Article by Rabbi Motti Wilhelm of Chabad SW Portland: “I was thinking…really? Is nothing sacred anymore? What happened to reverence? But then I recalled a 300-year-old story…”
By Rabbi Motti Wilhelm, Chabad SW Portland, OR
I was thinking…really? Is nothing sacred anymore? What happened to reverence?
I then remembered the story of how this all began, and realized the awesomeness of the moment.
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This week the central Chabad library completed a years long project of uploading its rarest and most precious manuscripts for online public access.
Each of the 3,000 manuscripts share secrets of Torah and tell an incredible story of the survival of Torah & the Jewish People, perhaps none more than the library’s “crown jewel” the Siddur of the Baal Shem Tov.
Handwritten by the Baal Shem Tov’s brother in law in the early 17th century, this prayerbook contains the mystical kavanot (meditations) of the 16th century Arizal. In its margins one finds inscriptions of the Baal Shem Tov’s students, asking their master to pray for their wellbeing. Its pages are literally soaked and stained with the blood stained tears of the Baal Shem Tov.
Its survival through multiple wars, pogroms, fires and all is a miracle unto itself.
For hundreds of years its access was restricted to a select few who spiritually prepared and purified themselves. The Rebbe himself shared that he experienced trepidation approaching this holy artefact.
This week it went online. Anyone from anywhere can view its tear soaked pages. All one needs to do is click here.
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So, I’m thinking to myself: is all this access appropriate? Perhaps scarcity is related to sacredness?
Should one be able to have the Beijing Olympics open in one tab, a debate about whether we should be watching Olympics in China in another and, l’havdil, the Baal Shem Tov’s Siddur in a third?
I then recalled that this very story played itself out over 300 years ago when early students of Chassidus transcribed and distributed teachings that had been taught secretly to a select few.
Once, a critic noticed a page of these teachings languishing in a mound of garbage, and with distress expressed his dismay that they had gone too far. Look what happens when you unrestrict access, he said.
The Alter Rebbe (the first Rebbe of Chabad), responded with a parable: When the prince is ill, the king will even grind the jewel in his crown, if that is what it takes to heal him. The Jewish people need this energy, and Hashem, the King of all Kings wants us to do whatever it takes to infuse them with it. Click here for the entire story.
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Today, we are inundated with messages of all types. We live in a world full of confusion. There is unrestricted access to everything.
Thus in times such as these, the crown jewels are freely given to energize and support us.
As the Chief Chabad Librarian said “the decision to release this was extremely difficult, but ultimately we realized we are not authorized to hide these treasures in boxes. What purpose would that serve?”
Let’s use the incredible energy we are given to change the world for the good.
Can it eventually become available in English translation?
Parts were released years ago thru heichel Menachem
Amazing article, thank you!
What about the Rebbe’s הקפדה that people shouldn’t even look at it?
From the two bochurim that snuck into the Frierdiker Rebbe’s yechidus room and touched it (if I’m not mistaken, they didn’t even try to take it), the one who didn’t prepare himself properly kind of fell off the map (his name is not a secret).
And מהיכי תיתי to say that it looses its קדושה through a screen? (Granted, it is obviously not exactly the same as seeing it in person, but to such an extent?)
I’m not necessarily saying that it is wrong to put it online, but the explanation given above is – in my opinion – not at all satisfactory. I think it comes from a lack of an איידלקייט, and כל החרד את דבר ה׳ should/will stay away from this and the likes.
It was about the actual sefer.
In fact, whenever the library exhibition presented the Baal Shemtovs siddur or I think the Alter Rebbe’s tefillin, it was always in picture form.
“We realized we are not authorized to hide these treasures in boxes. What purpose would that serve?”
I believe the Rebbe himself answered this question: the purpose of the library is to provide access specifically to reseachers.
Not the public.
Thank you for superbly explaining what the rare gem of the crown is all about and justification for it’s release.
Our rebeyim have bled out the last of their treasures for all to trod in hopes that just maybe it will compel a yid to do a favor to a sinner.
The shluchim need to understand that Klal Yisroel is now going through the great נסיון to determine whether or not they live up to the standard of Ahavas Yisroel taught during the last 200 years of their stay in galus. The Geula depends on this.
But it’s not an easy choice, because we are faced with an Other Side who portrays a very strong scientifically valid reason to exclude our Ahavas Yisroel from certain individuals.
There’s no shephard to interfare with our בחירה. The choices are fair.
The pixelated tear stains perserve the Bal Shem Tov’s plea that his people pass the test. May we cup our ear to the messege this siddur brings.