Follow ChabadInfo & Never Miss an Update!

Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our WhatsApp status and broadcast Follow us on Tiktok Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on Google News Subscribe on YouTube

By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon 

Dear Reader: The topic of the importance of having a real relationship with a Mashpia, is something that I have been thinking of writing about for a while, but kept pushing it off. After receiving a certain phone call recently, I realized that I should not push it off much longer

I awoke one morning and saw a text message on my phone. It was from a number that I did not recognize and was asking my help in writing to the Rebbe. I text back that the person should call me at a certain time and explain to me how I can help him. He called and introduced himself as a relative of one of my previous students. He was very bothered that he had written to the Rebbe about a very personal matter, in regards to a question about continuing with a shidduch, and did not receive an answer.

He explained to me that he had many reasons to continue with the shidduch and many reasons to end the shidduch. He had hoped that by writing to the Rebbe, he would receive clarity – but felt disappointed that there was no answer. While I am not qualified to explain to anyone why they did, or did not, receive an answer from the Rebbe, I did ask him a simple question: “Did you discuss these pros and cons with your personal Mashpia?”

He told me that he did not, as he feels bad taking the time of his Mashpia. I told him that, while I definitely can not say that I know the Cheshbonos of the Rebbe, it seems to me that it is possible that this could help answer his question as to why he did not receive an answer from the Rebbe through the Igros Kodesh. The Rebbe is not looking to substitute the role of a person’s personal Mashpia. On the contrary! It is the Rebbe that pushed in the strongest terms that every single jewish person should appoint for themselves a personal mashpia to discuss these types of questions with.

I told him, and I encourage everyone, to read the words that the Rebbe spoke (and edited!) during the Farbrengen of Shabbas Parshas Devarim 5746 (ois 10): “It is my idea and request – as a “Bakasha Nafshis (and even deeper than that, just I do not have the words to describe it) to spread these words to all places – whether to do it in my name or without my name depends on the place – that it is the proper thing that every single person (men, women and children) should fulfill the directive of “Aseh Lecha Rav” and from time to time should approach that person and go through a “test” on where they are holding in their personal Avodas Hashem.”

This conversation reinforced something that I was thinking about for a long time: Before the concealment of “Gimmel Tammuz”, many chassidim hesitated and thought twice about what they would be writing to the Rebbe. They did not want to bother the Rebbe and take precious little time. This in itself made people realize that if they wanted direction, they needed to speak to their personal Mashpiah.

We have been blessed that right before this temporary concealment of the Rebbe, that (for whatever reason) is a necessary step in the process of bringing Moshiach to the world, the Rebbe opened up a unique channel by which we can communicate with him: Igros Kodesh.

Now that the Rebbe allowed himself to be accessed through the Igros Kodesh, there are many people that have taken the liberty to begin writing to the Rebbe about every concern that they have in life. They do not feel that they are bothering the Rebbe or taking the Rebbe’s time. To many, this has taken the place of the personal Mashpiah. In my opinion, this is contrary to what the Rebbe wants from us. In most cases, and there are some obvious exceptions, writing to the Rebbe should come at the instruction of one’s personal mashpia.

A Chassid can rest assured that when he, or she, follows the instructions of their mashpia, they are doing what the Rebbe wants from them in their situation. The mashpia receives special “siyata dishmaya – help from above” to be able to guide the people that are turning to them during these critical junctures of their life.

The above is all directed at the one that should be speaking to their Mashpia. Yet, there needs to be a serious discussion on how we choose a mashpia and how we show appreciation to our dedicated mashpiim and “Od Chazon L’moed” iyh.

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

209