Dear Friends,
“Jets? Giants?
The fourth one on this list, entitled “Make a Pilgrimage” is the “Ohel” – the resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l.
Surprising? I can assume that some of the readers were surprised that day, but not all of them.
Whoever has studied the weekly Parasha, Parashat Shelach, knows that among the 12 men sent out to spy the Land, only ten sinned and slandered the Land. The other two managed to resist and not participate in the media propaganda that their fellow-spies were engaging in. How did they protect themselves? Yehoshua bin Nun received a special blessing from Moshe Rabbeinu before he left on the journey: “Hashem will save you from the plan of the spies.” His friend, Calev ben Yefuneh, who did not receive that blessing, simply took care of himself and acted. The Gemara in tractate Sotah (34b) says about the verse “And he came to Chevron,” “That teaches us that Calev took himself away from the spies’ plan and went and prostrated himself on the graves of the Patriarchs. He said to them: My forefathers, pray for mercy for me, that I should be saved from the spies’ plan.”
The Chassidic writings explain that the body of a Tzaddik holds within it something of the Tzaddik’s spirit even after he has gone on to the Next World. In the Chassidic jargon, this is called “Reshimu.” That being so, the place where the holy body of the Tzaddik rests is the special place on earth where one can reach him, be close to him, because that is where he is. Calev took the trouble to go all the way to Me’arat Hamachpelah, because that is where the Patriarchs are; there he could ask and plead from the depths of his heart, “My forefathers, pray for mercy for me.”
Calev was the first person to do this, and from then on until today, in all generations and exiles, in troubled times and joyful ones, as well as on ordinary weekdays, Jews visit the resting places of Tzaddikim, pray and make requests, and also give thanks.
We have had many Tzaddikim, and there are many graves, but there is something sublime and special about visiting a “Neshama Clalit” – a “general soul” – visiting the grave of a soul-filled Jew who cared for his entire generation, far beyond the boundaries of his family, close friends or followers, because a Neshama Clalit is responsible for everyone.
Friends, I think there is no need to explain to a member of our generation that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is a Neshama Clalit. There is no need to mention the number of Shluchim in the world, or to bring stories from men, women and children of all types, ethnic backgrounds, religions and continents – live stories about a Rebbe who had a Neshama Clalit and cared for his entire generation.
Next week, G-d willing, I will fly with my son Moshe to visit and pray in the Ohel of the Rebbe for his Yahrzeit, which will be next Shabbat, the 3rd of Tammuz. I will feel honored to mention in the note I will leave there your name as well, if you wish me to do so.
Shabbat Shalom,
Zalmen Wishedski