To Be Or To Do? That Is The Question

The Rebbe giving me a dollar (1990) 

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Gimmel Tamuz, the 3rd of Tamuz, is the Rebbe's day. You may ask, "how can I connect to the Rebbe?" I will tell you. 

There are two ways to be connected with the Rebbe, the first way is by learning his teachings. The more you do, the more you understand who he is, and the more you connect to him on a personal level. 

The second way is by doing what he wants. When you do what he wants, you become an extension of him, and in a way, for the moment, you are him, and you can't get much closer than that. 

I merited to grow up by the Rebbe, it was easy to recognize that he was the leader of the Jewish People. 

Since I was a young yeshiva student, I've felt that the greatest accomplishment was to do what the Rebbe wants. 

However, There was a competing need, the need to be in the presence of the Rebbe. Which fostered a deep and meaningful connection with the leader of the generation, and was also an amazing experience. 

The dilemma we had was, which is more important, to be in the Rebbe's presence, or to do his work? 

Though I was in his presence on many occasions, from the age of 16, whenever I had to choose, between doing the Rebbe's work, and being in his presence, doing his work always won out. I felt that being by the Rebbe, was for me, while doing his work, was for him. 

It seemed clear, That to be the Rebbe's soldier, accomplishing what he wanted, was by far more important. 

Gimmel Tammuz, 26 years ago, some were shattered, broken, and it took them some time to pick up the pieces, and figure out what to do next. Until that point, for them, being in the Rebbe's presence was everything. What now?

For me it was sad, but It didn't break me. It was clear. Just continue to do what the Rebbe wants. 

Ultimately, I got the best of both. Being close on hundreds of occasions, and doing the Rebbe's work. 

When I was close I felt that he was proud of me, I was his man, his soldier. 

Becoming his shliach, his emissary was just the next step, because in many ways I was already his emissary. 

The Rebbe is the Moshe of our generation. Hashem speaks through him. His mission is Hashem's mission. Doing the Rebbe's mission is doing Hashem's mission. Then, You are one with the Rebbe, one with Hashem. Now that's close. 

What the Rebbe wanted most is that Moshiach should come. And he believed that we can do it. By adding in Torah study and the performance of mitzvahs,, especially the mitzvah of ahavas Yisrael, loving our fellow Jew, we will bring Moshiach. 

What is there left to do? Just a little. In your home, at work or wherever you are. Do an extra mitzvah, and have a positive influence on another, that he or she should also do a mitzvah. 

This way we will accomplish the mission. We will bring Moshiach and be once again in the Rebbe's presence. May it happen soon.