The one hundred and seventy-fourth "room" in the hall of Hayom Yom.
Thursday, 15 Iyar, 30th of the Omer, 5703.
Shiurim: Chumash, Behar, Chamishi, with Rashi's commentary.
Tehillim, 15th of the month, two chapters - chapter 77 and chapter 78.
Tanya, chapter 48, in the latter part of the sefer but not yet at its end. The daily shiur begins on page 68 with the words "hevel havalim", and ends on page 136 with the word "bilvad".
Here is a short saying, which the Rebbe Rayatz said on Purim 5698. And this is its wording (the source is in Yiddish, and in translation): "In the days of Rabbeinu Hazaken a teaching was common among the chassidim" - there was a saying that was fluent on the tongues of the chassidim during the time of the Alter Rebbe. And what would they say? "The piece of bread that I have - is yours as it is mine, and they would precede the word "yours" - "yours as it is mine"" - meaning, they would place the word "yours" before the word "mine": first of all it is yours, and after that it is mine. This is the saying that the Rebbe Rayatz said then on Purim 5698.
On a later occasion, about a year later, he mentioned the matter again and added a few details. He related that on the last Motzaei Shabbos before the histalkus of the Alter Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe said a sentence like this: Whoever holds onto my door handle, my "kliamke", I will show him gratitude both in alma de'in and in alma de'asi - both in this world and in the World to Come.
And what is the simple meaning of the sentence? The Rebbe says that the Tzemach Tzedek had several explanations in understanding the intention of his grandfather. One of the explanations: What is the intention of "whoever holds onto my door handle"? Since the Alter Rebbe was moser nefesh to engrave ahavas Yisrael among the chassidim, consequently whoever involves himself in the matter of ahavas Yisrael according to the will of the Alter Rebbe, it is considered that he is holding onto the door handle of the Alter Rebbe, and the Alter Rebbe promises him that he will show him gratitude in this world and the next.
And in the continuation of the text, in connection to this, it is brought that the wording that was common among the chassidim was slightly different, but perhaps in a certain sense deeper: The chassidim would say that in the piece of bread that the Holy One, blessed be He, gave me, your portion is already contained within it. Meaning, it was simple to them, as his wording there says, that all the hashpa'ah that the Holy One, blessed be He, gives me is not for me alone, but He gives it through me, and in essence gives it to you.
And there is a complete story there about a certain chassid, a great expert in Shas, Rashi and Tosafos by heart, who would learn all day. When he had financial success in business, he saw this as a sign that a tzedakah pushka of the Rebbe was likely already waiting in his home, or that a letter arrived from the Rebbe that he must give something; that what he earned was only because the Rebbe needs money to give to someone. Meaning, it was simple to them that when you have - it is not initially for you, but rather you merit to be the channel that passes the shefa onward.
The Rebbe repeated this in one of the sichos and added: Therefore it was necessary to instill as a habit, that one who gives tzedakah must give it generously and with a welcoming countenance, because from the very beginning the money belongs to the other person. It is not that you are doing him a favor and should feel difficulty in what you gave him; from the very beginning the Holy One, blessed be He, gave it to you so that you would give it to him, and it is your privilege to transfer the matter to him. This is what is called holding onto the door handle of the Alter Rebbe, and this is the promise that he gives to each and every one.
Let us continue in connection to the hint in the Rambam. We began yesterday with the teaching of Sefer Korbanos in the Rambam, and we saw the connection to the laws of the Pesach offering (yesterday, on 14 Iyar, Pesach Sheni). Today we continue to the following laws in Sefer Korbanos - Hilchos Chagigah. In Hilchos Chagigah, in the second chapter, there is a halachah that says: When a person slaughters his chagigah offering, he shall not eat he and his son and his wife alone, but rather he is obligated to gladden the poor and the unfortunate and to give to them. And a harsh expression is brought there towards one who does not give to them.
Meaning, the point of the halachah is the same idea: When, baruch Hashem, you have abundance, do not think only of your family, rather it is an obligation upon you to share with others - because from the very beginning, like the teaching, the portion of the other precedes even what you have.