‘If You Want To Learn From Me…’

Though some chassidim avoided the Tiferes Yisrael commentary on Mishnayos, the Rebbe said he used it. But when Reb Osher Sasonkin said he would therefore copy the Rebbe, the Rebbe advised him to copy him in other ways.

The Tiferes Yisrael commentary on Mishnayos was viewed with suspicion in some chassidishe circles, due to his approach to reconciling questions of Torah and science.

Reb Osher Sasonkin, who had just recently arrived from Eretz Yisroel, entered Yechidus in the winter of 5726 holding a Mishnayos with the Tiferes Yisrael commentary, with a question in pshat.

“If you don’t look at it, I’ll read it aloud,” he said to the Rebbe.

The Rebbe took the sefer from him, and said, “There were chassidim who didn’t use this pirush. Do you use it? I use it.”

“So I will learn from the Rebbe!” Reb Osher exclaimed.

“If you want to learn from me, there are other things to learn,” the Rebbe responded. “I learn Likkutei Torah…”

(Hiskashrus Issue 455)

From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash