“Lift your eyes upward/heavenward” (Isaiah 40:26)

We translated this from the 5703 talks of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe (1880-1950) as part of a Torah-Tuesday class we did on the Chassidic background to Emeril’s famous “Kick It Up a Notch!” 

I (Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, 6th Chabad Rebbe) knew one of my grandfather’s Chassidim named Reb Pesach. His father Reb Yisroel owned a store in Halusk, who was a Chassid of my great-grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek. Reb Pesach was a very simple person. He married into a certain family from Homel (Gomel) and did well selling (wholesale) merchandise to storekeepers in nearby towns.

For Rosh Hashanah of 5627 he traveled along with other Chassidim, including the famous Chassid Reb Mordechai Yoel, to be with the Rebbe Maharash in Lubavitch. In the note he handed to the Rebbe he described his livelihood, and pointed out that he travels in the open wagon along with his merchandise.

“So you can always fulfill “lift your eyes heavenward..” (Isaiah 40:26) the Rebbe continued, “Shema is Yisrael.”

When Reb Pesach left his private personal Yechidus with the Rebbe Maharash, he went to Reb Mordechai Yoel and asked him to explain what the Rebbe had told him.

In simple terms, Reb Mordechai Yoel explained that synagogues make large windows, not only for better natural light, but also to be able to see the heavens, which represents the Heavenly Throne, and all this can lead to increased fear of heaven. So the Rebbe says, by traveling in a wagon on the open road, you are able to fulfill this constantly. The abbreviation of these three Hebrew words spell SHEMA, and when you reach this level of Shema, then one is at the level of Yisrael. Reb Mordechai Yoel explained the difference between Yaakov and Yisrael, and explained that when one lives by “Seu Maron Eynechem” one reaches the level of Yisrael.

Reb Pesach would visit Lubavitch every two or three years. I saw him the first time on Erev Rosh Hashanah of 5652 as he was walking from the ohel to the synagogue, and he told me the story of his first Yechidus with the Rebbe Maharash on the 4th of Tishrei 5627 between Mincha and Maariv.  He said, after Reb Mordechai Yoel explained the Yechidus to me, a light went on in my heart, and I wanted to understand more. My neighbor was the Chassid Hirshel, he studied with me from time to time, until years later I was able to study on my own a few lines of Tanya, Torah Ohr and Lekutei Torah. That Yechidus stood me on my feet.

I was young at that time (says the Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak). But I was old enough to sense and appreciate the energy and deep pleasure that R’ Pesach was experiencing as he told me his story. And what was most incredible to me was that 25 years had already passed since that first Yechidus, and he was still felt energized and pleasure when talking about it.

Today, I look back at my notes from more than 50 years ago, my memory comes alive with the imagery of the Ohel, the synagogue, the Chassidim in the background that I remember, and those whose faces I don’t know…

Years passed and Reb Pesach became wealthy, and went to live in Lodz, Poland and became a prominent manufacturing merchant. In 5688, he was already a very old man, at least 90, and he once again told me of that original Yechidus in 5627, and said with the same energy as if it happened only yesterday. And he said that while he no longer travels by wagon all the time, he made sure to have large windows and to sit near them all the time to fulfill the words of the Rebbe. “More than 60 years passed. Yet every time I say Shema in the prayers, or when the Ark is opened, or during Kedusha, or even at the closing prayers of Yom Kippur – and I pray that the same will be at my final Shema Yisrael – I always think of the words of the Rebbe to me: “Shema is Yisrael.”

I will admit unashamedly, (freidker Rebbe), that when I looked upon this simple merchant, Reb Pesach the son of Reb Yisrael of Homil, when I saw his white beard and sincere sensitivity written on his face, and his dedication and connection with a few words from his Rebbe – I was jealous of him.

From such a Jew one can receive a blessing, despite his meager understanding of Torah. His blessing is certainly significant in heaven. This is the essence of a Chassid, a simple Jew, of my grandfather, the Rebbe Maharash.

(Sefer HaSichos 5703, Achron shel Pesach)

—-

In a similar vein, see the Mishna (3:8) in Talmud tractate Rosh Hashanah about the copper snake in Parshat Chukat:

Similarly: “Make a copper snake and place it on a pole, and all who were bitten who sees it will live” (Num. 21:8) (The Mishna asks:) Does this copper snake cause life and death? Rather: Whenever the Jewish people would look upward and dedicate their hearts to their Father in heaven – they were healed!

—-

This “uplifting” Chassidic story and message was also the inspiration we had while wearing UAlbany Great Dane junior mascot “Lil’ D’s” head.