After penetrating the Iron Curtain, Reb Mendel Futerfas traveled as soon as possible to the Rebbe. On the last Shabbos of his stay, the Rebbe delivered a maamar on why Hashem allows gzeiros against keeping mitzvos in order to arouse the cry of a Yid to do a mitzva.
After penetrating the Iron Curtain, Reb Mendel Futerfas traveled as soon as possible to the Rebbe, and on the third night of Chanuka 5724 had his first Yechidus.
Just after the hour-and-fifteen-minute yechidus, the Rebbe asked for the maamar “Lehovin Inyan Lekichas Anshei Chayil.” This maamar was delivered by the Mitteler Rebbe shortly before his histalkus, as the Chassidus explanation for the terrible Canonists’ decree.
When only a part of the maamar was found, the Rebbe repeatedly asked to find the rest of it, and also suggested to inquire of the elder Chassidim if they may have a transcription.
A few weeks later, the last Shabbos of Reb Mendel’s stay in New York, the Rebbe recited a maamar on this theme. As the maamar progressed, the Rebbe’s voice quivered with emotion, and at some points, halted abruptly.
“Why did Hashem create a situation where Yidden are withheld from performing mitzvos?” the Rebbe asked.
“It was in order to bring out the cry of a Yid, ‘Hashem why have you forsaken me?!’ This thirst for a mitzva proves that a Yid genuinely has pleasure in mitzvos.”
(Yoman; Sefer Hamamorim 5724)
From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash
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