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Reb Zushe Wilmowsky: Difference between revisions
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He built his home with Mrs. Feiga of the Poker family, and the Rebbe wrote that it would be preferable for them to establish their residence in Kfar Chabad, and indeed after the wedding they settled in Kfar Chabad. | He built his home with Mrs. Feiga of the Poker family, and the Rebbe wrote that it would be preferable for them to establish their residence in Kfar Chabad, and indeed after the wedding they settled in Kfar Chabad. | ||
== Establishing Tomchei Tmimim Lod == | |||
At the beginning of Shevat 5709, thirteen Chabad families settled at the edge of Lod city, near the train station, in a neighborhood abandoned by Arabs during the War of Independence. R' Zusha understood that they must establish a yeshiva for the children of these families and for other Chabad Chassidic families who had recently immigrated from Europe. One day he came to Lod and saw a three-story building that had previously served as a small hotel. He entered the building, locked the main door with a lock, and established a fact - here would be the "Tomchei Tmimim" Yeshiva. | |||
Thus was founded the central "Tomchei Tmimim" Yeshiva in Lod, which R' Zusha managed from its establishment under the auspices of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in Israel under the leadership of Rabbi Eliezer Karasik and according to the instructions of the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe. R' Zusha Wilmowsky played an important role in bringing Yemenite immigrant children closer to Chabad and integrating them into the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Lod. | Thus was founded the central "Tomchei Tmimim" Yeshiva in Lod, which R' Zusha managed from its establishment under the auspices of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in Israel under the leadership of Rabbi Eliezer Karasik and according to the instructions of the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe. R' Zusha Wilmowsky played an important role in bringing Yemenite immigrant children closer to Chabad and integrating them into the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Lod. | ||
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== The Rebbe's Partisan == | == The Rebbe's Partisan == | ||
R' Zusha was a symbol of connection to the Rebbe, and all his | R' Zusha was a symbol of hiskashrus (connection) to the Rebbe, and all his conversations and activities revolved around one topic: how to carry out the Rebbe's instructions. As he explained in an interview with Kol Yisrael radio: | ||
"I believe with complete | "I believe with complete emunah that my neshamah that descended to this world cannot fulfill its shlichus in this world without the Rebbe's instructions. The shoresh haneshamah of every chassid is connected to the Rebbe - what the Rebbe tells him, he needs to fulfill, and that is his neshamah's shlichus." | ||
== | == Bringing Joy at Simchas Beis Hashoeva == | ||
For many years, R' Zusha made sure to | For many years, R' Zusha made sure to come to the Rebbe every Tishrei, until he became an integral part of the atmosphere. One year, R' Zusha wrote to the Rebbe that the abundant work during Tishrei infused him with special chayus for the entire year. He effectively served as the head of the first group from Eretz Hakodesh that came to the Rebbe. After every tefillah, he would start a joyous niggun, and the Rebbe would encourage him. When the Rebbe didn't see him, he would search for him, find him, and then encourage him to start a niggun. At farbrengens, he would stand behind the Rebbe and would encourage and direct the chassidim's singing. He was also in charge of shiurim for guests, and in his later years became an inseparable part of Simchas Beis Hashoeva, standing on a tall barrel, playing the flute and bringing joy to the participants. | ||
== First Visit to the Rebbe == | |||
He first came to the Rebbe before Tishrei 1960. On the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah, during the farbrengen with a crowd of chassidim present, the Rebbe referred to R' Zusha by his earlier title "Partisan," explaining the avodah of a partisan: | |||
''"There is a Yid here called Zusha Wilimovsky, and he is a partisan. A partisan's approach is that he doesn't look at big things or small things, but carries out matters of the monarchy. Since there are still 20 or 21 things that need to be done before Moshiach comes, we need to work in a partisan way. Although it's not organized, it's according to the kavannah."'' | |||
At that farbrengen, the Rebbe spoke about the importance of Torah study in general, and particularly by the guests who came to 770. In this context, the Rebbe asked R' Zusha if he agreed to be responsible for organizing shiurim for the guests. R' Zusha responded affirmatively. | |||
The Rebbe gave R' Zusha his becher, and R' Zusha drank the wine that was in the becher and returned it to the Rebbe. Afterwards, the Rebbe gave him the plate of mezonos that was placed before him, and immediately the chassidim grabbed all the mezonos. R' Zusha looked at the Rebbe, not knowing how to act. The Rebbe looked right and left, and after a few seconds, all the mezonos returned to the plate. When R' Zusha began walking between the benches towards his regular place, the Rebbe told him: "Walk straight, I'm watching over you." This was the first time the Rebbe called him partisan. Over the years, the Rebbe continued to call him 'the Partisan' and 'mein partisan' [my partisan]. Sometimes when the Rebbe didn't see R' Zusha at farbrengens, the Rebbe would ask "Vu iz mein partisan?" [Where is my partisan?] This title stuck with him, and the chassidim also called him this verbally and in writing: the Partisan. | |||
This partisan way was how he operated all the time. He had no funding sources, employees, or personal assistants, but he worked with all his energy, wherever he was needed, and was present wherever he knew he was needed - all with simplicity, without holding an official position and without receiving a salary. In many places, he planted seeds and let others continue to tend to the plants that would grow. This was true with the yeshiva in Lod, through the Reshet, and culminating in establishing and developing Kfar Chabad, and his legendary help to the Rebbe's shluchim wherever they were. | |||
He | The middah of simcha was an inseparable part of him. He always had a bottle of mashke in hand, and he danced at every opportunity. Before flights and during flights, at farbrengens and at hachnosas orchim meals, at farbrengens he stood behind the Rebbe encouraging and directing the singing; during kos shel bracha distribution he would dance in place for long hours, clapping hands vigorously and encouraging the surrounding simcha with characteristic hand movements. | ||
== Annual Visits to the Rebbe == | |||
For many years, R' Zusha made sure to visit the Rebbe during the month of Tishrei, until he became an integral part of the atmosphere. In one of the years, R' Zusha wrote to the Rebbe that the extensive work during Tishrei infused him with special vitality for the entire year. He effectively served as the head of the first group from the Holy Land to visit the Rebbe. After every prayer, he would begin a joyous tune, and the Rebbe would encourage him. When the Rebbe didn't see him, he would search for him and find him and then encourage him to start a tune. During farbrengens (Chassidic gatherings), he stood behind the Rebbe, encouraging and directing the Chassidim's singing; he was also in charge of organizing classes for visitors. | |||
== Moshiach Activities == | == Moshiach Activities == | ||