In everything that involved holiness or self-mastery, whether concerning desires or emotions, or in accepting great effort and suffering for the sake of God, the Rebbe was awesomely unique. He was totally removed from every desire and human failing. He totally subjugated every pleasure and emotion until not a trace remained that was not devoted to God. He was a person who lifted himself to fearsome heights. It is impossible to speak further of this extraordinary level, for "whoever adds, diminishes" (Sanhedrin 29a).
Most of what we recounted speaks about the Rebbe’s youth, while he was as yet at the beginning of his spiritual growth. Compared to the levels that he later attained, these might even be considered as defects. But we related his youthful struggles and devotions in order to demonstrate what free will truly is and how much choice one really has. If he truly desires, any person can attain a truly extraordinary level.
A person who seeks the path of devotion may find many obstacles in his path. Events may continuously confront him with pitfalls. His desires and emotions may pursue him constantly. Yet if only he has the desire, he can remain stubborn in his devotion and ignore all barriers.
Reading these accounts, a person with any intelligence will realize that even the Rebbe faced such frustrations and difficulties. But he went through everything and was able to surmount all. The Rebbe truly desired to be a servant of God. He truly chose life (cf. Deuteronomy 30:19), and in this way, was worthy of his great attainments.
The Rebbe insisted that his family background played no role in his achievements. He said, “Even if I were not of the family of the holy Baal Shem Tov, even if I had come from the lowliest Jewish family, I still would have attained what I did.” The Rebbe had no secret other than toil and effort, as he devoted his entire being to the service of God.
כְּלָל הַדְּבָרִים: שֶׁבְּכָל עִנְיְנֵי קְדֻשָּׁה וּפְרִישׁוּת, הֵן בְּתַאֲוֹות וְהֵן בְּמִדּוֹת וְהֵן בְּעִנְיְנֵי יְגִיעוֹת וַעֲבוֹדוֹת וְּטְרָחוֹת וְיִסּוּרִים וְכוּ' בִּשְׁבִילוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, הַכֹּל כַּאֲשֶׁר לַכֹּל, הָיָה חִדּוּשׁ נִפְלָא וְנוֹרָא מְאֹד. וְהָיָה מֻפְשָׁט מִכָּל הַתַּאֲווֹת וּמִכָּל הַמִּדּוֹת בְּתַכְלִית, עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁאַר לוֹ מִשּׁוּם תַּאֲוָה וּמִדָּה שׁוּם שֶׁמֶץ בְּעָלְמָא. וְזָכָה לְמַעֲלָה נוֹרָאָה מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּתַכְלִית הַמַּעֲלָה. וְאִי־אֶפְשָׁר לְדַבֵּר כְּלָל בְּעֹצֶם הַפְלָגַת מַעֲלָתוֹ כִּי 'כָּל הַמּוֹסִיף גּוֹרֵעַ'.
In everything that involved holiness or self-mastery, whether concerning desires or emotions, or in accepting great effort and suffering for the sake of God, the Rebbe was awesomely unique. He was totally removed from every desire and human failing. He totally subjugated every pleasure and emotion until not a trace remained that was not devoted to God. He was a person who lifted himself to fearsome heights. It is impossible to speak further of this extraordinary level, for "whoever adds, diminishes" (Sanhedrin 29a).
וְכָל מַה שֶּׁסִּפַּרְנוּ עַד הֵנָּה, אִם אָמְנָם כִּגְנוּת נֶחֶשְׁבוּ כָּל הַסִּפּוּרִים הַנַּ"ל לְנֶגְדּוֹ לְפִי עֹצֶם מַעֲלָתוֹ שֶׁזָּכָה אַחַר־כָּךְ. עִם כָּל זֶה סִפַּרְנוּ כָּל זֶה מֵעִנְיַן עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְדַרְכּוֹ בִּימֵי יַלְדוּתוֹ, לְמַעַן נֵדַע וְנַשְׂכִּיל אֵיךְ הַבְּחִירָה חָפְשִׁית וְכָל אָדָם יוּכַל לִזְכּוֹת אִם יִרְצֶה לְמַעֲלָה מֻפְלֶגֶת מְאֹד.
Most of what we recounted speaks about the Rebbe’s youth, while he was as yet at the beginning of his spiritual growth. Compared to the levels that he later attained, these might even be considered as defects. But we related his youthful struggles and devotions in order to demonstrate what free will truly is and how much choice one really has. If he truly desires, any person can attain a truly extraordinary level.
אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁנִּדְמֶה לוֹ שֶׁקָּשֶׁה וְכָבֵד עָלָיו הָעֲבוֹדָה מְאֹד, וְאֵין מַנִּיחִין אוֹתוֹ לִכָּנֵס כְּלָל בַּעֲבוֹדָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ כִּי הַתַּאֲווֹת וְהַמִּדּוֹת רוֹדְפִין אַחֲרָיו מְאֹד, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עַקְשָׁן בַּעֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְלִבְלִי לְהִסְתַּכֵּל עַל כָּל זֶה.
A person who seeks the path of devotion may find many obstacles in his path. Events may continuously confront him with pitfalls. His desires and emotions may pursue him constantly. Yet if only he has the desire, he can remain stubborn in his devotion and ignore all barriers.
כִּי בְּסִפּוּרִים הַלָּלוּ יָבִין הֶחָכָם מִדַּעְתּוֹ, אֵיךְ גַּם עַל רַבֵּנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהַנּוֹרָא זצוק"ל עָבַר גַּם־כֵּן כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת וְהַכְּבֵדוּת הַנַּ"ל, וְעָבַר בְּכָל זֶה, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן זָכָה לְשַׁבֵּר הַכֹּל מֵחֲמַת שֶׁרָצָה בֶּאֱמֶת בַּעֲבוֹדָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ וּבָחַר בַּחַיִּים בֶּאֱמֶת עַד שֶׁזָּכָה לְמַה שֶּׁזָּכָה.
Reading these accounts, a person with any intelligence will realize that even the Rebbe faced such frustrations and difficulties. But he went through everything and was able to surmount all. The Rebbe truly desired to be a servant of God. He truly chose life (cf. Deuteronomy 30:19), and in this way, was worthy of his great attainments.
וְאָמַר: שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ לֹא הָיָה מִזֶּרַע הָאֱלֹקִי הַבַּעַל־שֵׁם־טוֹב זצקו"ל, רַק אֲפִלּוּ אִם הָיָה מִמִּשְׁפָּחָה הַיְרוּדָה שֶׁבְּיִשְׁרָאֵל, הָיָה זוֹכֶה גַּם־כֵּן לְמַה שֶּׁזָּכָה עַל־יְדֵי עֹצֶם עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וִיגִיעָתוֹ שֶׁיָּגַע וְטָרַח מְאֹד מְאֹד בַּעֲבוֹדָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ.
The Rebbe insisted that his family background played no role in his achievements. He said, “Even if I were not of the family of the holy Baal Shem Tov, even if I had come from the lowliest Jewish family, I still would have attained what I did.” The Rebbe had no secret other than toil and effort, as he devoted his entire being to the service of God.