An Unexpected Yechidus from 1953: What the Rebbe Wrote to My Grandfather About Visiting the Ohel

At a recent family Simcha, they gave out a collection of correspondence from the Rebbe and the Previous Rebbe to my Grandfather Eliyahu Tzvi Einbinder, who my son Yahoo is named after, as a memento of this occasion.

This is the ultimate Chassidic wedding swag.

One of those letters was written in 1953, shortly after he assumed leadership of the movement.

Though there are many delightful aspects to this letter, beginning with the way it hits so close to home simply by virtue of being part of being addressed to my Zeidy, the beginning resonates spiritually with me as well.

The Rebbe is expressing his approval of my grandfathers visit with his family, presumably with my mother as well, to the Ohel, the resting place of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, our Rebbe’s saintly father in law of blessed memory. Since then of course it has become the resting place for the Rebbe as well.

Understanding the way the Rebbe viewed visiting the Grave site of HIS Rebbe, provides a valuable paradigm for a deeper understanding of the significance for us, when visiting the Resting place of OUR Rebbe.

He writes — “One of the forms of this eternity of the righteous is that their disciples and followers walk along the paths which the righteous have shown them….”

The Rebbe, as always opens us up to a radically different way of seeing things. Going to the grave of a Tzaddik shouldn’t only be about what strings he can pull for you in heaven, it needs to be about what you can pull off for him on earth as well.

I feel like this letter is the equivalent to a sweet little unexpected Yechidus. A personal audience from my dear Rebbe, reminding me ever so gently that my understanding of what the universe needs and expects from me, should be at least, as foundational as my understanding of what I need and expect from the universe.

This is for me the essence of the spiritual force that hovers this Erev Shabbat as we wind down a full week adorned with the glory and deeper essence of Glory itself. Though a Rebbe reflects and embodies the essential and deepest aspects of all the Sefirot, it is often difficult to understand exactly how that is, especially if there is a desire to really go deep into that understanding. The week of Hod is easy. For those who were fortunate to spend even the smallest time in his presence, one could see pure Hod Glory in his aura, in the utterly majestic and royal manner, an otherworldliness that was utterly present and visible in his walk, his smile, and the twinkle of his eyes, without even having to wait to pray with him and hear the Torah that flowed out of him, bathing you in its holiness.

But that was always only the beginning for this Rebbe who was all about facilitating Yesod (foundational energy) platforms of purpose and action. “So you were moved by something you experienced here? How are you going to leverage that into making the world a better place? How do you propose paying it forward?” How will this HOD moment of inspiration become the YESOD foundational platform that will support a new dimension of goodness and light into the world?

Much Love,

Rabbi Yossi