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Weekly Chasidic Story #1429 (5785-31) 30 Nissan 5785 (April 28, 2025) 'Over the Chin it is Also Sufficient' After much planning and deliberation with his colleagues, he wrote all of his anti-rabbis proposal on paper in detail. They then arranged an audience with the Czar's Minister of Education for a formal presentation. Why This Week? This Tuesday, the 2nd of the Jewish month of Iyar, is the anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe Maharash. Story in PDF format for more convenient printing
'OVER THE CHIN IT IS ALSO SUFFICIENT'
The "maskilim" were Jews who disdained Mitvah observance, and openly promoted and championed for the obligation of Jews to study secular subjects. They challenged the traditional education that Jewish children were receiving, and presented themselves before the Czar and his ministers as "enlightened" ['maskilim'] Jews. [1] The cooperation between the Russian government and the maskilim - including their battle against the Rabbinical reign and religious Jewry in general - began during the leadership of the Mitteler ['Middle'][2] Rebbe and intensified during the thirty-eight years of the leadership of his son-in-law and successor, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, known as the Tzemach Tzedek. In 1858, when the latter was asked to participate in yet a third conference with government officials and representatives of the maskilim, he declined a second time, and instead sent his seventh son, the Maharash, to represent him. After eventually becoming his father's successor, the Rebbe Maharash remained at the forefront of the battle against the maskilim, openly opposing their agenda. During that time,
in the city of Zhitomer lived a passionate maskil by the name of Mr. Bergman.
He wanted to propose to the government that a decree should be enforced making
it mandatory for all Rabbis to be fluent in the Russian language and possess
some basic knowledge in secular studies. [3] To demonstrate that Bergman had tremendous support, three of the wealthiest Jews in Russia accompanied him to the meeting. They were the magnates Mr. Varshabsky and Mr. Vavelberg, who had committed to finance the entire program so it wouldn't cost the government anything, and Baron Ginsburg, who agreed to also subsidize additional efforts of the maskilim. After the magnates were cordially greeted by the minister, they presented the proposal's author to him, who in turn invited Bergman to present his anti-Torah decree. But as soon as Bergman opened his mouth to speak, a frightening event took place. His tongue extended itself, as if it were falling out of his mouth, and remained hanging over his chin! Bergman was unable to utter a single word, yet nor was he able to withdraw his tongue back into his mouth. Everyone in attendance was startled and shaken at this unbelievable occurrence. The meeting was duly canceled to enable the unfortunate Mr. Bergman to visit a doctor. Soon, different expert doctors attempted to help Bergman regain movement of his tongue and his speech, ultimately resorting in desperation to performing an operation. However, their efforts accomplished nothing, and he died shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, at the same time this meeting was taking place, the Rebbe Maharash was davvening (praying) at the Ohel (lit. 'tent' -- a structure over the burial site) of his father, the Tzemach Tzedek. When he returned home he was in unusually good spirits. Smiling, he said to his son-in-law, Reb Moshe-Leib Ginsburg: [4] "The [ten] spies were punished [for speaking evil about Eretz Yisrael] by having their tongues extend until their stomachs.[5] But is it really necessary [for the tongue] to reach that far? I think that if it stretches out] over the chin it is also sufficient!" It was only later that the Rebbe's cryptic words were understood to refer to Bergman. [6] At that time, Baron Ginsburg sided with the maskilim who desired to destroy traditional chinuch ([pure Jewish] education). Their pretext was that Jews should be well versed in the Russian language and other secular studies so they could get along better with Russian citizenry, and they denied the fact that their real intent was to erode traditional Judaism. To that goal, he had pledged to provide the money needed to cover the expenses of bringing a group of maskilim from Berlin to Russia. To prevent this from materializing, the Rebbe sent for Reb Nochum Hermant, a wealthy businessman and an askan (advocate on behalf of the Jewish community) who lived not far from Petersburg [7], instructing him to come to Lubavitch. He then directed him to visit Baron Ginsburg and convey to him the following warning: "If you continue to support the maskilim in this new endeavor of theirs, I [the Rebbe] will turn you into a pauper. To demonstrate that I have this ability, I am informing you that every stock you will purchase until the tenth day of this upcoming month will cause you a loss." [see footnote #6] Hearing these words, Baron Ginsburg trembled and immediately instructed Reb Nochum to inform the Rebbe that he was withdrawing his pledge of support to them. He then said: "I would like the Rebbe to instruct me what to do with the money I pledged. For what purpose should it be used?" "Use it to build a shul," the Rebbe replied. Obeying the Rebbe's instructions, the Baron built the Kupetcheskye Synagogue in Petersburg. Since it was built at the Rebbe's behest, it was decided that the official nusach (prayer text) of the shul be [the Chabad] "Nusach Ari." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Biographical
note: Why This Week? This Tuesday, the 2nd of the Jewish month of Iyar, is the anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe Maharash. Footnotes:
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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.