#497 (s5767-36) 5 Sivan 5767 Secrets
for Souls from the "Feminine World" Rebbetzin
Freida Shneuri, the daughter of the Rabbi Shneur Zalman
of Chabad, was both brilliant and pious. Her father frequently delivered deep
chasidic discourses just for her. Secrets
for Souls from the "Feminine World" Rebbetzin
Freida, the daughter of the Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad
Chasidism, was an erudite and pious woman. As his first-born [176x], and a special
soul, she was especially dear to her father and he would frequently deliver Chasidic
discourses just for her. Chasidim attribute a certain unsigned letter that contained
the deepest, most profound thoughts to Rebbetzin Freida. So great was her
knowledge and so close was she to her father that when her younger brother, Rabbi
Dov Ber (later to become the successor of his father, Rabbi Shneur Zalman),
had a question, he would often ask her for an explanation or to approach their
father for the answer. On numerous occasions the Rebbetzin would ask her father
questions and receive these answers while her brother hid under the bed in the
room to hear the explanations, as well. On one such occasion, Rabbi Dov
Ber asked Rebbetzin Freida to inquire of their father as to the spiritual significance
of the special garments that the Kohanim (priests) wore while they served in the
Holy Temple. Rebbetzin Freida acquiesced to her brother's request. As Reb Dov
Ber was accustomed to do, he hid under the bed in the room where Rabbi Shneur
Zalman was explaining to his daughter the deepest and most esoteric ramifications
of each garment. For some reason, Rabbi Shneur Zalman did not describe or even
mention the belt that the Kohanim wore. Rabbi Dov Ber, hiding under the
bed, managed to attract his sister's attention by waving his own belt slightly,
thereby hinting that she should ask her father the significance of the belt. When
Rebbetzin Freida asked her father to expound on the belt, Rabbi Shneur Zalman
called out, "This question is surely from my son who is hiding here and he
must leave the room immediately." Rabbi Dov Ber came out of his hiding place
and left the room. What took place here? Obviously Rabbi Dov Ber knew that
he was not able to fool his father, nor did he intend to do so. Why, then, did
he have to receive these particular Chasidic teachings in this unusual manner?
The answer lies in the concept that certain teachings are intended for souls from
the "feminine world" and therefore had to be delivered to or through
a woman, while other teachings are intended for souls from the "masculine
world" and must be delivered to or through a man. If a man has an unquenchable
desire to study Torah that is intended for a soul from the feminine world, or
a woman has an unquenchable desire to study Torah from the masculine world, through
persistence, the person creates within his or her soul the capability of connecting
with this type of Torah. Rebbetzin Freida married Rabbi Eliyahu Klutzker.
One of her children, her son Rabbi Aharon Zaslavski of Kremenchug, married Rebbetzin
Chaya, the daughter of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Rebbetzin Freida was never
a healthy woman physically, and after her father passed away in the winter of
1812 she became even weaker. When she felt that her strength was ebbing and her
final day on this earth was approaching, she called a few Chasidim together and
asked that after her passing they bring her to Haditch and bury her to the right
of her father. The Chasidim did not know what to do as Jewish custom dictates
that men and women are not buried next to each other. A few days later,
on the 16th of Sivan 5573 [1813], Rebbetzin Freida called the Chasidim
once again. They found her lying on her bed fully dressed. She asked that they
encircle her bed. She then began to say the prayer which is recited every morning,
Elo-hai nishama... -- "My G-d, the soul which You have given within me is
pure. You have created it, You have formed it, You have breathed it into me, and
You preserve it within me." When she came to the words "And you will
eventually take it from me..." she raised her hands into the air and cried
out, "Father, wait! I am coming!" And she passed on. [She
was approximately 50 years old, as we know she was born between 1760 and 1765.
- ed.] The Chasidim understood that the request of a person who passed
away in this manner must be upheld. But still, they were uncomfortable. On
their way to the cemetery, they reached a fork in the road, one way leading to
Krementzug and the other way to Haditch. They decided to let go of the horses'
reins and bury her where they would lead. The horses went to Haditch. Rebbetzin
Freida was buried, as she had requested, immediately next to her father, Rabbi
Shneur Zalman. Their graves may be visited there, even today. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Adapted
by Yrachmiel Tilles from the rendition on www.lchaimweekly.org (#855),
and with additions from Chabad Hebrew sources.] Biographic Notes: Rabbi
Shnuer Zalman [18 Elul 1745-24 Tevet 1812], one of the main disciples of the
Maggid of Mezritch, is the founder of the Chabad-Chassidic movement. He is the
author of Shulchan Aruch HaRav and Tanya as well as many other major
works in both Jewish law and the mystical teachings. Rabbi DovBer Shneuri
[9 Kislev 1773 - 9 Kislev 1827] was the eldest son and successor to Rabbi Shneur
Zalman, founder of the Chabad movement. The author of numerous deep, mystical
texts, he is known in Lubavitch circles as "the Mittler (Middle) Rebbe."
Yrachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed,
and editor of Ascent Quarterly and the AscentOfSafed.com and KabbalaOnline.org
websites. He has hundreds of published stories to his credit. back
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