to $ormulate plans $or strengthening the Torahinstitutions in their city *$ter much discussion. the assembly passed the $olloingresolutionsJ

i all the houses in hich the *lter 6ebbe. his brothers. and their $amilies resided.ere to re0ert to community onership They ould be held in escro. until itbecame non hether they ould be returning to their homes;

ii the community undertoo to pro0ide a $ull year:s room and board $or any youngscholars and students o$ the chadorim ho chose to remain in =io3na;

iii the residents o$ the ton undertoo the support o$ an additional $i$ty bochurimho might come to =io3na. to study under the guidance o$ the young scholarsand students o$ the chadorim

The *lter 6ebbe sa the lengths to hich the citi3ens o$ =io3na ere prepared to go inorder to eep the Torah scholars in their midst. and their heart$elt and inspired attemptsto obtain C-d-$earing. scholarly. and chassidic bochurim as husbands $or theirdaughters 4onse/uently. he instructed the students o$ the chadorim and the youngscholars to $ul$ill the re/uest o$ the local residents. and to study ith the ne bochurimho ould no arri0e ?e also prepared the curriculum $or their studyThe chassid 6eb 9endel Dit3cha. the shochet o$ 2itebs. repeated to me hat he heard$rom his grand$ather (a $olloer o$ the *lter 6ebbe) ho had been present hen the*lter 6ebbe. his three brothers. and their $amilies. departed $rom =io3na along ith

about thirty students o$ the chadorimJ*ll inhabitants o$ the city assembled in the courtyard o$ the large beis hamedrashThey set up a plat$orm in the courtyard. and aaited the arri0al o$ the *lter 6ebbe.ho ished to bid the tonspeople $areell and to bless them be$ore they parted

The *lter 6ebbe ascended the plat$orm and spoe a $e ords ?e then blessed theentire community o$ =io3na. and instructed them to continue to support Torahscholars and to treat them ith indness L?e then blessed themM that they mightdeser0e sons and sons-in-la ho ere rabbinic scholars

293

The decision o$ the =io3na community to pro0ide room and board $or an additional $i$ty

bochurim to study Torah as /uicly publici3ed @ithin a short time. a large number o$bochurim $rom the surrounding regions arri0ed in =io3na The students o$ the chadorimho had remained in =io3na obeyed the *lter 6ebbe:s instructions. dedicating theire$$orts to caring $or the scholarly bochurim and monitoring their progress The residentso$ =io3na thus $ound (at least a partial) consolation $or the departure o$ the *lter 6ebbeand his $amily $rom the city@hen the *lter 6ebbe:s brothers returned to =io3na La$ter the *lter 6ebbe decided notto go to 'ret3 DisraelM. they $ound the group o$ young scholars and students o$ thechadorim busy studying ith diligence. and pursuing their a0odah according to theprogram that their brother. the *lter 6ebbe. had set out $or them The great diligenceith hich the bochurim pursued their studies - and the eItent to hich they yielded tothe authority o$ their teachers and mentors - made a poer$ul impression upon themThe inhabitants o$ =io3na had learned that the *lter 6ebbe as about to return to =ita

The rumor spread that 6eb 9enachem 9endel had re/uested him to settle in ?orodo.hile the holy 6eb *0raham had suggested that he settle in Balis There$ore. theycon0ened another mass meeting

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someone from the &raine (as #ell as from :oland roer! #as often *alled a:oilisher, or :ola& in the familiar form- "ommon eole o**asionally used theterms 0itva& and :ola& in a dero%atory sense, but this #as *ertainly not true ofthe dis*iles of the Ma%%id, #ho used these terms as to&ens of affe*tion-;

3. (Ba*& to te+t! "f-, Bamidbar, 4 33s di%nity durin% the taharah-;

5. (Ba*& to te+t! eb :in*has of .oretz, a dis*ile of the Baal Shem Tov and*ollea%ue of the Ma%%id-;

6. (Ba*& to te+t! "ontainin% trans*ritions of our master and ebbe>s le*tures on"hassidus- These sheets #ere bein% blo#n about in the *ourtyard, by the #ind-

7. (Ba*& to te+t! The Alter ebbe>s brother, the %aon eb ehudah 0eib, told my%reatah, *h- 188-;21. (Ba*& to te+t! The reason for his rolon%ed visit to that re%ion is not &no#n-22. (Ba*& to te+t! See the *hater ?The Alter ebbe>s Adherents, and $is

Ionents? in Sulement A of this volume- That te+t aears to be a dire*t*ontinuation of the resent te+t, thou%h it #as not rinted at this la*e in$aTamim-;

Torah Scholarship %n !eissin

2;3

*s & pointed out in the attached letter. this essay is merely the ra material $rom hicha proper treatise on the history o$ 4hassidus may be composed (ith C-d:s help) &n thechapters so $ar. e ha0e discussed the stages by hich 4hassidus de0eloped andmatured during the $irst to generations - our master the aal Shem To0:s generationand the 9aggid:s generation - and the beginning o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s generation&n order $or us to ha0e some appreciation and perception o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s holy

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423

@ithin $orty years o$ the introduction o$ Torah scholarship to the cities o$ 9ohile0 and2itebs counties by the students o$ the 9inser yeshi0os. institutions o$ Torah learningere already established (by the grace o$ C-d) in e0ery ton. 0illage. and hamlet Thisas all thans to the ele0ated spiritual status o$ the es o$ that time. and their lo0e o$Torah and all things holyuring the decade o$ 58G-5,G L17FG-17!GM. one could $ind. throughout the pro0inceo$ 6eissin. thousands o$ laborers - cobblers. carpenters. agricultural orers o$ $ield andgarden. businessmen in stores and marets - all o$ hom ere Torah scholars o$ highdegree They had once been yeshi0ah students. and no continued to study Torah. eachaccording to his abilities 9ost o$ them could repeat se0eral orders o$ the 9ishnah andse0eral hundred pages o$ Cemara. $luently. by hearts essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,?

$aTamim, /ol- =, - 57, 58-2. (Ba*& to te+t! 6or this reason, Torah s*holars #ere rare in that re%ion in those

days-;- (Ba*& to te+t! Translator>s note4 it is diffi*ult to determine the e+a*t meanin% of

this assa%e- Both /ilna and Famut lie in the same %eneral dire*tion (north#est!from the three *ounties of eissin-;

!e =it7cha> )i7i>

& ill no insert an item $rom my diary The sub>ect deals ith an account the $amousgaon and ra0. 6eb Dit3cha *i3i o$ 2itebs. shared ith my saintly grand$ather. the6ebbe 9aharash

443

The $amous chassid 6eb Dit3cha *i3i as born in 55F8 L17"8M in the ton o$Smilo0itch ?is $ather. the mighty gaon and t3addi. 6eb Deshayah 9asmid. as already0ery old at the time Thus he as brought up in the home o$ his uncle (his mother:ssister:s husband). the gaon and t3addi. 6eb Oelmele Stut3erThe chassid 6eb Dit3cha *i3i ser0ed as a ra0 $or se0enty-$i0e yearsJ $i$teen years inthe 0illage o$


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2itebs; this meeting as o$ much signi$icance to me &t occurred during the month o$Bisle0. hen 6eb Dit3cha *i3i arri0ed in =uba0itch $or the celebration o$ the 1,th o$Bisle0 The courtyard as co0ered ith deep sno. and only a $e paths had beencleared beteen my $ather:s house and the large minyan building in the courtyard (or.$or that matter. beteen any to houses in the courtyard) @hen & sa that the lamps

had already been lit in the shul. & hurried o0er thereLFM@hen & arri0ed at the shul. & sa my great-uncle 6eb 4hayim *0rahamL !M and my uncle6eb 9enachem NachumLM dancing in a circle ith three other elders Se0eral do3enmen. along ith all my brothers and their children. stood around them singing andclapping their hands together to the rhythm o$ the song& had great lo0e $or my uncles. 6eb 4hayim *0raham and 6eb 9enachem Nachum. $orthey ere alays telling me stories o$ things they had seen in the *lter 6ebbe:s home.and in the home o$ my saintly grand$ather. the 9itteler 6ebbe They also repeatedthings they had heard $rom the elder chassidim&t happened more than once. that hen & returned home a$ter 0isiting my great-uncle6eb 4hayim *0raham - and $ound some preteIt to see my $ather - he ould in/uirehere & had been & ould then repeat to him hat & had heard $rom 6eb 4hayim

*0raham This ga0e him much pleasure. and he instructed me to go there more o$ten9y great-uncle 6eb 4hayim *0raham as then in poor health Though he as not yet0ery old (about siIty-$our or siIty-$i0e). he occasionally su$$ered $rom angina. and asunable to endure many layers o$ clothing; thus. & $re/uently $ound him earing only achalat.L5M and ith only a yarmule on his head ut hene0er he began telling a storyabout his $ather. the *lter 6ebbe. or Lthe *lter 6ebbe:sM mentor. the 9aggid. or Lthe9aggid:sM mentor. the aal Shem To0. or his brother. the 9itteler 6ebbe. he ouldimmediately rap himsel$ ith his gartel. and co0er his head ith a hat o0er theyarmuleL"Me$ore beginning any story. 6eb 4hayim *0raham ould mae the $olloing declarationJ

Se0eral times. & heard my holy $ather. the *lter 6ebbe. say that hene0er thedisciples heard a Torah teaching $rom their 6ebbe and master Lthe 9aggidM. they

considered it to be the oined them in the dance & obser0ed that my nephe (the son o$ mybrother 6eb L4hayimM Schneur Oalman). ho as $our or $i0e years my senior. asen0ious o$ my bra0ery and ner0e in >oining the dance; but & paid no attention to him* month earlier - during the month o$ 9ar4hesh0an - & had been sic ith tonsillitis 9ylegs ere still a bit ea. and a$ter dancing a little hile & began to $eel pain & thenstopped dancing and stood to one side. atching the circle and the dance =i$ting myeyes. & obser0ed my great-uncle 6eb 4hayim *0raham - and sa tears running don hischees ?is eyes ere tightly closed. his $orehead as creased. and his lips mutteredsomething. as i$ he ere reminiscing o0er old memories@hen the dance ended. one o$ the elders - 6eb Dit3cha *i3i o$ 2itebs - ent o0er to6eb 4hayim *0raham; they hugged and issed each other ?e also hugged and issed6eb 9enachem Nachum ?e held them in his arms and said to themJ@e are celebrating an e0ent that e itnessed ith our on eyes i$ty-eight and ahal$ years ago. & sa the *lter 6ebbe $or the $irst time That as in 9ins. during thesummer o$ 55! L178!M. hen he held a Torah debate in the 0ery capital city o$ themisnagdim. the :cedars o$ =ebanon and mighty arriors o$ the Torah:L7M *nyone hodidn:t itness that scene in 9ins. has ne0er seen Torah luminaries o$ such great

statureThat assembly as the greatest Torah gathering o$ the generation The assembly in9ins as attended by all the Torah giants o$ the entire pro0ince. as ell as a choice

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selection o$ geonim $rom the regions o$ 2ilna. Slut3. and Shlo0*s $or me. 6eb Dit3cha *i3i continued telling 6eb 4hayim *0raham. & as pri0ilegedto recei0e a ritten certi$icate o$ rabbinic ordination $rom the *lter 6ebbe. signed by hisholy hand ?e then blessed me ith long li$e and ith success in my rabbinicendea0orsL8M

463

e$ore he e0en $inished speaing. 6eb Dit3cha *i3i began to dance ith great >oy ?isgestures ere the ind usually mani$ested by people still in their early youth. ho ha0ereached the highest le0els o$ ecstasy Suddenly. it as announced that my $ather. the6ebbe. as on his ay. and there as immediate silence& ha0e alays been lucy; e0en as a child. & as 0ery $ortunate to $ind $a0or ith othersThus. e0en the elder chassidim ould $a0or me ith discussions and storiesNo. ha0ing heard $rom the chassid 6eb Dit3cha *i3i that he had actually seen mygreat-grand$ather the *lter 6ebbe in the early days o$ his reign. that he had been astudent in the *lter 6ebbe:s chadorim. and that he ne many stories. & became his$riend @hene0er he 0isited =uba0itch. & ould spend many long hours in his company

uring the tenty-three-year period 5"G! to 5"F" (18!-18""M. & heard him discussmany topics and tell many stories6eb Dit3cha *i3i had an outstanding memory @hen describing an e0ent that hadoccurred during his early youth - eighty or eighty-$i0e years earlier - he could still namethe eIact place. and the people in0ol0ed. in all their detail rom his manner o$ speech.it as e0ident that the scene as replaying itsel$ be$ore his eyes

The !ee Maharash&s narrative is interrupted" and !e =it7cha> )i7i> tells hiso'n story0

& as born to my $ather. the gaon 6eb Deshayah 9asmid. during his old age ?e asse0enty-siI years old at the time 9y $ather had been a student at the yeshi0ah o$ thegaon and t3addi 6eb Dechiel - author o$ Seder ?aorosL,M - in ?alosL1GM@hen my $ather as thirteen years old. he as already considered an illuy *t the age

o$ $i$teen. he became the son-in-la o$ the ealthy 6eb 'lia Oalman o$ Strie0a (a ruralsettlement near 9ins). and as supported by his $ather-in-la $or three years; then. hisi$e died (may e be spared) ather remained celibate $or the neIt $i$ty-se0en years.hile continuing his diligent study o$ the Torah 9ost o$ this time as spent inBocheno0. here he as one o$ the ten scholars supported by the 4ommunity 4ouncil


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The 6ebbeL1M once said about him. ?is intellectual capacities are as broad as theentrance to the antechamber o$ the eis ?a9idash. and his emotional capacities are asbroad as the entrance to the sanctuary o$ the eis ?a9idash *las. he too died in theepidemic that broe out a$ter the arL15M

483

ather trained me to be as diligent in my studies as he himsel$ as rom the time & assiI years old. he super0ised me closely. to be sure that & ent to bed and got up at theproper times ?e also accustomed me to da0en ith the sunrise minyan. and ne0er tosip brea$astather taught me a pro$ound pilpul. hich & deli0ered in public on the day o$ my barmit30ah. in the presence o$ the geonim and elder Torah scholars *mong them as myuncle (9other:s sister:s husband). 6eb Oelmele Stut3erL9y maternalM grand$ather. the gaon 6eb aruch. as only about se0enty years old uthe as alays su$$ering $rom 0arious ailments. and he passed aay about a month a$termy bar mit30ah ?e as succeeded by his son. my uncle 6eb 4hayim T30i. ho as agreat scholar. and 0ery pious ?e had been one o$ the outstanding students o$ the

Smorgon Deshi0ah. hich as /uite renoned in those daysThe geonim and elders o$ the city o$$ered my $ather the position o$ ra0 '0en my uncle.the gaon 6eb 4hayim T30i. begged him to accept the o$$er. but to no a0ail atherdeclared that he had a0oided rabbinic positions all his li$e. so that it ould not tae timeaay $rom his Torah study *nd no. near the end o$ his li$e. hen each day as asprecious as a hole year. and each minute as precious as a hole day. did they eIpecthim to rob himsel$ by asting the time o$ Torah studyAather li0ed another year; he passed aay during the month o$ &yar 55F L178FM at theage o$ ninety-one 9other. ho as no idoed $or the third time (may e be spared)at the age o$ $i$ty. continued to support the $amily and to run the store The only brotherho sur0i0ed my $ather as about se0en years old ut he too became sic. and hepassed aay at the beginning o$ Si0an


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presence. eIcept at mealtimes. and she listened attenti0ely to e0ery utterance o$ hismouth ather as a man o$ $e ords '0en during the meals. he ould repeat Torahpassages by heart @hen he spoe ith someone. he ould not raise his eyes '0enhile he spoe ith 9other. his eyes ere loeredourney. $or & had been

se0erely cramped & also su$$ered $rom depression because o$ the deaths o$ my $atherand my brother. and because & as no li0ing ith strangers. $ar $rom home *t e0eryturn & as reminded that & as an orphan. the only one o$ my mother:s $our sons stillali0e@hen my uncle 6eb Oelmele began to eIamine me in my studies - to determine hatsort o$ study program he should arrange $or me - my depression and melancholydisappeared 9y spirits rose. and all at once my maladies ere cured s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,?

$aTamim, /ol- =, - 58ah ?Tea*her of 9nstru*tion-?The $oly Ine (blessed be $e! is *alled $aMa&om ?the :la*e?;, for $e is the?:la*e? of the universe- But the rav is the ?Master of the :la*e,? for it deends onhim #hether or not the la*e #ill be a fittin% vehi*le for C


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13. (Ba*& to te+t! Irdinarily, su*h a #oman is not ermitted to marry a thirdhusband (Shul*han Aru*h Even $aEzer 41!- 9n *ertain situations, ho#ever, #emay be lenient about it (ama, lo*- *it-!-;

14. (Ba*& to te+t! 9-e-, the Alter ebbe-15. (Ba*& to te+t! 9-e-, the #ar bet#een ussia and; 6ran*e-

16. (Ba*& to te+t! Mishnah, Avos =41= Siddur, - 33;17. (Ba*& to te+t! See Bava Basra 31a-;

!e ?elmele Stut7>er

4:3

!e =it7cha> )i7i> interrupted his o'n story and provided some ac>groundconcerning his uncle0

9y uncle. the gaon 6eb Oelmele. as born in Stut3. a rural eish settlement about tenmiles $rom 9ins Hntil his thirteenth birthday he studied in the 0illage; then. he entaay to the yeshi0ah in 9ins There. he studied ith tremendous diligence $or $i0eyears. a$ter hich he as admitted to the yeshi0ah o$ the 4hie$ 6abbi. the gaon 6ebDechiel. author o$ Seder ?aoros&n 6eb Dechiel:s yeshi0ah there ere three classes. each taught by its on roshyeshi0ah The $irst class as taught by the gaon 6eb et3alel the Bohen Cadol; thesecond class as taught by the gaon 6eb Pesach Hriah the Saintly; the third class astaught by the 6osh Deshi0ah and gaon 6eb Shalom Dehudah. the &lluy o$ Semilia


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and ha0e transgressed the ruling o$ the Sages.L,M :*t eighteen Lit is time $orM marriage:@hen & sa ho deeply distressed my master. 6ebbe. and rosh yeshi0ah as. & repliedJDes. it:s true Today is my nineteenth birthday ut my soul longs $or Torah studyL1GM9y master and 6ebbe re$used to listen. and commanded me to return to my parents:home ?e ga0e me a letter o$ re$erence. $ull o$ praises about my noledge o$ the

Torah

4;3

& had been home $or about a month. hen one day a letter arri0ed $rom 6eb 'lia ei0ish.one o$ the local rabbinic magistrates &t as ritten to my $ather in the name o$ the4hie$ 6abbi. 6eb Dechiel. and stated that one o$ the local residents - ho lo0ed andrespected Torah scholars - ished to arrange a match ith the t3addi. my $ather ?eished to ha0e me as a husband $or his daughter. and obligated himsel$ to support me -and any resulting children - $or a period o$ ten years. so that & could continue studyingTorahather and 9other then tra0eled ith me to 9ins. and on the 0ery day o$ our arri0al.the engagement contract as dran up The edding too place three months later

*$ter the edding. & as readmitted to the yeshi0ah o$ 6eb Dechiel ut no & enteredthe third class. taught by the 6osh Deshi0ah and gaon 6eb Shalom Dehudah. the &lluy o$Semilia This 6eb Shalom Dehudah had been a disciple o$ the aesome gaon andt3addi. the abbalist 6eb 'phraim ishel Badosh Lthe SaintlyM. the 4hie$ 6abbi o$9ins The gaon 6eb Dechiel as also 6eb 'phraim ishel:s disciple and his successor


$aTamim /ol- =, - 3s hair, *onsumin% any rodu*t ofthe %rae, or defilin% oneself by *onta*t #ith the dead-;

6. (Ba*& to te+t! The Talmudi* tra*tate dealin% #ith vo#s and oaths, and ho# onemay be released from them-;

7. (Ba*& to te+t! 0it-, ?Cates of eentan*e,? one of the earliest #or&s on mussar-;8. (Ba*& to te+t! abbeinu onah ben Avraham Ceirundi, one of the ishonim of

the 1th *entury-;9. (Ba*& to te+t! Mishnah, Avos 5433 Siddur, - 33-;12-(Ba*& to te+t! 9n su*h a *ase, it is ermitted to ostone marria%e beyond the

a%e of ei%hteen- (Shul*han Aru*h, Even $aEzer 14er is interrupted 'ith !e Shalom=ehudah&s story" as he related it to !e ?elmele" 'ho in turn told it to !av=it7cha> )i7i>4/

The spirit o$ prophecy as mani$est in the beis hamedrash o$ my master and 6ebbe.6eb 'phraim ishel Badosh &t as all in the merit o$ my saintly ancestors & ne0er hadthe pri0ilege o$ being a student o$ my $ather - the per$ect t3addi - $or he passed aayhen & as only one year old rom his siIth birthday until his last day. he sat in thecheder and in the beis hamedrash. studying in holiness and purity*t the age o$ $ourteen. his $ather (my grand$ather. the gaon and t3addi) married himo$$ to his i$e. my saintly mother She had been orphaned $rom her $ather. a C-d-$earingt3addi & as born a year a$ter their edding. and as gi0en her $ather:s holy name

&n the merit o$ my holy ancestors. the head o$ the 4ommunity 4ouncil ept an eye onme and sa to it that & had good teachers *t the age o$ thirteen. & as already studyingat the second table in the yeshi0ah o$ my master and 6ebbe. the t3addi 6eb *3riel

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Oe0ulun. the 6osh Deshi0ah o$ Semilia@hen & as $i$teen. the t3addi 6eb *3riel Oe0ulun instructed me to go to the beishamedrash o$ the $amous gaon and aesome t3addi. my holy master ?e ga0e me astrong letter o$ recommendation. in hich he re$erred to me as a scholar ho isthoroughly 0ersed in the entire Talmud. and nos it in depth

9y 6ebbe eIamined me $or to ees. and he also re$erred me to his most brilliantstudents. to discuss compleI Torah topics Than C-d. & met ith their appro0al. and theappro0al o$ my holy 6ebbe

.


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.23

uring those ten years. as & as studying in great depth and ith ama3ing diligence. &gradually rose through the rans and became a member o$ the Torah Table ThiseIclusi0e group consisted o$J my holy master and 6ebbe; his son - the gaon and per$ectt3addi ho possessed the spirit o$ C-d - 6eb 'lyaim Schraga; and mysel$9y 6ebbe ould o$ten use eIpressions such asJ Today. this interpretation as re0ealedto me by ?ea0en; =ast night. that lesson as re0ealed to me; &n the ?ea0enlyDeshi0ah they said the $olloing; &n the L?ea0enlyM palace o$ 6a0. they said as$ollos; The ?oly oined by the elder geonim o$ the city ho ere present in the beishamedrash


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had not succeeded in $inding a solution to the pro$ound di$$iculty disco0ered by thestudents o$ the Pure Table

..3

@hen e returned to the yeshi0ah. e disco0ered that a stranger - earing tattered

clothing. and carrying a napsac on his bac and a stic in his hand - had entered theyeshi0ah ?e sat on a bench. intently obser0ing e0erything that happened *$ter a $eminutes. the man approached me and in/uired. @here is the gaon. the 6osh Deshi0ahA& ha0e something to discuss ith him in pri0ate& responded ith Shalom *leichem. to hich he replied *leichem Shalom ?e thenin/uired. *re you by chance the most eIcellent o$ the students. the senior o$ the toho sit together ith the 6osh Deshi0ah at the Pure TableADes. & am he. & replied9ay you be blessedE he said ?e then repeated that he had something to discuss ithmy holy master and 6ebbe. and re/uested that & tae him to the 6osh Deshi0ah:s o$$iceThat ould be beneath my dignity as a Torah scholar ut & can assign one o$ the otherstudents to sho you the ay. & told him

Ne0ertheless. & insist. he saidNoE & repliedThe 0isitor ent to my 6ebbe:s o$$ice ith one o$ the other students. and & sat don tostudy my lessons. paying no $urther attention to the man and our con0ersation & $oundmysel$ in a 0ery cheer$ul mood. and & continued studying ith great pleasure $or se0eralhours ithout stopping & remained obli0ious to the discom$orts o$ the $ast. and neithersa nor heard anything that happened around meThe time $or 9inchah arri0ed


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*nd no. he said to his son and to me. please be seated & ill tell you the correctsolution to the /uestion posed by the students o$ the Pure Table )i7i>34/

.63&n the year 585 L17F5M. hen & as admitted to the 4hie$ 6abbi:s yeshi0ah $or thesecond time - to the third class. taught by the gaon 6eb Shalom Dehudah - the 6osh

31


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numerous no0el insights to the Torahuring the third year o$ our residence in Babilni. the 6ebbet3in bore me a son ut heli0ed $or only $i0e months. and this caused us much grie$ uring the $i$th year o$ ourresidence the 6ebbet3in $ell seriously ill; she su$$ered $or about a month. a$ter hich shedied. and as remembered ith honor

9y $ather-in-la. the ealthy patron o$ Torah scholars. ished me to marry to one o$ hisrelati0es. but & declined the o$$er & decided to abandon my rabbinic position. and toeIile mysel$ to a place o$ Torah. or else to ander in eIile $or a period o$ time &compelled my $ather-in-la to tae bac all the property o$ his late daughter - the6ebbet3in. the household $urnishings. and her clothing. and >eelry @ithin threemonths: time. & as gone $rom Babilni

.93

& began my eIile and andered $ar aay. until & came to the city o$ rys & had heard o$that city:s good reputation hile still studying at the yeshi0ah o$ the 4hie$ 6abbi in9ins & remained there $or about a year 9ost o$ my days there ere spent in the beishamedrash. here & studied Torah constantly. day and night & as ade/uately

supported by the local charity that cared $or homeless 0isitors


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also boasted a eish settlement '0en more important - about a mile $rom that 0illageas the estate o$ a poer$ul nobleman o$ great ealth The nobleman himsel$ li0ed $araay. in rance?is entire estate - including all the 0illages. streams. $orests. and inns - as leased toone e This e admired and supported rabbinic scholars; se0eral Torah scholars and

geonim li0ed in his court at his eIpense ?e also distributed charity generously

.:3

No. about $orty years ha0e passed since & as in the 0illage o$ Bertchyna uring thistime. & ent through se0eral stagesJ & andered in eIile. & li0ed a celibate li$e. & marriedLmy second i$eM. & as idoed (may you be spared). & married my third i$e (longmay she li0e) ut the memory o$ those days remains be$ore my eyes& tra0eled in the company o$ about ten people esides mysel$. there ere $i0e otherTorah scholars They declined to tell me their names. so & didn:t tell them mine?oe0er. >ust as they reali3ed that & as a genuine Torah scholar. & reali3ed that theyere scholars *nd so. e discussed Torah as e aled together


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.;3

(eb itz*ha& Aizi& related to the ebbe Maharash4 ?My father, the %aon, #as very*old


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ent to the Danta 'state. here the eish tenant-manager - ho as $amous $or hisgenerous philanthropy and $or honoring and helping rabbinic scholars - li0ed@hen & got there. & $ound many guests 9ost o$ them ere great scholars and geonimThe gaon ith the /uic grasp and een memory - ho had accompanied me on the ayto Bertchyna - as also there & disco0ered that he had been there the hole time *t

the host:s re/uest. he had been studying ith one o$ his sons* large house ith spacious rooms as placed at the guests: disposal There. they ate.dran. and slept ut on Shabbos. all the guests ould eat ith the host. his sons. andhis sons-in-la ?e also had a large and ornate beis hamedrash. ith large rooms setaside $or study The beis hamedrash had a ell-stoced library


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The chassid !e =it7cha> )i7i> concluded his story to my saintly grandfather" the!ee MaharashA3

ut. & must Ci0e thans to the =-rd. $or ?e is good.L 15M uring the second year a$ter &le$t Smilo0itch. on this 0ery date. & sa the great luminary - the *lter 6ebbe - hen hecame to 9ins to debate ith the great misnagdim & then $ormed a $irm attachment tohim


$aTamim, /ol- =, - 7ah, *hater =-;14. (Ba*& to te+t! See the *hater on ?eb itz*ha& Aizi&,? above-;15. (Ba*& to te+t! Tehillim 12741, int- al-;

Epilogue

523

or a $ull ee. my saintly $ather continued telling me - during our als - hat heheard $rom his on $ather. my saintly grand$ather Lthe 6ebbe 9aharashMJ namely. thelong story o$ the chassid 6eb Dit3cha *i3i@hat has been presented until this point is only the introduction to that story The $ullstory relates the details o$ the debate that too place in 9ins. hen the *lter 6ebbeinstilled the spirit o$ 4hassidus into do3ens o$ the greatest geonimLFM They thendecided to choose the greatest among them. and to send them to the Caon 6a0 'liyahu(hose soul is in Can 'den) They ished to persuade him to annul the cheirem that hadbeen published against the chassidim and their leader. the Caon o$ =io3naThe most important accomplishment. hoe0er. as the great treasure that the *lter

6ebbe ac/uired during that debateJ about $orty minyonim o$ young scholars (many o$hom ere outstanding and renoned throughout the regions o$ 2ilna. rys. Slut3.9ins. and Shlo0. and many o$ hom had been honored ith the greatest titles o$glory) attached themsel0es to the *lter 6ebbe Some o$ them $olloed him to =io3na

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immediately a$ter that e0ent. hile others arri0ed later Nearly all o$ them >oined thechassidic community4ontinuing our con0ersations o$ that ee. my saintly $ather repeated to me hat hehad heard $rom the $amous chassid 6eb Shmuel o0 o$ oriso0L !M The story as long.but ell organi3ed; it dealt ith the e0ents o$ the aal Shem To0:s 0isit to a $e o$ the

0illages in @hite 6ussia at the time that he $irst re0ealed himsel$ *$ter that. hiscolleagues (the hidden t3addiim). his agents. and his disciples. tra0eled about insearch o$ ne con0erts to the aal Shem To0:s teachings. and to shine the li0ing light o$the li0ing Torah upon the eish people

543

&n this essay. & hope to mention. either in hole or in part. all the entries that & ha0e inmy diary on this sub>ect &n any case. & $irst ish to emphasi3e that the $ragment o$ 6ebDit3cha *i3i:s story /uoted abo0e comprises a li0ing history &t paints $or us a portraito$ se0eral generations o$ eish li$e in the counties o$ 9ins. 9ohile0. and 2itebsJ

i @e are no in the month o$ 'lul 5",1 L1,!1M. and & am telling you hat & heardand rote don during the years 5"58-5, L18,8-,,M - an inter0al o$ thirty-three

yearsii 9y saintly $ather Lthe 6ebbe 6ashabM heard this story $rom his on $ather. mysaintly grand$ather Lthe 6ebbe 9aharashM during the year 5"!" L18F"M - aninter0al o$ tenty-to years

iii 9y saintly grand$ather heard i$ $rom the chassid 6eb Dit3cha *i3i during theyear 5"G! L18!M - an inter0al o$ thirty-three years

i0 The gaon 6eb Dit3cha *i3i related hat he himsel$ had seen and heardJ the $ullstory o$ the debate beteen the misnagdim and the *lter 6ebbe in the year 55!L178!M - an inter0al o$ siIty years

0 ?e also related hat he had heard $rom his uncle. the gaon 6eb OelmeleStut3er. describing the li$estyles o$ Torah scholars o$ $i$ty years earlier - aroundthe year 5,G L17!GM - an inter0al o$ $i$ty-three years

0i The gaon 6eb Oelmele Stut3er related hat he had heard $rom his 6ebbe. the

gaon 6eb Shalom Dehudah o$ Semilia - about $orty years be$ore that0ii L6eb Oelmele also relatedM hat L6eb Shalom DehudahM had heard $rom his on

6ebbe. the gaon 6eb 'phraim ishel Badosh - a generation be$ore thatThus. it turns out that the story told by 6eb Dit3cha *i3i presents us ith a li0ingportrait o$ the li0es o$ Torah scholars during a period approIimately FG5 L M years agoThe history o$ that period maes a most $ascinating story ut beyond that. it iseIceedingly precious to us chassidim. $or it gi0es us a general idea o$ the generationduring hich the $irst person to re0eal Toras ?a4hassidus - the aal Shem To0 - li0ed &talso describes the campaign that he conducted. ith his intense 0igor and outstandingisdom

(otes0

1. (Ba*& to te+t! 6rom the :revious ebbe>s essay, ?6athers of "hassidus,?$aTamim, /ol- 5, - =2, =1-

2. (Ba*& to te+t! The story of ?the )ebate in Mins&? itself aears in theSulements to this volume-;

3. (Ba*& to te+t! Also &no#n as ?ashdam-? 6or a brief bio%rahy, see The Ma&in%of "hassidim, Aendi+ ", and 0in&s in the "hassidi* 0e%a*y, Si*hos 9n En%lish,Broo&lyn, 17, - s note4 this aears to be a tyo%rahi*al error itshould read ?352 years a%o-?;

The )lter !ee&s )dherents" )nd $is Opponentsuring that period.LFM the *lter 6ebbe rote a general letter encouraging theestablishment o$ a charity $und to support the holy 6ebbeim ho had mo0ed to the ?oly=and ?e chose three capable young scholars. hom he sent all o0er the land to set upthe collections *dditionally. they ere charged ith the tas o$ encouraging people tostudy 4hassidus

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*lmost e0ery ton already had at least one or to young scholars ho had studied in=io3na The *lter 6ebbe:s disciples ere eItremely dedicated indi0iduals The 6ebbe:sslightest command or re/uest as carried out at once. ith the greatest care andprecisionThe *lter 6ebbe designated siI locations here young scholars ho ished to come to

=io3na could $irst be eIaminedJ =iepli. ubra0na. Smilian. Hlla. S30ent3ian. andDano0itch &n each o$ these tons resided a representati0e empoered by the *lter6ebbe to eIamine the scholars and determine hether they met the re/uirements hehad set $orth*t each location. no more than siI or se0en scholars ere to be eIamined at one timeThese candidates had to undergo an eIamination lasting no less than to ees: time


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the managers o$ the charity $unds and the minyonim. and other o$$icials. could gi0esomeone special permission to remain longer. i$ his a0odah re/uired him to do soThe *lter 6ebbe:s attention to order and strategy as e0ident in e0ery detail 'achperson participated by eIerting his maIimum e$$orts toard the success o$ his mission@hen Tishrei arri0ed. multitudes $loced to =io3na Some came in agons. and some

came on $oot *mong them ere rabbonim. shochtim. melamdim. and ordinary $ol;they included the young. the middle aged. and the elderlyThe chie$ o$$icial. 6eb Dehudah =eib. appointed o$$icers to insure that the rulesconcerning ho long one could remain in =io3na ere obeyed &n addition. they ere toin0estigate each 0isitor:s bacground. and determine hat mission he could beentrusted ith in his on hometon &t is there$ore not surprising that the campaignamong the throngs ho had come $rom di$$erent places produced good results. indisseminating the teachings o$ the 9aggid throughout =ita* proclamation as then issued that during the coming inter no one as to come to=io3na until a$ter Pesach The only eIception as $or bochurim ho came to obtain aprogram $or their studies No one ne the reason. but no one dared to in/uire hatthat reason might be '0en the *lter 6ebbe:s brothers unanimously de$erred to his

higher authority. as i$ they ere actually his ser0ants@hen 9ar4hesh0an arri0ed. the *lter 6ebbe issued 0arious instructions to his brother6eb Dehudah =eib. and he arranged the programs o$ study $or the students o$ thechadorim and the young scholars?e then chose three young scholars to accompany him. and he set out on the road.saying that he ould (ith C-d:s help) return home to =io3na $or Pesach This trip asassociated ith the *lter 6ebbe:s duties as Ceneral 4oordinator o$ the 9aggid:sdisciples ?e there$ore headed $or 2ohlynia. the place designated $or the meeting o$ the?oly Society@e do not no the details o$ this >ourney @hat e do no is that at this meeting.members the ?oly Society eIpressed complaints against the *lter 6ebbe $or embaringon a ne path - setting /uali$ications $or those ho desired to come closer Lto4hassidusM ?e admitted only those ho had attained certain achie0ements in Torahstudy. and e0en these ere permitted to come only at speci$ic times They claimed thatthis departed $rom the practice o$ their master and 6ebbe. the 9aggid o$ 9e3ritchThe chie$ critic as the holy 6eb Shlomo o$ Barlin ?is home as closer to 6eissin. andso he as most $amiliar ith the ne procedures instituted by the *lter 6ebbe The*lter 6ebbe ga0e a detailed report o$ e0erything he had instituted ?e stated that hehad been instructed by the 9aggid that Torah study. ith understanding andinterpretation. as to be the supreme re/uirement @ithout getting into a debate abouthis o0erall approach to this. he eIpressed his opinion that in =ita. his as the onlyapproach that ould achie0e the desired resultsThe ?oly Society as not satis$ied by the *lter 6ebbe:s reply. $or in his conduct theysa a departure $rom the road that had been pa0ed $or them. as they understood itThey decided to rite a $ull report o$ the matter. and send it to their colleague. the holy

6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ ?orodo. in the ?oly =andThe *lter 6ebbe as aay $or almost a hal$ year during this >ourney. and he 0isited0arious places rom one o$ his letters. it appears that he as greatly distressed by theinternal opposition to his abo0e-mentioned approach ?oe0er. he $ound consolation inthe $act that se0eral o$ his colleagues - the holy 6ebbeim. 6eb Nachum o$ 4hernobyl.6eb =e0i Dit3ha o$ erditche0. 6eb Ousia o$ *nipolia. his brother 6eb 'limelech Lo$=i3hensM. and $i0e or siI others - supported his opinion ?e as. hoe0er. distressed bythe $act that the holy ellsprings ere separating into di0ergent streamsuring this >ourney. he also 0isited the holy places. the tombs o$ our masters the aalShem To0 and the 9aggid 9any stories ha0e been circulated among chassidimconcerning these 0isits ?e also 0isited the city o$ 9ohile0 on the nester during thattrip ?e had pre0iously spent some time there hen he had accompanied the holy 6eb

9enachem 9endel and his entourage on their ay to the ?oly =andThis 0isit ga0e him much satis$action. and it partially assuaged his grie$ o0er the abo0e-mentioned contro0ersy ?e disco0ered that the seeds he had son there during his $irst0isit had borne good $ruit There$ore. he decided to establish a ne center there ?e

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chose one o$ the three young scholars ho had accompanied him. and le$t him there.assigning him the tas o$ go0erning that centerourney. he tra0eled through arano0ich. 2ilna (ithout stopping there).S30ent3ian. enenburg. Polot3. and 2itebs @hen he arri0ed in S30ent3ian. he sentone o$ the to remaining young scholars bac to 2ilna. and instructed him to remain

there in secret ?e as to study ith to o$ the local young scholars ho had becomeadherents o$ the *lter 6ebbe ?e sent the second young scholar to =io3na. ith a replyto a letter he had recei0ed $rom his brother 6eb Dehudah =eib. describing the status o$the resident scholars in =io3na. and summari3ing the reports that had come in $rom the0arious centersrom one o$ the *lter 6ebbe:s letters. it appears that the reports he recei0ed $rom hisbrother 6eb Dehudah =eib ga0e him much pleasure &n this letter. he describes all thetroubles that had beset him during his tra0els. concerning his public a$$airs (speci$ically.the ?oly Society:s resolutions). and the agreeable situation he had $ound in 9ohile0 ?estates that the reports he recei0ed ga0e him satis$action. and that his stay in S30ent3ianhad assuaged his grie$Through that young scholar:s message. he in$ormed his brother that he ould not return

home until a $e days be$ore Dom To0 ?e urged him to send out the $olloing repliesJto the center in ubra0na. that he agreed to their establishing a secret center in Shlo0;and to the center in Smilian. that he agreed to their establishing a public center inisna ?e also instructed him to publici3e a proclamation that no 0isitors ere to cometo =io3na be$ore the coming $esti0al o$ Sha0uos@hen he arri0ed in =io3na. he disco0ered that the status o$ the students o$ the tochadorim as good They had adhered scrupulously to the program o$ study he had setout $or themThe nes then arri0ed that the to scholars ho had been sent as agents to tae themoney to the ?oly =and ere on their ay home They ould arri0e in =io3na bySha0uos. and ere bringing a letter $rom the holy 6ebbeim in the ?oly =and This nesspread 0ery /uicly. and an order as issued to all the charity collectors that they ereto try to collect the $unds that had been pledged. and to bring the money ith themhen they came to =io3na $or Sha0uos *$ter Sha0uos. a second group o$ agents ouldbe sent out to the ?oly =andThe citi3ens o$ =io3na elcomed the *lter 6ebbe ith great >oy 9any tons$ol thenresol0ed in their hearts to tae the scholarly young $ol as sons-in-la *ccording totradition. about $orty such eddings ere celebrated during that summer They andtheir children ere the heads o$ the chassidic $amilies and the doers o$ good deeds o$the later generations@hen the agents $rom the ?oly =and arri0ed. they brought a letterLM containing ablessing $rom the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel. as ell as a ritten program o$ conductand guidance. and a statement o$ general support $or the *lter 6ebbe *pparently. thisre$erred mainly to his appointment as Ceneral 4oordinator Lo$ the ?oly SocietyMThe agents related that hen they had reached the shores o$ the 6i0er nester. they

had met to men ho ere about to lea0e $or the ?oly =and These to men had saidthat they ere tra0eling as agents o$ the holy 6eb 9enachem 9endel. and that theyere carrying $unds collected in the territory o$ 2ohlyniaL5MLThis represented a ne de0elopmentM @hen they had taen their lea0e o$ theircolleague 6eb 9enachem 9endel in 55!7 L1777M. the assembled members o$ the ?olySociety had adopted the $olloing resolutionsJL"M

i each o$ them undertoo the obligation o$ supporting the 6ebbeim ho eremo0ing to the ?oly =and. and their $amilies;

ii each member o$ the Society as to be the leader in his on territory;iii the *lter 6ebbe as appointed the leader o$ =ita. and the centers o$ ?orodo.

Polot3. Balis. and =uba0itch ere put under his control;i0 the *lter 6ebbe as appointed the chie$ o$ all the leaders in matters pertaining to

the support o$ the 6ebbeim in the ?oly =and; he as also appointed the Ceneral4oordinator o$ the Society $or a period o$ $i0e years@hen the $irst group o$ agents had departed - in 55!8 - ith the collected $unds. theyhad made a side trip to 0isit the holy 6eb Nachum in 4hernobyl The moneys collected

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=io3na. a large number o$ young scholars became sitters. and $olloed the regularcurriculum The 0arious centers ere progressing at $ull speed ith their or Thereere rabbonim. shochtim. and melamdim li0ing in many o$ the 0illages. ruralsettlements. and inns. each $ul$illing his responsibility&n that year. the *lter 6ebbe already had se0eral hundred young students. ho too

turns residing in =io3na. as described pre0iously This continued $rom the year 55!"L177"M through 55G There ere also many guests ho came. though the *lter 6ebbere$used to anser in/uiries about material matters ?e ould. hoe0er. o$$er his holyopinion about spiritual matters. as described in his letter o$ 55G to the community o$*nash in the ton o$ Hshat3L1!MSe0eral o$ these 0isitors had been chassidim o$ 6eb 9enachem 9endel o$ ?orodo and6eb *0raham o$ Balis They ere accustomed to being shon $a0or by their 6ebbeim.ith the greatest attention being paid to the elders (the younger scholars had not e0enbeen admitted hen the Torah discourses ere deli0ered) They could not tolerate the*lter 6ebbe:s ne system. here the younger scholars recei0ed the greatest $a0orThese se0eral 0isitors included se0eral men o$ stature and noledgeable indi0idualsHn$ortunately. they misunderstood the intent. and inad0ertently lent support to those

ho began to oppose the *lter 6ebbe s notes- This material #as *ir*ulated amon% *hassidim intye#ritten form, as art of a *olle*tion &no#n as ?The )ebate in Mins&-?:ortions of these notes have been ublished else#here by various authors- Thestory be%ins here e+a*tly #here the *hater ?Third Ceneration4 the Alter ebbe?ends, and is #ritten in the same style- 9t aears that that this material #asreared for ubli*ation in $aTamim, as a *ontinuation of the series ?6athers of"hassidus-?

2. (Ba*& to te+t! 9-e-, shortly after - Mena*hem Mendel of /itebs& had moved toEretz israel-;

3. (Ba*& to te+t! A referen*e to the t#o brothers issa*har and Fevulun, sons ofaa&ov- The des*endants of issa*har dedi*ated themselves to fulls oinion, and not his o#n

innovation- Thus, there is no reason for a s*hism in the So*iety-;11. (Ba*& to te+t! See Toldos "habad BeEretz $a.odesh, ibid-;12. (Ba*& to te+t! eb issa*har )ov .abilni&er- See The Ma&in% of "hassidim,

Aendi+ B-;

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13. (Ba*& to te+t! 9%ros .odesh of the Alter ebbe, /ol- 1, *h- 3-;

Preparations #or The ,eateuring the inter o$ 55F L1781-8FM. the *lter 6ebbe con$erred ith his brothers. 6ebDehudah =eib and 6eb 9ordechai. about holding a debate ith the misnagdim ?e then

began a campaign to gain support $or this idea. as e shall describe later *t the end o$Si0an o$ that year. he made another trip to 2ohlynia $or a meeting o$ the ?oly Societyscheduled $or the middle o$ Tammu3 This time. the *lter 6ebbe remained in 2ohlynia$or only to ees. a$ter hich he /uicly returned home*t this assembly. the *lter 6ebbe eIpressed his thoughts about the present situationregarding the misnagdim ?e o$$ered the opinion that the ?oly Society could engagethem in a debate ?e as con$ident that ith C-d:s indness (and in the merits o$ theaal Shem To0 and the 9aggid) the chassidim ould emerge 0ictorious ?e alsoannounced that he ould publish a public letter on the sub>ectThose members o$ the ?oly Society ho had supported the *lter 6ebbe:s ideas $or sometime. ere o0er>oyed hen they heard his speech about disseminating the study o$4hassidus among the young scholars ?oe0er. they did not concur on e0ery detail o$

his report about guiding the young $ol and re0ealing to them such a poer$ul light(They also recei0ed the good nes that the study o$ 4hassidus had spread among youngscholars o$ Turish 9ohile0. Dasi. and BolorestiL1M)ority opposed this. $or the chie$ leaders and mentors o$ themisnagdim ere in =ita There$ore. they all agreed to de$er to the *lter 6ebbe:ssuggestion o$ challenging the misnagdim to a debate. especially since he had alreadytaen steps in that direction*t that same meeting. they also discussed the $unds raised $or the support o$ the6ebbeim in the ?oly =and &t as no agreed that $unds raised in the territory o$2ohlynia ould be sent separatelyLFM uring that year. the *lter 6ebbe:s $i0e year termas Ceneral 4oordinator as due to eIpire ?e re$used to accept another appointment tothis post. despite the entreaties o$ his colleagues. especially 6eb 9enachem Nachum o$4hernobyl@hile returning home $rom this meeting. he tra0eled by ay o$ 9ins ?e stopped o$$there to mae the arrangements $or the debate ith the misnagdim. according to theplan he had arranged ith his brother the pre0ious inter The plan as as $ollosJThe to centers in S30ent3ian and Smilo0itch ere to designate se0en or eight youngscholars by name Their tas ould be to circulate in the counties o$ 2ilna. Bo0na. and9ins Ldisguised as misnagdimM There they ere to start a mo0ement among themisnagdim to challenge the cult to a debate They ere to demand that the chassidimalso anser Torah /uestions the misnagdim ould put to them. basing their replies oncon0incing e0idence $rom the Talmud and PosimThe center in ubra0na as to designate se0eral scholars by name. to circulate in the

counties o$ Shlo0 and 9ohile0 (in @hite 6ussia) to start the same mo0ement orShabbos Nachamu. three young scholars to be designated by name ere to come to9ins in secret. and aait the *lter 6ebbe:s arri0al during his return trip $rom 2ohlyniaThe abo0e plan as carried out to the letter The instructions ere sent to the centers.and they designated the people ho ere to tra0el about and start the mo0ementsThey made a list o$ all the places they ere to 0isit. and then departedThese agents spent a month or to andering around in their assigned territories Hponarri0ing at

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