Chassidim have always had those who “pursued” us, mocking us for our ways. But “bein hametzarim,” when Yidden in Russia were engulfed in aguish and the Chassidim stood out with pure and relentless mesiras nefesh, that’s when “all our pursuers” began to grasp and understand our ways.
By Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier – The Beis Medrash
The three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av are known as the period of בין המצרים. This is based on a passuk in Eichah כל רדפוה השיגוה בין המצרים, “all her pursuers overtook her between the boundaries,” referring to all those who trapped the Yidden and caused us anguish and destruction. בין המצרים is thus interpreted to mean the period when we are “engulfed in anguish,” referring to the two calamities of the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av.
Reb Peretz Motchkin, a venerable mashpia in Montreal, Canada, once interpreted the passuk as follows:[1]
Chassidim have always had those who “pursued” us, mocking us for our ways. But בין המצרים, when Yidden in Russia were engulfed in aguish during terribly difficult times and the Chassidim stood out as the torchbearers of Yiddishkeit—with pure and relentless mesiras nefesh—that’s when “all our pursuers” השיגוה, began to grasp and understand us and our ways. It was now clear that the inexplicable strength to overcome the intolerable persecution came from the teachings and the ways of Chassidus.
This is essentially the theme of Yidden as a nation. When does the world see our strength and fortitude? When things are tough.
But the Rebbe adds an important angle to this.
During the year 5719 (1959) the Rebbe campaigned for ופרצת, that Yiddishkeit should be spread throughout the world. The term ופרצת is borrowed from what Hashem told Yaakov Avinu, ופרצת ימה וקדמה צפונה ונגבה. The Rebbe often repeated what Chazal say about this, that Yaakov Avinu will merit נחלה בלי מצרים, a portion without boundaries.
The Rebbe’s idea is that now that we’re not under persecution, we have to stimulate our own drive to fight for Yiddishkeit. Our strength must show even we’re not under persecution.
During the Three Weeks of that year, a certain Chabad activist wrote a letter to the Rebbe in which he apparently bemoaned the fact that his efforts to spread Yiddishkeit were yielding very limited results. The Rebbe replied that it’s no wonder that the yield is limited when his approach is a limited one. Referring to the בין המצרים, the Rebbe pointed out that a Yid essentially has a choice: we can be constricted by the limits of this world, or we can go above them. The בין המצרים don’t have to remain the way they are. Through our efforts to overcome our own boundaries, to practice and spread Yiddishkeit in ways that break boundaries, we can merit to end the בין המצרים and come to the ultimate נחלה בלי מצרים.[2]
May we all find the strength to do this, and merit to see limitless good in an open and revealed way. And of course, the ultimate of all good, the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash.
[1] Eileh Toldos Peretz pg. 413
[2] Igros Kodesh vol. 18 pg. 483
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