On the weekend of Shabbos Toldos, 5748, the Lubavitch community of Crown Heights and Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway, hosted the Annual International Convention of Lubavitch Shluchim (Emissaries and Regional Directors).
During the Farbrengen on that day the Rebbe, directed a great part of his Sichos to the convention and to the role and responsibility of Shluchim -- the plenipotentiary agents of the Previous Rebbe.
In describing the Biblical sources of agentship and proxy the Rebbe stressed that the surrogate carries the full power of the one who commissioned him and is given the potential to fully accomplish his goals.
At the same time that one must advance in his personal Divine service, he should remember that ultimately his Shlichus takes precedence.
As in the case of the Patriarch Yitzchok so too the Shluchim today are given a multitude of blessings for their physical and spiritual needs -- as well as for the success of their undertakings. The Shluchim will march at the head when we go to greet Mashiach, speedily in our times.
This essay includes excerpts of Sichos delivered on Shabbos Toldos and Vayeira, 5788, on the subject of Emissaries and their role in international Jewish life.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that all human experience must serve as a source of instruction. This is certainly true in the case of Torah narrative.
The first "mission" described in the Torah deals with Yaakov who was "sent" by his father Yitzchok to Charan.
While it is true that Avraham had earlier sent Eliezer on a mission to Charan to find a wife for Yitzchok, Eliezer was not an "emissary" but a "servant." There is a factor which is common to the servant and agent -- in both cases a job gets done through a third party. Nevertheless, the status of an agent is such that the sender transfers the matter to the other person and that third party executes the matter. The sender transmits the power of attorney to his agent by appointing him to act in his stead. The agent now has the power to execute the matter.
When, however, a master tells his slave to do something, since the slave is his possession, the resultant action is the work of the master alone.
The term "Shliach" -- emissary -- accentuates the quality of the delegate and the commonalty between the sender and his agent, for in fact, the agent must be comparable to the sender. It is this similarity which creates the context in which the messenger acts instead of the sender.
On the other hand, the term "slave" speaks of lowliness and points to one who is not a master, not even a free man, and has no power over himself.
This difference in status also affects the manner in which the matter is executed for the sender. A plenipotentiary agent carries the power of the sender therefore his actions are considered to be in lieu of the sender’s. However, when a slave concludes some transaction for his owner he does not stand in for the master and is not like the master, nor does he have any power of his own, he belongs to his master and therefore the action is done by the master using his chattel as a tool.
These two forms of execution will shed light on two aspects of Divine service: that of the Shliach, and that of the slave.
The Jewish people are considered servants of the Holy One, Blessed be He, as the Torah says:
Because the Israelites are [actually] My slaves. (Vayikra 25:55)
Yet, G-d has also appointed the Jews as His agents (see Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 1c) which causes two aspects to emerge:
- New importance is associated with the Jewish people in their role as messengers of G-d, and;
- they have the ability to achieve great accomplishments. Their actions are their own achievements. True, the power comes from G-d, the sender, but the power was given to them and became part of them. For the power of the sender is given to the agent -- so that he may carry out the mission.
It is through this system of
Shlichus that the goal of creation is reached -- for the Holy One, Blessed be He, desired a dwelling place in the lower worlds. The mission is to create that dwelling place through the Divine service of the denizens of the lowly physical world.
The first mission described in Torah tells how Yitzchok sent Yaakov to Charan to seek a wife. There Yaakov eventually married, fathered children who were all upright and righteous, and there he also created a dwelling place for G-dliness by dealing with Lavan’s sheep. He purified and elevated the sparks of holiness in the flocks of Lavan.
In fact, on his way to Charan he had already exercised this power of uplifting the world when he placed the stones around his head -- so that the stones were designated to be the place of the "House of G-d."
What is the mission of a Jewish soul? to be "fruitful and multiply," in a spiritual, as well as physical, sense.
Influence another Jew to be sensitive to Yiddishkeit, Torah and mitzvos. Likewise, motivate gentiles to observe the Seven Noachide Laws. Then every facet of the corporeal world, even the inanimate domain and the kingdom of flora and fauna will be a dwelling place for G-d. The mission which Yaakov undertook to go to Padan Aram could not be accomplished at home and could not be carried out by Yitzchok himself.
As a "burnt offering without blemish," Yitzchok could not deal with converting the negative forces and people in the world to holiness. But when he sent Yaakov out on this mission, it was accomplished; the world outside was refined and Yaakov raised a family that brought him perfection -- including his son Yosef whose role was to add (Yosef) yet another (acher) son to G-d and Torah.
Those who are presently on the periphery of Jewish life as "acher" -- "others" -- will have to change, and will realize that deep inside they, too, are sons. And every Jew is really seen as G-d’s firstborn and as a son of Eretz Yisrael which is under this constant scrutiny of G-d.
Thus, every Jew has a G-dly deputation patterned after the mission of Yaakov. There is however another context, that of messengers and emissaries of the Previous Rebbe who are sent to distant places like Padan Aram and even Charan, in order to meet "other" Jews and to influence others in all the areas under discussion.
The Previous Rebbe’s (second) name was "Yitzchok" -- as such, it is appropriate to relate his missions to the mission of the Patriarch Yitzchok when he sent Yaakov to Charan. The Previous Rebbe’s first name was Yosef which indicates the power to bring another Jew close to Yiddishkeit.
It is important to note that not only those appointed personally by the Previous Rebbe in his lifetime are his emissaries, but also those who were appointed later with his power serve as his agents. For "one agent has the power of attorney to appoint another agent," and so on. And those who were appointed by a former appointee are still direct agents of the original sender, the Previous Rebbe.
This is the goal of the emissaries who have convened for the International Convention of Lubavitch Shluchim to find mutual encouragement and support and to accept good resolutions which will increase and broaden the scope of the mission which the Previous Rebbe (Yosef Yitzchok) gave to them.
As delegates of Lubavitch they must also see the mission, the work and the goals as their own, for then their vitality and enthusiasm will be increased manifold. And although there is important value in proceeding in one’s Divine service with humility and self-abnegation -- the fact is that the success is much greater when the emissary sees his success in his surrogate role as his own accomplishment.
Self-sacrifice, yes! And the stronger the reality of the personal stake the greater will be the self-sacrifice, so that it will overcome any and all obstacles.
This emphasis on self-involvement only applies in a positive direction. On the other hand, the Shliach should not see his personal stake in his work as a reason to limit or postpone his action.
There may be those, for example, who realize the grave importance of this work and feel that they must first perfect themselves before seeking improvement in others. The slave need not worry about his own state or condition because he advances not in his own identity, but the emissary who does, may hesitate, thinking that he has much to repair in his own life first.
Here we must remember that the agent actually represents the sender, he carries the power of the sender and therefore he has the ability to achieve full success in the mission at hand even though he has yet to perfect himself. For he uses the power of the sender.
In fact, his own shortcomings do not detract from his full empowerment from the sender. His personal need for self-chastisement in no way interferes with fulfilling his mission.
It should also be noted that the Previous Rebbe paraphrased his father as saying that in contemporary times Divine service must not follow a set pattern or order, rather "grab and eat, grab and drink" (Eruvin 54), do not wait for self-perfection -- just do as many good deeds as you can, so as to complete your mission.
Before the Patriarch Yitzchok sent Yaakov to Charan he blessed him:
May G-d grant you the dew of heaven and the fat of the earth, much grain and wine. (Bereishis 27:28)
This blessing begins with the words "
V’yiten Lecha" -- our sages explain that the letter "
Vav" at the beginning of the word indicates that the blessing promises the granting of goodness again and again -- quite an extraordinary benediction.
Normally one starts with average blessings and then adds exceptional blessings, but Yitzchok began with the super blessing. Yitzchak’s blessings also included the essence and source of all subsequent blessings, forever. Personifying the attribute of Gevurah -- severity and power -- Yitzchok also represented the aspect of the power of multitude and so his blessings were bountiful to overflowing.
Moreover, the blessings were first and foremost directed to down-to-earth material prosperity and wealth and at the same time they also included spiritual values, as the Midrash explains:
"Of the dew of the heaven" alludes to Scripture; and "of the fatness of the earth," to Mishnah; and "plenty of grain," to Talmud, "wine" to Haggadah. (Bereishis Rabbah 66:3)
Having charged Yaakov with his agentship, Yitzchok again called him to his side and once again bestowed his blessing upon him:
Yitzchok summoned Yaakov and gave him a blessing...G-d Almighty will then bless you, make you fruitful, and increase your numbers. You will become an assembly of nations. He will grant Avraham’s blessings to you and your descendants, so that you will take over the land which G-d gave to Avraham, where you previously lived only as a foreigner. (Bereishis 28:1ff.)
As Yaakov leaves his father’s house and sets out on the journey he comes to the mountain of G-d and there he once again receives the blessings of the Holy One, Blessed be He:
Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth. You shall spread out to the west, to the east, to the north and to the south. All the families on earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go.... (Ibid: 14ff.)
Having been promised so rich a blessing, "Yaakov set off briskly..." for the good tidings and the promise of G-d’s providence made it easy for him to travel, and reinvigorated him.
We may draw an analogy from Yitzchak’s charge to Yaakov -- for the "Yitzchok" of our generation.
When the "Yitzchok" of our generation sends someone out on a mission he first blesses him with overabundant blessing -- "He will give and give again" and his blessings come from the source of all benevolence. These blessings first cover the physical needs the "dew of the heaven and the fatness of the earth," proper and abundant livelihood. To this add fruitfulness and the blessings of children, life, health, livelihood, all with great abundance.
Then the blessings also include the benedictions for the success of his spiritual work, his Torah study, exoteric and esoteric, observance of mitzvos and most of all, the blessing that he should carry out his mission of spreading Torah, Yiddishkeit, and disseminating the wellsprings to the outside.
Then, when the emissary is appointed, the blessings are once again multiplied by "Yitzchok," and when the Shliach actually begins his work he once again receives the blessing directly from the Holy One, Blessed be He: "Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth...You will spread out to the west, to the east...All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.... I am with you...." This is G-d’s assurance that the mission of Ufaratzto will be successful.
The Previous Rebbe received the mantle of leadership from his father the Rebbe Rashab on the condition that all his work would be filled with mercy and benevolence -- this promise goes over to his deputies. But even moreso, he blesses his followers before their missions begin, at their appointment and in the initial stages of their work. Then the blessings stays with them and their progeny forever.
We see this in fact, that those who went out ten years ago, twenty years ago etc. -- have all been successful, thank G-d, and they have all raised families, sons and daughters involved in Torah and mitzvos. They have been blessed with children, life, sustenance, all in great abundance. Moreover, we have seen that the blessings have come in a supernatural manner, and likewise in their work they have seen overwhelming success in spreading Torah and disseminating the wellsprings to the outside.
These blessings are abundant and abounding, but sometimes because of habit they are not realized or appreciated as such, and there is the feeling among some that they are not receiving their full share of the blessings.
For those who request particular blessings, in material comforts, to be able to carry on their work without the anxiety or worry, take heed. He who sent you on your mission bestowed his blessing on each and every emissary before the work began and he continues to generate the blessing for all their needs from the source of most abundant blessing.
Let him contemplate for a moment and he will realize the great success in his private life and in his work. The result of all of this benevolence must make his work exciting and his step must be brisk; he cannot be stymied by any roadblocks. And although he may be in the place where "the anger of G-d" prevails, yet "the man became tremendously wealthy..." -- material wealth, spiritual wealth, in an ever-increasing manner are in store for him.
In order to give life to the continuous and recurring blessing, let those Emissaries who are burdened by operational debt which might hinder the expansion of their work, submit a detailed financial report prepared by a qualified accountant. They will receive the first installment of ten percent of the outstanding debt as a gift and then an additional 50% of the remaining debt will be forwarded as a loan payable within 4-5 years, starting from this Rosh Chodesh Kislev.
May this proposal usher in a propitious beginning for the convention of Shluchim which will realize a real increase in all their future work.
And as a second "giving": On Rosh Chodesh Kislev all Shluchim, men, women and girls will receive a newly published Maamar; titled "V’Shavtem B’Shalom," which explains the initial verses of Vayeitzei and the blessings and prayers of Yaakov. With that they will also receive a dollar bill to be used for Tzedakah.
The purpose of all this is to eliminate any roadblocks to fulfilling the mission of the sender, and moreso.
Every Shliach has certainly accomplished great things till now in establishing his own family and in perfecting the world -- and making a place for G-dliness in the world.
This is all the more important in this year of Hak’hel and Tismach, for Hak’hel means to gather the people -- men, women and children -- to do His commandments -- all this with joy.
With all this accomplished it behooves each and every emissary to once again reaffirm and resolve, at the time of this convocation, and in this holy place, to strengthen and increase in an immeasurable fashion their holy work.
The role of Shliach is also an exemplum for every Jew, in his/her role as messenger of G-d, to make the world a place of G-dliness. And they too will receive G-d’s blessing through the modern day "Yitzchok," the Nasi of our generation.
One purpose of the convention is to bring together Lubavitcher emissaries, new and old, and Lubavitcher ambassadors from all over the world, to consult and caucus and to see how the work of Shlichus may be enhanced. Hopefully, others will see and learn from this example and join the ranks of the Shluchim.
Every Jew is a messenger of G-d, and his mission, to serve the Creator through Torah and mitzvos and to create a dwelling place below for the
Shechinah, by revealing the true spiritual reality of everything in existence.
When will the ultimate goal be reached? at the coming of Mashiach -- when: "the glory of G-d will be revealed and all flesh will see that the mouth of G-d speaks" -- and G-dliness will be revealed.
Here we may understand the relation of Shliach to Mashiach, which has the numerical value of an additional "Yud." When the Shliach consolidates his ten soul powers and dedicates them to his mission, and actually carries out his job of working with other Jews -- all ten categories of Jews -- then he attains the perfection of his goal with the advent of Mashiach.
This applies to all Jews but is more pronounced by those who are called by the sobriquet -- Shliach.
May this convention bring greater strengthening and encouragement in the work of Shlichus, qualitatively and quantitatively, including the subjects of Hak’hel and joy. And eventually including the ultimate goal of bringing Mashiach.
There are those who don a cloak of piety and claim that if the job of Shliach is to bring Mashiach then it is contaminated by ulterior motives -- for the sake of reward -- albeit spiritual.
See the Rambam! he says that the blessings and comforts of the material world are in no way to be considered as rewards, rather they simply enable us to devote all available time and efforts to Torah and mitzvos, instead of spending too much time chasing physical needs.
For this reason the prophets and sages of Israel asked and longed for Messianic times, to be freed of the pressures of regimes and politics and to find solace in Torah and mitzvos.
Thus, even our work to bring Mashiach is not for reward -- rather to bring the era of peace when we will be able to serve G-d in peace and serenity, in love and delight -- the perfection of Divine service. It is only that this need is felt much more acutely now, and we feel the need for Mashiach to come immediately.
So let the Jewish people cry out: "How long!" -- let no one be silent! Then G-d will surely hear our prayers and answer our supplication -- and the redemption will come immediately.
And may these good works bring the ultimate assurance "and I will return in peace to my father’s house," with the true and complete redemption. And all Jews, led by the Shluchim, will proceed to Eretz Yisrael, the true home of every Jew, and to Yerushalayim, the Holy City, and the Beis HaMikdash, with the Holy of Holies. And then "Arise and sing you who dwell in the dust" -- our Patriarch Yitzchok and the Previous Rebbe -- very speedily -- in a split instant.
