By Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz – Chabad of Southwest Florida

This Gimmel Tammuz was a most moving experience for me.

I merited to travel to New York, pray at the Rebbe’s Ohel, lead Shacharis there, receive an aliyah to the Torah, spend time in prayer and reflection, and then continue on to Crown Heights. Later, I had the privilege of leading Mincha in the Rebbe’s shul at 770.

During Chazoras Hashatz, something unexpected happened. Someone walked over and extinguished the candles that were burning near the amud.

For a brief moment, I faced a choice. Should I respond? Should I say something? Should I stop the prayers?

Then a simple truth entered my mind: Hashem runs the world. Nothing happens by accident. If the candles were extinguished, then somehow this too was part of Divine Providence.

It was not my place to react to another person’s actions. My responsibility was to continue serving Hashem and leading the congregation in prayer. Thank G-d, I remained focused and continued the service.

But the experience stayed with me.

As I reflected upon it afterward, I realized that perhaps a profound lesson had been placed before me. In fact, I found myself wanting to say: thank you to the person who blew out the candles.

Why?

Because through that action, I was reminded of one of the deepest teachings of the Rebbe.

In the maamar Ve’Atah Tetzaveh, the final Chassidic discourse distributed by the Rebbe, the Rebbe explains the difference between inspiration that comes from the outside and the connection that emerges from the very essence of the soul.

An external fire can inspire us. A beautiful moment, a stirring melody, an uplifting gathering, or a powerful experience can ignite something within us. But when the source of that inspiration is removed, the fire often fades. The candle can be extinguished. The excitement can disappear. The emotion can pass.

But there is another kind of fire.

There is the fire of the etzem haneshamah, the essence of the soul.

That fire is not dependent on circumstances. It is not dependent on emotion. It is not dependent on what is happening around us. It exists because a Jew is intrinsically connected to Hashem.

The Rebbe explains that even during galus, even in times of concealment and darkness, the essential bond between a Jew and Hashem remains intact. The connection is not based on revelation. It is based on essence.

And essence can never be extinguished.

Suddenly, the lesson became clear.

The candles that were burning externally were blown out, but the inner fire remained untouched.

And that is true for every one of us.

People may challenge us. Circumstances may change. Moments of inspiration may come and go. The external flames of life will inevitably flicker. Sometimes they will even go out.

But the deepest part of who we are can never be extinguished.

No person can take it away. No obstacle can destroy it. No darkness can overcome it.

The soul remains connected. The soul remains alive. The soul remains on fire.

Perhaps this is one of the great messages of Gimmel Tammuz.

Thirty-two years have passed. The number thirty-two corresponds to the Hebrew word lev, heart.

The Rebbe’s message continues to live within the heart of every Jew. The external flame may not always be visible, but the fire within the heart continues to burn.

Our task is to connect to that inner flame. To discover the essence of our soul. To live from a place deeper than inspiration. To live from a place of essence.

And when we do, no one can extinguish our fire. No one can take away our connection to Hashem. No one can diminish the infinite light that resides within us.

So my takeaway from this Gimmel Tammuz is simple:

Do not become overly attached to the external flames.

Connect to the inner flame. Connect to your heart. Connect to your soul. Connect to the essence that Hashem placed within you.

Because that fire never goes out.

And when you live from that place, you will live a life illuminated by purpose, faith, joy, and an unbreakable connection to Hashem.