Thousands of Vizhnitz Hasidim, from all over the country, gathered at midnight on the eve of Holy Shabbat, to recite the first "Selichot Rishonoth" in the shadow of the Rebbe.
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A few minutes before the Rebbe entered the exalted position, his eldest son, the Rev. Rabbi Chaim Meir Hagar, Av Beit Din of Vizhnitz, ascended, carrying a load of reinforcement.
In his words, spoken with a storm of emotion and an excited heart, the Av Beit Din recounted the feelings in the holy courtyard, openly addressed the complex medical treatments the Rebbe is undergoing, and encouraged the Hasidim to continue to increase their prayers and supplications.
Full load:
""Dear Jews, in addition to all the work that is incumbent upon every Jew during these days of the Days of Mercy and Forgiveness, we, the Hasidim of Vizhnitz, also have a duty to take advantage of the Days of Mercy for our Father, the Rebbe, the Rebbe. The public is called upon tomorrow to recite the entire Book of Psalms together as is customary, and to add more strength to the Torah by studying at least two hours together in large numbers. Prayer is one of the things that everyone needs strength in.".
In his remarks, the High Commissioner sought to raise three important points.
""The first point, which everyone knows, is that we need prayers for our crown and shepherd, who has been dealing with an 'unexpected guest' for two years. A'Amor Shlita has gone through, and still needs to continue to go through – treatments that are not easy at all, they weaken and increase his strength, as the public sees with their own eyes. We need to pray to quickly bring the right effect in completeness, as my brother Shechi (Rabbi Yaakov Mordechai, Av Beit Din of Elad), already aroused the public last week in a telephone message.
""Second, from this we need to know that, by the grace of God, there is something to pray for. In God's great mercy, we intuitively see the words that are immediately said in the selichot, 'God preserves all who love Him,' we see a special supreme providence in the Father, that there is an address where it goes. Even though prayer is always right, and the Sages say, 'Even if a sharp sword is placed on a person's neck, let him not despair of mercy,' we hold on to God's grace in a situation like this. For us, the language of 'let him despair of mercy,' God forbid, does not belong at all.
""We see with our senses, even in the last few weeks, when the father was very weak and the doctors were pondering and debating how to proceed, heaven showed that new gates were opening, a real reality of growing salvations and creating cures, and efforts in medical matters are advancing further. In any case, as we said, we need to pray and, God willing, there is something to pray for.".
""Third - and this is the most important: all the time, literally all the time, we see intuitively that Israel's prayers help, Israel's prayers make an impression, the power of prayer is above all. We see intuitively that when people pray, there is a great awakening and it makes it easier for the father. This in itself should be a huge strengthening for each of us, what the power of prayer means. When you look at it, over these two years alone, you get terrible powers, what prayer means. Anyway, from all these three points, one big point actually comes out: Dear Jews, prayers!""
With great emotion, the Av Beit Din described the strength of his father the Rebbe's faith and complete abandonment, in the face of difficult medical treatments.
""I can say, we all know from this, that in the entire period of these two years, Aamo"r Shlit"a did not even once ask or request treatment if it was successful, not only in the major surgery or in other things, not even once! Aamo"r follows a clear path, that what the doctors say should be done as an effort, but beyond that - nothing. There is no special meaning to him whether it was successful according to their perception or not, he did his thing, and left the rest to the Holy One, blessed be He. In any case, we too need to, not only us, every Hasid is very concerned for the father, inquire and ask what is happening and what the situation is. But what is incumbent on us? Prayers! This is our duty and this is what really helps.
""The 'honest of truth' was once walking on a road in a harsh winter, and fell into the mud. The mud was deep and the rain was pouring down heavily, and he was unable to extricate himself from there. He clasped his hands and shouted: 'Lord of the universe! I know what you want from me, you want me to do a lot of repentance. That's true, I really need to do a lot of repentance, but I ask you, Lord of the universe, in such a situation can I do a lot of repentance? In the mud can I do anything? I ask you, get me out of here and I will truly take on a new awakening!'.
""Tierere Yidden! Amor goes through so much, not for himself, but for us! They want us to repent! We are going to say Selichot, it is a time of soul-searching, a heart knows the bitterness of its soul, but we must raise our hands to heaven and beg: True, awakening is indeed required, but if we look at our Rebbe like this, is it possible to have a proper awakening of closeness to God when we do not hear from Amor the Torah of preparing for Rosh Hashanah? When the fire of the 'Tish' is not enough? When the 'verses of the Zimra' are missing? How can we properly correct what needs to be corrected?".
""Therefore, let us ask God: Give us back our father, our Rebbe, our leader, with healthy strength! With strong strength! And he will lead us day after day, and then we will be able to worship God with all our strength!"
""We are now going to ask 'to hear the sound of the Torah and the prayer.' The 'Tiferet Shlomo' writes that the sound of the Torah means the sound of the Torah. The power of the Torah with the power of prayer, and these two great powers together, with God's help, will shake the worlds! May God help us and we will see openly and soon the complete salvation, and may it be a good writing and signature for the Amor and for all Jews, that we may be heralded in redemption and salvation and may we be worthy to do all that is good!".
At the end of his speech, the Rebbe of Vizhnitz appeared in the Great Beit Midrash Hall, wrapped in the Talit inherited from his elder, the Rebbe of the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz, and descended before the Ark to recite the entire Seder of Slichot in a melodious version.
At the end of the recitation of the selichot, the Hasidim burst into sacred melodies from the High Holy Days, with the Rebbe vigorously encouraging the singing.
