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Weekly Chasidic Story #1425 (5785-27) 2 Nissan 5785 (March 31, 2025) "TESTING THE RABBIS IN SECULAR SUBJECTS" The Czar's Minister of the Interior was an evil, sadistic despot who was always making new oppressive laws to terrify the people, secure his own power and, whenever possible, torture the Jews. Why this week? Sunday night begins the 105th yahrzeit of the Rebbe Rashab.
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TESTING THE RABBIS IN SECULAR SUBJECTSThe days when the Czar ruled in Russia were unbearable for the Jews. It was almost impossible to believe anything could be worse. Anti-Semitism and evil decrees were constant. Every few years, wholesale massacres of Jews called ["pogroms"] popped up like poison mushrooms. But in this atmosphere of constant oppression and suffering, Judaism miraculously survived and even flourished! As the Torah says: "The more the Jews were oppressed, the more they were fruitful....." (Ex. 1:12). One of the biggest enemies of the Jews, and of mankind in general, was the Czar's Minister of the Interior--an evil, sadistic despot by the name of Stolypin. He was always making new oppressive rules and laws to terrify the people, secure his own power and, whenever possible, torture the Jews. One awful day, the leading Rabbis of Russia were notified that, under the direction of Stolypin, the government was passing a new law requiring all Rabbis to pass a series of exams in secular subjects. Any Rabbi failing to meet the requirements would not be allowed to lead a congregation. The idea behind this was to "normalize" Judaism and open the doors to "new" rabbis who cared nothing for such ancient ideas as "G-d" and "commandments," thus lowering the resistance of the next generation to, G-d forbid, conversion. The Rabbi leaders decided
to meet in Petersburg to decide what to do. Hundreds of devout geniuses were
present for one purpose: how to assure the decree would fail by opposing it
in every way possible. But the cunning and ruthless Stolypin had already anticipated
their opposition. On the second day of the convention, a messenger of the government
entered the hall on his orders, took the podium and called for attention, and
announced to the hushed crowd of Rabbis: The Rabbis went pale with fear, and a deathly silence fell on them. These were no empty words. Just a few years earlier, they had actually come true; thousands of bloodthirsty Russian peasants suddenly swept through Jewish areas, destroying Jewish shops, homes and property, and sadistically killing and maiming thousands of Jews as they went. It seemed clear that resistance would be pointless, and, although there were still a few Rabbis who had not yet taken the podium, it was doubtful that anyone could change the atmosphere of defeat in the air. The next to speak was supposed to be the Rebbe of Lubavitch, Rabbi Shalom-Dovber Schneersohn (called the Rashab an acronym of his name). But he requested that he be allowed to speak last. So the holy genius Rabbi Chaim of Brisk, the great Rosh Yeshiva and leader of the Lithuanian-style rabbis of his generation, stood and heroically declared that, despite the threats, he was opposed to the government idea. But it was obvious that he spoke with a heavy heart. It seemed clear that the outcome would be concession. Finally, the Rebbe Reshab's
turn came to speak. The Rebbe was not a healthy man and was often obliged to
see doctors or take treatments for weakness. But here, he stood straight and
spoke with a clear, loud voice that all could hear. (These same words would
be spoken by his son and successor, Rebbe Yosef-Yitzchak Schneersohn, years
later against the Communists)": He then raised his arms and cried out, "Jews! Sanctify G-d's name in public!" (i.e. Be willing to die for the Torah.) Then, he fainted. Immediately, Rabbi Chaim of Brisk stood and shouted that he too opposed the new decree, even at the cost of his life. A vote was taken and it was decided: not one Rabbi would support the decree. Meanwhile, the Rebbe Rashab was taken to his room and a doctor was rushed in to treat him. Still, it wasn't long before two mammoth soldiers appeared there also, with orders to arrest him and take him to prison. It was only with the greatest effort and maneuvering, including the doctor's objections, that his sentence was reduced to house arrest and finally dropped altogether. Several of the great Rabbis with Rabbi Chaim of Brisk at their head came to visit the Rebbe to see how he was. They found him sitting in a chair at his desk weeping...obviously over the impending law. Rabbi Chaim put his comforting hand on the Rebbe's shoulder and said, "Lubavitcher Rebbe, why are you crying? After all, we did all we could! Now it is up to G-d to do the rest!" "True", said the Rebbe. "We did all we could. Yet the decree has not been averted!" Calming down a bit, he continued. "If a paid factory worker does everything possible to fix a broken machine, he can go home and sleep peacefully whether he succeeded or not. But not the factory owner; he won't sleep until the problem is solved!" Unexplainably, however, the decree was never mentioned again by the government, and, thank G-d, Stolypin's threats of pogroms also never materialized. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why this week? The 125th yahrzeit of the Rebbe Rashab is on 2nd of the Jewish month of Nissan (2025: Monday, March 31). Biographical note:
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Yerachmiel
Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor
of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories
to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells
them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.