Chassidic Elders
The elder Chassidim of Lubavitch are known as "Ziknei HaChassidim" or "Ziknei Anash." They serve as role models for younger Chassidim in implementing Chassidic ways and teachings, and actively foster unity, love, and brotherhood among Chassidim.
The Greatness of Elder ChassidimEdit
The elder Chassidim were veteran Chassidim who would repeat the words and customs of our Rebbeim. They are called the "pillars" of Chassidus.
Most of the familiar stories we have about our Rebbeim come from the elder Chassidim who heard or saw the events and passed them on to their descendants.
One elder Chassid once remarked about two brothers: "They love each other like Chassidim love one another."
The Rebbeim's Relationship with Elder ChassidimEdit
The Rebbe Rashab said: "One must learn to receive from elder Chassidim. Once, two great Chassidim stayed in Lubavitch, and for nine months I was occupied with matters discussed then."
In Sefer HaMaamarim[1] it is recorded that throughout the generations, elder Chassidim would warn their students to remember how each time of year was observed by Chassidim in earlier times - how Chassidim of old experienced Elul, the days of Selichos, preparation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the time of our rejoicing, weekdays, Shabbos and holidays.
Elder Chassidim would say: "Who is a Chassid? One who has mastery over himself"[2].The Rebbe Rashab said: "A Chassid creates an environment around himself. If there is no environment around him - he must examine himself well, his personal state. This fact alone - that he does not create an environment - should break him, and he should ask himself: What am I doing in the world?"
The Rebbe Rashab also said: "An older Chassid must dedicate himself to guiding young married men, and the more one guides others, the more one must guide oneself doubly." However, among Chassidim they didn't use the term 'old Chassid', rather they said 'older Chassid' ('an elterer Chassid'). Once they told the Rebbe Rayatz that his faithful secretary, the Chassid Reb Yechezkel Feigin, remarked: "A Chassid never grows old," and the Rebbe greatly enjoyed this saying.
The Rebbe Rayatz says in one of his talks: "A Chassid neither pursues nor is pursued. He does not chase after material matters and is not pursued by the evil inclination." Similarly, he writes in one of his letters: "A Chassid mocks the evil inclination. All the work is with the animal soul, not with the evil inclination."
He further states that a Chassid's essence is joy and love of others. Thus he writes: "Among Chassidim there was never a lack of joy and friendship. These two things are Chassidic traits, and they always exist in their essence and reality, except that sometimes they are concealed and need to be revealed."
In Chabad LiteratureEdit
Many books and pamphlets were written inspired by elder Chassidim:
- The First Chassidim
- In the Ways of the Chassidim
- Lubavitch and its Soldiers