Chassidic wedding swag

YESOD SHE — BHOD;

I’m in Miami celebrating with my cousin Mendel and Tzippy Weiss as they marry off their daughter, their first child tonight. 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.

I have enclosed a picture of one of those letters 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, being addressed to my family, the beginning resonates spiritually with me as well.

The Rebbe is expressing his approval with 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, is at least, as foundational as my understanding of what I need and expect from the universe.

Much Love Rabbi Yossi