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Weekly Chasidic Story #1284 (s5782-46) 19 Tamuz 5782/July 18, 2022 The Master and the Lad Despite their disagreements and differences, a number of years later when Rebbe Shlomo of Karlin visited the Alter Rebbe of Chabad on a communal matter, the Alter Rebbe treated him with utmost respect and deference. Connection: This Thursday, Tammuz 22 (July 21), is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin.
The Master and the Lad
After the passing of the Maggid of Mezritch in 1772, when the spheres of influence in spreading the teachings of Chasidism were divided up among the inner circle of the Maggid's disciples, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, the "Alter Rebbe" of Chabad Chasidism, was allotted Lithuania and White Russia. However, being as Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin had followers in the towns of Beshenkovitz, Tzeshnik and Liepli, he was allowed to continue visiting there. When Rabbi Shlomo decided that he wanted to permanently move to Beshenkovitz,
he first asked permission of Rabbi Shneur Zalman. The Alter Rebbe agreed with
the following conditions: Reb Shlomo was willing to agree to the first two conditions but could not come to terms with the third, for he taught his chasidim that those who are bound to the tzadik are elevated by his service; the mission of their Divine service is simply to be enthusiastic about the study of Torah and the observance of its commandments. But his teachings conflicted with the school of thought known as Chabad Chasidism established by the Alter Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe taught that each individual must personally exert effort in understanding G-d and His world, and in one's Divine service. Therefore, Reb Shlomo did not move to Beshenkovitz, though he continued to visit there periodically. Despite their disagreements and differences, a number of years later when Reb Shlomo visited the Alter Rebbe on a communal matter, the Alter Rebbe treated him with utmost respect and deference. When Reb Shlomo left to travel to Beshenkovitz for one of his visits, the Alter Rebbe sent a number of young scholarly chasidim to accompany him, among them Binyamin of Kotsk. Along the way, Reb Shlomo and the Alter Rebbe's chasidim engaged in deep discussions of all areas of Torah. Reb Shlomo was very impressed with the depth of knowledge of his escorts. Upon their arrival in Vitebsk, the Alter Rebbe's Chasidim got ready to return to Liozna, but Reb Shlomo asked R. Binyamin to travel with him to Beshenkovitz. Reb Binyamin agreed. When it was time for the afternoon prayer, Reb Shlomo instructed his wagon driver to stop the coach so that he could pray. Reb Shlomo climbed down and looked for a stream to wash his hands but there was none nearby. He climbed back up into the coach and sat there for many moments in meditation…. …Suddenly the horses started to gallop undirected. Before long they stopped near a stream, whereupon Reb Shlomo descended and washed his hands. He prayed the afternoon service with his usual fiery devotion, and then alighted upon the wagon. When the wagon driver informed Reb Shlomo that he had no idea where they were, Reb Shlomo told him to allow the horses to proceed on their own. The horses galloped along until they came to a highway. From there they traveled until they arrived at an inn. Reb Shlomo told the wagon driver to stop at the inn. He and R. Binyamin prayed the evening service followed by Tikun Chatzot [the after-midnight set of prayers in remembrance of the destruction of the Holy Temple]. At dawn they prayed the morning service and then continued on their way. They arrived in Beshenkovitz on Thursday afternoon, in time for the afternoon prayer. At this point it was impossible for Reb Binyamin to return to Liozna in time for the Sabbath and so, he decided to stay in Beshenkovitz for Shabbat. Throughout Shabbat, R. Binyamin met many of his fellow Chabad chasidim. They were amazed that the Alter Rebbe had accorded Reb Shlomo so much honor as to send such a scholar as R. Binyamin to accompany him. Thereafter, they accorded Reb Shlomo much more honor than they had previously. Reb Binyamin remained in Beshenkovitz for another two days, walking around as if in a daze from all that he had learned from Reb Shlomo and from everything he had seen in Reb Shlomo's prayers and Divine service. He had even had a fleeting thought to stay on in Beshenkovitz to spend more time in Reb Shlomo's company. In the end, R. Binyamin decided against staying and called on Reb Shlomo to take his leave. Reb Shlomo spoke passionately to R. Binyamin for many hours, entreating him to stay and become one of his chasidim. He promised that he would share with him wondrous secrets of the Torah and he would hand pick a group of students for him to teach who would be worthy of his keen intellect. Reb Binyamin listened and responded by quoting a Ukrainian rhyme (just as Reb Shlomo would often spice his conversation with Ukrainian sayings):
And he returned to the Alter Rebbe in Liozna. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Biographical notes (in alphabetical order): Rabbi Shneur Zalman [18 Elul 5505 - 24 Tevet 5573 (1745 - Dec. 1812 C.E.)], was one of the main disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov. He is the founder of the Chabad-Chassidic movement and the author of Shulchan Aruch HaRav and Tanya as well as many other major works in both Jewish law and the mystical teachings. Connection: This Thursday, Tammuz 22 (July 21), is the yahrzeit
of Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin.
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Yerachmiel
Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor
of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories
to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them
live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.