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By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon

There are certain events that happen in life that leave a massive void in one’s heart, like the passing of a dear family member, mentor or friend (lo aleinu). In times like these, there is some measure of comfort and solace, if you would know what that person would be telling you – and demanding of you – right now in your pain and sorrow.

Two weeks ago, the family of Chassidim suffered a severe loss with the passing of the Shliach and Rosh Yeshiva – Harav Yosef Yitzchak Wischanski A”H. Whether you were an official student of his (I was not), we all received from him. He was an example of someone that was completely selfless and dedicated to the Rebbe with all strings of his soul.

To help bring comfort to the larger Chassidic family (and of course to his personal family, many of which I feel personally close with), I would like to share a very personal conversation I had with Rabbi Wilschaniski exactly six years ago – Erev Shabbas Parshas Pekudei 5779.

How do I remember that exact date? There are certain events that one does not forget. On Thursday, 30 Shevat 5779, was the passing of one of my dearest friends and colleagues: Harav Chaim Schneur Zalman A”H Baras, who was the main Mashpiah of our Yeshiva. The levaya was scheduled for the next day – Friday 1 Adar 5779 – in Crown Heights.

I flew to New York with one of the Talmidei Hashluchim and my heart and mind were clogged. I knew that I had to return to Yeshiva, and to the many heart-broken students, that Shabbos with a clear message and approach. On the plane, I kept telling myself that I wish that I could just call Rabbi Wilschanski, known to the American boys as “Chief” (not sure how he got that nickname) from Tzfas for a few minutes and hear what he would have to say.

Why Rabbi Wilschanski, if I never learned in Tzfas? Two very strong reasons: 1) A “technical reason”: Just two weeks before, the Yeshiva of Tzfas lost their Mashpia (On 15 Adar 1 5779), Rabbi Moshe Orenstein A”H, thus he had recent experience. 2) A much deeper and sensitive reason: The passing of Rabbi Baras was not just hard because he was so close to so many Talmidim, it also could have shattered the foundations of faith for so many talmidim.

How so? The birthday of Rabbi Baras is 27 Adar 1. If you watch the video of the famous “dollars” of 26 Adar 1 5752 (the last time we merited to receive dollars in that fashion), you will see a young Zalman Baras walk by the Rebbe and tell him about his upcoming birthday. The Rebbe gives him another dollar and then tells him “long years, healthy years and Chassidishe years”. For two years, while he was battling his illness and even at times when it did not look possible that he would recover, we – the Hanahlla – would repeat these words to the students and demand from them complete faith in the words of the Rebbe. Now what should I tell them?

This type of question had to be asked by a smart Chassid who actually had deep faith in the words of the Rebbe. I knew that Rabbi Wilschanski would be the ideal person, and I also knew that it would be practically impossible to reach him in Eretz Yisroel on such a short Friday (and I had to go to the Levaya and take a flight back home the same day).

I came from the airport, just in time for the Levaya and it was so difficult to participate. As I entered 770 to wash my hands after the Levaya, I was shocked: There in front of me stood Rabbi Wilschanski himself! I do not know the official reason that he was there that day, but I knew that Hashem sent him  – like an angel – just for me. I asked him for a few minutes of his time, which he graciously gave (and I saw a line of other people that were waiting to talk to him).

I shared with him my thoughts (through tears) and he listened intently. He then looked at me and said (I am not quoting word-for-word but this is the essence of what he said): “The pain is real and the question is strong. It is not our job to start giving answers, as it is not surprising that the finite mind does not understand the infinite, rather to focus on the future and the goal. That is what the niftar wants and that is the best elevation of his soul.”

It was these words of clarity, coming from such a person of faith, that gave me the strength to go back to Yeshiva. On shabbas, I shared the following thought with the Talmidim: Parshas Pekudei finishes with the Passuk כִּי֩ עֲנַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֤ה עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וְאֵ֕שׁ תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לַ֖יְלָה בּ֑וֹ לְעֵינֵ֥י כָל־בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּכָל־מַסְעֵיהֶֽם: (For wherever they camped, the cloud of God was above the Tabernacle by day, and fire would be there by night, visible to the entire House of Israel, at all thejourneys.)

Rashi is bothered by the obvious question: The Jews were not always travelling, they spent so much time stationed in places, so why is it all called Journeys? Rashi answers: “Since from the place of their encampment they resumed their journeys, they are all called “journeys” (מַסָעוֹת).” I continued, based on what I heard from Rabbi Wilschanski: Right now (after the passing of the mashpia) we are sad and “parked”. If, however, we take the strength and “resumed their journey” – we will see that all these sad events “are all called (part of the) Journey!”.

Rabbi Gershon Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well-sought-after speaker and lecturer. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the above by sending me a R’ Avtzon email: [email protected]

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