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Weekly Chasidic Story #1398 (5784-55 ) 20 Elul 5784 (Sep.23, 2024) "The Wet Nurse of the Lubavitcher Rebbe" When the Tzemach Tzedek, the third Rebbe in the Chabad dynasty, was born, his mother was unable to nurse him. Her father, the first Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur-Zalman, summoned the hired wet nurse to hear from him specific guidelines about the nursing. Why this week? Erev Rosh Hashana, which is next week on Wednesday, is the anniversary of the birth of the Tzemach Tzedek, which is the start of the above story. [So why not next week instead? Because next week must feature a story for Rosh Hashana itself.]
The Wet Nurse of the Lubavitcher RebbeEditor's note: Words in square [ ] brackets are my inserts; When Rabbi Menachem-Mendel Schneersohn,, the third Rebbe in the Chabad dynasty, known as the Tzemach Tzedek, was born, his mother, Rebbetzin Devorah-Leah, was unable to nurse him. They hired a Jewish lady in Liozna to nurse the infant. However, before the agreement was finalized, she was instructed to go to the Alter [i.e. 1st] Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur-Zalman [Devorah-Leah's father], and hear certain guidelines that he would give her. When she was in the Alter Rebbe's room, the Rebbe said: "When you nurse him, even if it is the middle of the night, make sure that you wash your hands negel vasser [Yiddish, lit. "nail water"] beforehand and that you also wash the child's hands the same way." [1] Additionally, the Rebbe told her that she must make sure that his yarmulka [head-covering] is on, and that before he begins nursing she should say the blessing shehakol [which concludes: "that all came into being through His word"[2] ] out loud, in order that the infant will hear it. In conclusion, the Rebbe blessed her, declaring that as an additional reward [besides monetary payment], "I am blessing you with long life." Some years later she moved to the town of Lubavitch.[3] There, the Alter Rebbe's blessing was fulfilled and she lived for many years, till old age. When she felt that her time to leave this world was imminent, she asked the people close to her to request from the Rebbe [the Tzemach Tzedek] to please come to her house, as she wishes to talk to him. They replied that the Rebbe doesn't visit every ill person in Lubavitch; why would or should he come to you? "You will see how he will come," old woman replied, "because I nursed him when he was an infant." Hearing this, one of them went and relayed the woman's request, emphasizing that she is on her deathbed. The Tzemach Tzedek replied that the messenger should tell her he is coming. The rebbe immediately stopped whatever he was doing and left his house. When he arrived, the woman thanked him for coming and said, "I don't have anyone to say kaddish [mourners' prayer] for my neshama [soul]. Being that I faithfully fulfilled your grandfather the Rebbe's conditions (even in the winter when the water was freezing), I now request that you will davven [pray] and say the kaddish for my neshama." The Tzemach Tzedek replied that to lead the congregational prayers three times a day, I cannot accept upon myself; however, I will definitely say kaddish [three times a day] as you requested. She said, "That is fine with me," and the Rebbe left. The following morning, she passed away and was buried in the late afternoon, after the Rebbe had already davvened Mincha [the Afternoon prayer]. At Maariv [the evening prayer] the Rebbe began to recite the kaddishes as he had promised. That night, the woman appeared to the Rebbe in a dream and said, "I take back my request." She explained that as soon as the Rebbe recited kaddish for her soul, she was elevated to such a lofty level [in Heaven] that she felt uncomfortable there. "I know I don't belong there together with those special righteous souls. (If the Rebbe would please appoint someone else [to say the Kaddishes], I will be appreciative.)" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rabbi Mangel adds: Why this week? Erev Rosh Hashana, which is next week on Wednesday, is the anniversary of the birth of the Tzemach Tzedek, which is the start of the above story. [So why not next week instead? Because next week must feature a story for Rosh Hashana itself.] Biographical notes [in order of appearance]: Rabbi Shneur-Zalman [18 Elul 5505 - 24 Tevet 5573 (1745
- Dec. 1812)] 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 and
the "Nusach Ari Siddur with Kabbalah Explanations," as well
as many other major works in both Jewish law and the mystical teachings.
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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.