Tuesday, the 11th of Nissan (April 19), will mark the 114th birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. All birthdays are special occasions and cause for celebration, but the birthday of a Jewish leader is in a category of its own.
The Talmud relates that when the wicked Haman endeavored to determine the most opportune time to annihilate the Jewish people he was delighted that the result of his lottery was the month of Adar. Moses, the beloved and eternal leader of the Jewish nation had passed away on the 7th of Adar. Haman was confident that this was a bad omen for the Jews and his stroke of good luck. He failed to take into consideration the fact that the Moses was born on Adar 7 as well. The Talmud concludes that the tremendous national merit of the birth of Moses neutralized all of Haman’s nefarious designs, culminating in his defeat and our salvation.
Our generation has been gifted with a leader of historic proportions. The Rebbe’s impact on the global Jewish community is unmatched in close to a millennium of Jewish scholarship and leadership. In addition to the Rebbe’s monumental accomplishments on the communal level, it was his attention to even the seemingly small and insignificant that expresses the Rebbe’s true greatness.
Prior to entering the synagogue for the mincha (afternoon) service, it was the Rebbe’s custom to personally distribute coins for charity to the children present. The children would immediately deposit the coins in the large charity box mounted at the synagogue entrance. My cousin (today the dean of a prestigious yeshiva in Beitar, Israel) was ten years old and very short and had difficulty reaching the box to deposit the coin he had just received. To the surprise of the assembled, the Rebbe immediately lifted him up so that he may do the mitzvah of tzedaka.
Nothing and no one was insignificant or on the periphery and everything was done with enthusiasm and alacrity. This was the Rebbe’s modus operandi in fulfilling his mission of helping every individual and how he educated a generation of leaders.
At birth, everyone is granted the mandate and energy to fulfill their respective mission in life. Annually, this mandate is refreshed on the birthday.
Although the Rebbe’s physical presence is no longer with us, his life continues to thrive through the innumerable human beings inspired by his teachings and example every day. On 11 Nissan this towering beacon of light is refreshed and shines brighter than ever.
Birthdays are an appropriate time for gifts. To his many followers and admirers that wished to prepare a gift in honor of the auspicious day, the Rebbe clarified that he most appreciates additional time and effort invested in Torah study, greater generosity in giving tzedaka and intensified efforts in sharing the beauty of Judaism with fellow Jews.
We have all been effected by the Rebbe’s message of love. Let us present the Rebbe a gift he will surely appreciate. Make a commitment to devote more time for Torah study on a consistent basis and share what you learn with family and friends. As Pesach approaches be sure that all your Jewish acquaintances have been invited to a seder.
Mazel tov, Rebbe!