 
Rebbe Of Nikolsburg Addresses Sheloshim In Lakewood
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By D. Baum
Published on Thursday, April 30, 2009 -
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On Sunday of Parashas Tzav, the Rebbe of Nikolsburg, well known for his warm and inspirational drashos, came from Monsey to address a seudah marking the sheloshim of the tragic passing of the bachur Yehoshua ben Moshe Finkelstein. The gathering was held at Bais Medrash Ateres Yeshaya in Lakewood, where family and friends of the niftar assembled to hear words of zikaron and chizuk in honor of the niftar.
The mara d’asra, HaRav Simcha Bunim Cohen, shlita, spoke first, asking everyone present to take on a kabbalah as a z’chus for the neshamah of the niftar. He recommended that each person resolve to say Modeh Ani each morning with kavanah. This begins the day on a positive note of avodas Hashem and can change the course of one’s entire day.
Afterwards, the Rebbe of Nikolsburg addressed the assembly in English. He began with the words of Chazal (Shabbos 153a) that at a hesped “hasam kaim’na,” the niftar is present, listening to what people have to say about him. The bachur, Yehoshua, lives on since because of him people gathered at a bais midrash to hear words of chizuk and be inspired to improve themselves.
The Rebbe referred to the tremendous pain on the part of the niftar’s parents and friends. He paraphrased the words of Reuven who, on discovering Yosef’s disappearance, asked “Ana ani va—where will I turn?” to which Rashi adds “mitza’aro shel avi—from my father’s pain.” The Rebbe pointed out that no one can share the feeling of loss that his parents suffer each day and night. The Shechinah however shares in human suffering, as the Mishnah tells us (Sanhedrin 6:5), when a person suffers in this world the Shechinah says “kalani meroshi, kalani mez’roi—my head hurts, my arm hurts.”
Speaking to the many bachurim present, the Rebbe went on to discuss a growing problem among some elements of the yeshiva world: the misuse of certain dangerous substances. The Rebbe compared the passing of a single bachur to the Holocaust of six million. That Holocaust is still going on today, he pointed out. These are the many bachurim who turn to unsafe substances because of the attraction of feeling daring and “cool.” Unfortunately, they then find themselves caught in a trap of being pulled further away from the world of Torah and Yiddishkeit. When their behavior and performance falls short of expectations, such bachurim may find themselves suspended from their yeshiva and separated from their friends. Matters continue to spiral out of control, going from bad to worse.
The Rebbe also discussed the three bachurim who are suffering in prison in Japan because of Jews who were involved in the illegal drug trade. These bachurim are crying daily, asking “me’ayin yavo ezri—from where will my help come?” And although many people are lobbying on their behalf, no one has the power to save them. Similarly, those bachurim who find themselves caught up in the pull of this world’s physical attractions cry out to us to save them, but it is difficult to help.
Noting the tendency on the part of others to treat such lost bachurim with contempt, the Rebbe made it clear that this is not the correct Torah attitude. Every Jew possesses a precious neshamah that must be respected no matter where that person finds himself. We cannot deign to judge them; who can say how we would act had we faced the same temptation? These unfortunate souls deserve our empathy, and must not be made to feel rejected by K’lal Yisrael.
He continued with a limud z’chus on the stance the community and yeshivos take towards these teenagers by comparing them to patients being treated in the quarantined ward of a hospital. Even the parents may be forcefully separated from their sick child when the threat of contamination is present. Similarly, the community may hold such people at arm’s length to avoid being drawn into the same trap. However, this should not be viewed as a rejection of a Yiddishe neshamah.
Finally, the Rebbe spoke about the tremendous loss to the individual and community when a teenager leaves the world of ruchniyus to pursue Olam haZeh, meaning that he can no longer reach his potential in life. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, persevered at his job until he accomplished what he set out to do. The Rebbe said that each bachur has a purpose and must not cop out on his role in life. If he does not “invent” what he is destined to accomplish, all of humanity may suffer. He repeated the words of Moshe, who said “sh’lach na b’yad tishlach—send with the one who you will send,” meaning that everyone has a sh’lichus for which he has been sent down to this world. We must not shirk our duties or avoid accomplishing the task assigned to us. The Rebbe concluded by wishing everyone that they succeed in accomplishing their sh’lichus in this world.
At the conclusion of the seudah, the Rebbe remained to speak privately to those who sought an audience with him. The moving event deeply impressed all the participants and was surely a tremendous z’chus for the niftar. ♦
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