10 Shevat – The Rebbe Rayatz1 min read
The sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Yosef Yitzchok ben Sholom Dov Ber zy”a, passed away 10 Shevat 5710/1950. This tzaddik was known as the ריי״ץ, and his father was known as the רש״ב.
As is well known, the last Lubavitcher Rebbe was especially known for his belief that every Jew has a soul waiting to be ignited. This is something he inherited from his father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz.
Rabbi Levi Bukiet shlita relates that he once went to receive lekach (honey cake) from the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Hoshona Rabbah. In front of him on line was a hippie, and behind him was a Satmar Rosh Yeshiva from Williamsburg. The Rebbe asked the hippie to attend hakafos that night. When the Satmar chassid passed, the Rebbe said: “I see that you’re wondering why I’m pleading with this fellow to come to hakafos tonight. What connection do I have with him? The answer is clearly articulated in Tehillah L’Moshe.” (Tehila L’Moshe is printed in the beginning of sefer Yismach Moshe on Nach, written by the Satmar Rebbe’s ancestor).
The story goes that Rashi greeted Rav Yitzchok Drohbitcher in Gan Eden and asked him why they make such a big fuss in Heaven about his son, Reb Mechel Zlotzchover. The father listed many facets of his son’s supernatural avodah, but Rashi wasn’t satisfied until Rav Yitzchak quoted a verse from Malachi, ורבים השיב מעון – “He brought many people back from sin.”
The Rebbe told the Satmar chassid that if this holy endeavor was enough to satisfy Rashi, it should be enough for everyone else as well.
These words, ורבים השיב מעון, are written on the tombstone of the Lubavitcher Rebbe as well as the tombstone of his father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz, next to whom he is buried. This is very appropriate, as these tzaddikim are collectively responsible for bringing more Jews to teshuvah than perhaps anyone in modern history.
I would like to suggest that the words רבים השיב can serve as a pneumonic: רב יוסף יצחק מליובאוויטש הסתלקותו ביום י׳ שבט. Alternatively, the words רבים השיב may be seen as the opening letters of רבי יוסף יצחק בן הרב שלום בער מליובאוויטש.
Zechuso Yagen Aleinu!
