The Rebbe’s Guidance for Making the Right Decisions

From avodas Hashem, to critical medical advice; from chinuch to parnassa; from major to minor life decisions; everything crossed over the Rebbe’s table. The Rebbe would instruct, guide, and advise, and Chassidim knew that for best results, they ought to listen. But what does that mean today?

A Chassidisher Derher

From avodas Hashem, to critical medical advice; from chinuch to parnassa; from major to minor life decisions; everything crossed over the Rebbe’s table. The Rebbe would instruct, guide, and advise, and Chassidim knew that for best results, they ought to listen. The Alter Rebbe writes in a famous letter that his Chassidim should not ask advice about material matters, as the answers to these subjects are under the jurisdiction of Nevi’im only. The Rebbe points out that, nevertheless, Chassidim continued asking advice in these matters of the Alter Rebbe and all the subsequent Rabbeim, “because the answer of a Rebbe to these questions emanates from him as a Novi mamash!”

Despite all of the above, as the years progressed, the Rebbe indicated several times that he wished to wean the Chassidim off of the reliance on the precise guidance to which they had grown accustomed. Given the astronomical number of people seeking the Rebbe’s advice, this would seem like a necessary—albeit difficult—development. But as is often the case, the Rebbe sheds light on the issue and reveals that this step is about empowering each individual to find the spiritual strength within themself by remaining steadfast in their connection to the Rebbe and living by his teachings.

In a sicha delivered on 8 Adar II, 5741, the day after Moshe Rabbeinu’s yahrtzeit, the Rebbe illuminates the issue: “There was a time when the [Frierdiker] Rebbe would take hold of each individual by the hand and tell them in their ear what their mission was and how to go about doing it. Then the person would go and carry out the mission exactly in accordance with the Rebbe’s instructions. Today, however, things are different. Many times a person will need to do things on their own, relying on their own intuition.

“A person might mistakenly say: ‘Back then, when I was acting exactly in accordance with the Rebbe’s instructions, I was always sure to do my avoda properly. Today however, I don’t hear anything from the Rebbe directly, so I’ll just sit at home. I won’t do anything because I haven’t been instructed exactly what to do; I feel alone; without the guidance of my Rebbe…’

“This, then, is the lesson of 8 Adar: Yehoshua is now picking up on his own, and he still does his avoda in a complete fashion, with all of his faculties.

“…This is true in every generation as well: there comes a time when a person needs to ‘stand on their own feet’, relying on their own intuition, based on the principles they learned from their Rebbe.

“This is what shlichus is really all about: A shliach is sent to the other side of the world, where he won’t be able to receive direct, specific instructions about every issue that arises. He will need to use his own intellect and decide how to act, based on general instructions he heard from the Rebbe previously, and thereby fulfill his shlichus in the best possible manner.

“Chassidus Chabad teaches that there is no ‘bederech memeila’ (one does not become a Chossid automatically, without internal effort); a person is expected to work on their own and achieve.

“When a person is on shlichus on the other side of the world, even though his ‘official’ shlichus may be in one area only, he cannot suffice with that. If another opportunity arises for him to do more, he should grab the opportunity. He need not wait for specific instruction on the matter ‘from above’.

“When a shliach is sent on a mission, the one who sent him, the Rebbe, gives him general instructions for what to do, along with blessings for success and the necessary kochos to do the shlichus. But once the shliach is in the field, he will need to use his own intuition and act accordingly.

“…And if the shliach will ask (justifiably): ‘How can I be sure that I’m doing the right thing while relying on my own intellect, without receiving specific instructions from the Rebbe?’ The answer is already stated in the Torah: ‘Yagaata umatzasa’—if you work hard enough, you will certainly succeed at reaching the correct conclusion and doing things in the exact way the Rebbe wants…”

The Rebbe repeated this theme later in the decade, towards the end of the 5740s, starting with the major campaign of “Asei L’cha Rav”—that every individual must find themselves a rav, a mentor to guide them and to whom they can be accountable in matters of avodas Hashem. With time, the Rebbe spoke about the issue of personal guidance and how to conduct oneself in even greater detail, specifying what to do in areas of doubt.

First, the Rebbe clarified that everything we need to know in life is found in Torah, more specifically in Toras HaChassidus, and in our generation, in the Torah of the Rebbe, Nessi Doreinu: “Nowadays, after so much work has been accomplished in spreading Torah and Yiddishkeit, and hafatzas hamaayanos, through the power and the shlichus of the [Frierdiker] Rebbe, Nessi Doreinu, every person has since been given the ability to draw the right conclusions [when in doubt]. Especially through studying and toiling [in understanding] the Torah of the Rebbe, and working hard at its dissemination. For the [Frierdiker] Rebbe taught in many of his maamarim that the ultimate status of a student is when he is able to think in the same terms as his Rebbe, thereby reaching the same conclusion as would his Rebbe…”

Moreover, the Rebbe added by standing strong in our hiskashrus, “true hiskashrus to the Nossi Hador,” by learning his Torah and following in his ways to the fullest (‘כדבעי למיעבד’), one can avoid the need for doctors altogether, and receive healing directly from Hashem Himself. One would not need to seek the counsel of wise friends with regard to business and so on, for Hashem Himself will place the correct ideas in his mind to begin with.

In addition to the above, the Rebbe spelled out on various occasions how a person should conduct themselves when in doubt, and what to do when in need of bracha:

Health
When it comes to matters of health, the Rebbe pointed to the instruction in Torah of “v’rapoi y’rapei,” to seek the counsel of a medical professional, especially a doctor with whom one is acquainted (who will offer advice with care), one who is an expert in his field, or both. At times the Rebbe said that even better would be to consult with two expert doctors, and if they disagree on protocol—to consult a third and follow the majority.

Livelihood
Regarding advice for livelihood and business matters, the Rebbe said that one should consult with wise friends, based on the possuk “Us’shuah b’rov yoetz” (salvation comes with many counselors). Ideally, one should seek the advice of two individuals who are friends and have your best interest at heart. When hearing their advice, one need not submit himself completely to their opinion. Rather, he should take their words into consideration, since they are his good friends, while his own view is merely one person’s opinion, and a biased one at that.

Asei L’cha Rav
In matters of Yiras Shamayim and avodas Hashem, the Rebbe repeated numerous times that one must fulfill the words of the Mishnah, “Asei l’cha rav,” to consult with a rav, mashpia, or spiritual mentor who will guide you. In fact, the Rebbe referred to this instruction as a “bakasha nafshis,” a personal and heartfelt request that everyone choose a rav for themselves. The Rebbe gave the added explanation that because a person is biased when it comes to assessing their personal standing, it’s important to seek the guidance of an objective party and listen to their words.

The Rebbe emphasized that though the Torah is a “Torah Or”; its instructions clear and illuminating, at times, one might still have doubts as to what to do in a specific situation, since we find ourselves in a world that conceals Elokus. Because this might get in the way of his constant obligation to serve Hashem, Torah instructs a person to turn to the necessary address for guidance and not waste any time in this regard.

Cheshbono Shel Olam
Shortly after the Rebbetzin’s histalkus, on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Teruma, 2 Adar 5748, the Rebbe delivered a surprise sicha, discussing a difficult topic: The Rebbe said that he had heard a story from the Frierdiker Rebbe about someone who came to the Tzemach Tzedek to discuss the matter of “cheshbono shel olam,” i.e. what would take place after 120 years. At the time he heard this story, the Rebbe noted, he did not understand why the Frierdiker Rebbe was relating it to him, but obviously, there was a lesson to be learned.

The Rebbe explained at length that when one is in doubt, the question should be addressed to Chassidishe rabbonim, i.e. rabbonim who are proficient in nigleh and halacha, thereby possessing the power of rendering a psak din according to Torah, with the added measure of having studied Chassidus, Pnimius HaTorah. More specifically, the Rebbe said, the questions should be addressed to three Chassidishe rabbonim, and with their ruling, all doubts would be removed. Members of each respective community should address their questions to the Chassidishe rabbonim in their local community. The rabbonim were given the power to render correct decisions, in a good and auspicious manner.

Brachos
Throughout these sichos, the Rebbe emphasized time and again that when people write to him requesting brachos, there’s no need to wait for a written response. All the letters with requests for brachos are taken to the Ohel of the Frierdiker Rebbe, and he ensures that everyone is blessed with whatever they need from the source of all blessings, Hashem Himself.

To an individual who came to the Rebbe at dollars and asked for an answer to a letter he had written, the Rebbe responded as follows: “It’s exactly as if I have already read the letter, and I will mention it at the Ohel of my father-in-law. Hashem should help you that it will all turn out good. Bsuros tovos. I have announced a few times that when people write to me, I take the letters to the Ohel, and I mention them there, and then my father-in-law does what he has to do. There’s no need to wait for a written response from me through the mail.”

The Rebbe Will Find A Way
In summation, the Rebbe gave us clear guidelines on what to do when in doubt, when one cannot receive an answer directly from the Rebbe. Most importantly, we need to keep our connection with the Rebbe healthy and strong, and we will thereby be worthy of carrying out his wishes in the proper manner, always. As quoted above, the Rebbe taught that by toiling in the Rebbe’s Torah and studying it diligently, a Chossid can rest assured that he will make the proper decisions based on the Rebbe’s teachings.

As the Rebbe famously responded to a Chossid who asked what to do when in doubt:
ומה שמקשה הלא א”א עתה לשאול את כ”ק מו”ח אדמו”ר הכ”מ כשיש ספק בהנהגה – אם יעמוד חזק בהתקשרותו אליו, מבלי ישים לב לפתויי היצר, וישלח השאלה על ציון כ”ק אדמו”ר הכ”מ – וועט דער רבי געפינען א וועג ווי עם צוענטפערן.

Regarding what you ask, that now we cannot ask the [Frierdiker] Rebbe when there is doubt how to conduct oneself: If you will remain steadfast in your hiskashrus to him, without paying attention to the arguments of the yetzer hara, and you will send your question to the Ohel of the [Frierdiker] Rebbe; the Rebbe will find a way to answer you.