The revelation in simple, workday terms of part of the Rebbe's schedule and relationship with the secretariat is interesting of itself. One response and work story that impacted me is a side note.
The Rebbe would regularly issue instructions for those who worked for him at home and in the field at the last moment. Every week found a new project, whether in the spreading of Yiddishkeit far afield or in the publishing house being ordered to finish a book in inhuman time.
In this case, the Rebbe had asked Rabbi Krinsky the week before Lag Ba'Omer 5750 if a coin could be produced with the emblems of this event to give out to the children. Rabbi Krinsky details the trouble he went to find out that striking coins is a process of months, until he found two companies, one Italian and one US, willing to strike the coins in time. The Rebbe chose the American, and added "Ashamti" - I am to blame for having given you last minute instructions, and if it doesn't work out I carry that blame.
Rabbi Krinsky, mortified at receiving this historic note which I believe is unprecedented, proceeded to make sure that the coin was ready for the Lag Ba'Omer parade. The Rebbe's response was that he should be given peace of mind as he gave the Rebbe peace of mind.
There is no blame in a single campaign that the Rebbe initiated, in a single instruction given. Not only is this belief based, that we believe the Rebbe was guided openly by Ratzon Hashem, but is evident in retrospect. Whether it be decisions made about public protests for Soviet Jewry, which city should have a shliach and which not, where a school should be opened and where not, public emphasis of Mitzvos for every Jew, all have been proven by time.
The blame the Rebbe laid on himself is for asking too late. No blame lies in the rush therein needed by the employees, the blame is in case the project did not work out due to the last minute rush. Every executive secretary wishes they could hear their boss say this about the idea they could not implement when given to them last minute.
But of course, the Rebbe didn't care.
13 comments:
I think it reads "Ashmati" not "Ashamti"
As a standalone word, I think Ashamti makes more sense (as opposed to "Vehu Ashmasi"), but perhaps a dikduk expert can help.
Ashamti... you are absolutely right. Just to note that the actual term used is by the Rebbe was VEashamti, which makes that reading so much more right.
Silly story.
Onlt Chbskers could make a big deal about this.
But again only Chbskers think their rebbe is alive and all knowing and ,and,and.....
I realized that Chbdskers would never mature when the trend of adult men,many with white beards started to wear colorful kid yarmulkas.Grown up, immature babies.
Yechu Hamelech!
Please describe how you define silly, and why you consider this silly.
It is not an inetersting story for a no Chabad Chossid
Of course not. The lesson of a true Talmid Chochom, an amazing organizer, an Ish Elokim, having the humility to say "Ashamti" is meaningless to anyone who is not a Chabad Chossid. Is that what you are trying to say?
Do you think that the Rebbe never made a mistake in anything?
It is poshut that a Talmid Chochom and Ish Kadosh like the Rebbe doesn't have to play gamnes covering up things.and inmediately would recognize any mistake
What is the Pele here for a non Lub?
IF you have an AVa AMina of the Rebbe covering up, that would contradict the Rebbe's Greatness
Is it a pele that Avraham and Sarah laughed? Is it a pele that Moshe sturck the rock? Is it a pele that Kayin admitted wrongdoing? Yet the Torah seems to find it a teaching moment.
Asides, you miss the point. They all knew the Rebbe would demand the impossible. The lesson is in the acknowledgement of that by the Rebbe, a human moment on the part of a Tzaddik. Imagine in the text of one of recent bans included the phrase "Ashamti that until know I have done nothing about this".
Most of non Lub don't not see the Rebbe as you see him
The Rebbe is a Tzaadik, Talmid Chochom, but also 100% human
Are you aware of the meaning of Ish Elokim? There is a human for whom the tzelem elokim is dominant, and unfortunately the opposite. And you haven't responded to my questions.
B"H
Guravitzer said...
[...]
Imagine in the text of one of recent bans included the phrase "Ashamti that until know I have done nothing about this".
October 23, 2007 1:33 PM
While I agree with you in general I don't think it would be appropriate to include "ashamti" in a text of a public ban of any kind as opposed to a private communication to a secretary.
I can't imagine the Rebbe himself writing "ashamti" as part of a ban either.
It is not a proper expression of malchus to do that as opposed to saying it in private to a secretary.
A leader is advised by political philosophers such as Niccolo Machiavelli (and i am sure one can find similar advice in the words of chazal as it is so common sense) not to allow most people to feel to familiar with him show up and give him advice etc. , but to have a group of
trusted close advisers to do that.
In a similar way for a Rebbe or the Gedolim to write on a public ban that they are sorry they have not done it earlier would seem to diminish their standing among most people the ban is addressed to because if they admit they made the mistake of not doing it earlier
mat be the ban itself is also a mistake.
B"H
may be*
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