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As I was finishing reading the last letter on the page (#7844), I was surprised by what was written there. The letter was written to the famous shliach, Rabbi Moshe Yitzchak Hecht A”H in New Haven, CT. It was written in the month of Elul and the Rebbe finishes the letter with the bracha of “Kesiva Vachasima Tova” for him, his family and “for Rochel”. This made me wonder: Who was this Rochel that received such a personal mention from the Rebbe?

I looked into the footnotes and I saw the following that was written: “Rochel is the daughter (of Rabbi Hecht). She was named after the maternal grandmother of the Rebbe. Look in Igros Kodesh volume 2 letter #345”. That letter (Igros volume 2 page 317) says the following: “I was informed by your brother, R. Yaakov, of the birth of your daughter and that you gave her the name Rachel.I offer thanks for accepting my suggestion and [give] my blessing that you raise her to Torah, marriage, and good deeds amidst prosperity in both material and spiritual matters.”

These letters reinforced a point that I had only in recent years fully understood and internalized: The Rebbe really values, appreciates and has a personal enjoyment when he sees that Chassidim care about him and his personal family.

To explain: Chabad Lubavitch is a movement that has a rich history and holy Rabbeim. We have the official days on the calendar that we celebrate (Days of Geula, Birthdays and Yahrtzeits of holy Rabbeim etc). Then there are the personal dates connected to the Rebbe (his anniversary, the birthdays and Yahrzeits of his holy parents and Rebbetzen Chaya Mushka etc) and the names that are connected to the Rebbe’s family.

When I was in Yeshiva, the entire focus was on the official Chabad-Lubavitch days of celebration and the importance of naming our children after our holy Rabbeim and Rebbetzens. I remember speaking to a certain Shliach and I was shocked when he told me that he feels that he is giving the Rebbe more nachas by naming his children after the Rebbe’s personal family (which are not part of the official line of our holy Rabbeim) than if he was going to give a name of one of our holy Rabbeim. It was words that I had never heard before.

It was only in the more recent years that I realized how important this approach is. I saw clearly that when we started making a big deal about the

The Rebbe’s personal dates, the level of hiskashrus and love of the Rebbe became so much more elevated in Yeshiva. I have discussed this with other Chavrei Hanhalla (from other Yeshivos) and they have seen the same thing.

I write this as we all prepare for 11 Nissan, the Rebbe’s birthday. It is truly amazing to see the tremendous love to the Rebbe that is expressed in honor of this holy day. The largest gathering of Chassidim (Men, women and children) in Eretz Yisroel – “Maamad Hagadol” – takes place annually. Families leave their intense preparations for Pesach to show the Rebbe how much they love him in a personal way. Hundreds of Bochurim gather together for a special shabbas, arranged by “ATA Haolomi” – to strengthen their connection to the Rebbe. I have personally participated a few times in both of those events and it is truly uplifting and inspiring. There is no question that the Rebbe takes tremendous pride and pleasure from such activities.

Together with the above, it is important that we take the time to reflect on how the Rebbe’s birthday affects us in a personal way. When we celebrate 11 Nissan, it is not just the Rebbe’ birthday that we are celebrating, it is also our own. As the Rebbe is the “Neshama Klalis” of the generation, his elevation on his birthday automatically creates an elevation for each of us. While here is not the place to get into the discussion if one should follow “minhagei Yom holedes” on 11 Nissan, one thing is certain: We must all take a step up in our Avodas Hashem and that elevation is the greatest gift that we give the Rebbe!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on the above with me by sending me a personal email: [email protected]

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