"Things Are in a State of Tohu" — Waiting for Parshas Noach
As I Heard Them, Vol. 1, p. 203, no. 9
My zeide often said that a Rebbe is a likeness of Heaven. In Leningrad right after Sukkos — I think it was 5686 (1925) — Chatzya Lukovir (R. Yechezkel Feigin, may G-d avenge his blood, who was then the mashpia and mentor of Tomchei Temimim in Nevel) told me that when he went to speak with the Rebbe about Tomchei Temimim , the Rebbe told him, “I cannot talk to you about Tomchei Temimim ; things are in a state of Tohu now. After Shabbos Bereishis, with the start of Parshas Noach and the birth of Avraham — Tikkun — then we can discuss matters. ”57
Tohu and Tikkun: “chaos” and “rectification. ” Kabbalah explains that at the beginning of creation — described in Parshas Bereishis — the world was in a spiritual state of Tohu, a lofty realm of existence which, lacking balance and order, “collapsed” in an event called "sheviras hakeilim" (the "breaking of the vessels"), when their light departed from them. This “break” — orchestrated by G-d — enabled the existence of the orderly world of Tikkun, possessing lesser light, but with abundant vessels. ↩
Reb Aizel used to say, “We are not able to have bitachon, trust in G-d. What is bitachon? When I have a good friend and I do whatever he asks of me, then I trust that he will do whatever I request. But when I do everything the opposite of what he asks, then how can I be trusting? Yet I have emunah, faith, that G-d is good and desires kindness; if so, He will certainly fulfill my request. ”
The Alter Rebbe's Soldier, Studying Through the Night
As I Heard Them, Vol. 1, p. 301, no. 33
Another account my zeide heard from the Tzemach Tzedek’s children:
“Late into the night, ” their father told them, “I discussed with Reb Aizel subjects which stand at the loftiest heights. Afterwards I went to rest — but then resolved to take a look at ‘the zeide’s [the Alter Rebbe’s ] soldier. ’ He was standing, studying Gemara like a diligent young scholar who hadn’t learned for a long time. ”
A young man once told the Tzemach Tzedek that since his city, Liepli, has apikorsim (heretics ) he has to fulfill the directive, Da ma shetashiv la’apikores – Know what to answer a heretic.27 “What should I say?” he asked the Rebbe.
“The apikorsim who are walking around there, ” answered the Rebbe, “you must avoid any contact with. But for your own inner apikores the antidote is to “ Da ma,” Know ‘what’ — which refers to Chochmah (wisdom) and bittul (self-nullification). ”