‘The Rebbe Does It, But That Doesn’t Mean You Should’

R. Chaim Yaakov Rashal was born in Velizh, and later lived in Riga. He was a chossid of the Rebbe Maharash, and after the histalkus, when the Rebbe Rashab refused to officially accept the nesius, he travelled to Harav Yitzchak Dov Ber (Maharid) of Liadi.

When the Rebbe Rashab later accepted the nesius in Lubavitch, R. Yaakov would travel to both Liadi and Lubavitch, and he was considered a mekushar (staunch follower) of the Rebbe Rashab.

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R. Yaakov combined both Torah greatness and material wealth. A relative of the famous Berlin family of gevirim, R. Yaakov was a wealthy businessman himself, and was involved in the Rebbe Rashab’s communal askanus. He was a generous baal tzedakah, and was a key benefactor of R. Chaim Chizkiyah Medini, author of the Sdei Chemed.

A great talmid chacham, R. Yaakov published chidushim in various Torah journals, and some of his chidushim are quoted in the Sdei Chemed. His important collection of kisvei yad (ancient manuscripts) is held today at the University of Manchester.

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As is well known, the Rebbe Rashab had various unique practices in blowing shofar, and R. Yaakov Landau, who served as a rov in the Rebbe Rashab’s home, expressed his wonder about them to R. Yaakov Rashal. R. Yaakov replied, “What difference does it make to you? The Rebbe is blowing so it’s good, and to imitate the Rebbe is not our way.”

In response to this anecdote, the Rebbe confirmed R. Yaakov Rashal’s sentiment regarding the Rebbe’s personal practices. However, those practices which are being motzi other listeners (such as the format of the shevarim), is something that others can learn from.