STORY OF CHANNAH: 19. And they arose early in the
morning, and prostrated themselves before the Lord: and they returned and came
to their house, to Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and the Lord
remembered her.
QUALITY OF PIRKEI AVOT: understanding
PROVERBS: Chapter 19
TZADDIKIM: Rabbi David of Lelov and Rabbi Mordechai of Lechovitch
Week 19 is the week of Yud
Shevat, the yahrzeit of the
Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch. It is also the
date in which the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, became rebbe a year
later.
As mentioned in the previous week, Shevat is
connected to the attribute of pleasure, Ta’anug, as well as faith, Emunah.
The verse for this week mentions marital relations, which in this case
represents both concepts. The verse mentions also how Hashem remembered
Channah, and how her Emunah in Hashem
was rewarded. In the Torah, marital relations is
often referred to as knowledge, Da’at.
Da’at is the connecting point between
the male aspect of intellect, Chochmah (wisdom),
and the female one, Binah (understanding).
It is what allows Chochmah to
impregnate Binah.
This week’s Pirkei
Avot quality is that people enjoy understanding (Binah ) from those that study Torah for its own sake. In the verse above,
Channah represents understanding, Binah.
Again, the entire Book of Proverbs
is about enjoying understanding, from those that have it. Chapter 19 continues
this theme. Two verses in this chapter specifically speak of understanding:
8. He who acquires sense loves his
soul; he who guards understanding will eventually find good.
(...)
25. Beat a scorner, and a simple
man will gain cunning; reprove a man of understanding, and he will understand
knowledge.
Besides from the Previous Rebbe, this
week also contains the yahrzeit of two great Tzadikim of renowned Chassidic
dynasties: Rabbi David Biederman of Lelov (7th of Shevat) and (sometimes) Rabbi Mordechai
of Lechovitch (13th of Shevat).
Rabbi David Biederman of Lelov was
one of the main disciples of the Seer of Lublin, and the founder of the Lelover Chassidic dynasty. He was known for his
extraordinary ability to look at every Jew in the positive light. He was also the
teacher of Rebbe Yitzhak of Vorka, who was also known for his tremendous Ahavat Yisrael.
Rabbi Mordechai of Lechovitch is one of the foremost
figures in the Karlin dynasty, as well as other Chassidic lines as well, such
as Koidanov and Slonim. There are many Chassidic stories about him, as well as
many of his recorded Chassidic statements. He once gave the following blessing:
“Don’t fool yourself, don’t fool G-d, and don’t fool people.”
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