Bonding with the Rebbe through Audio

Bonding with the Rebbe through Audio

Rabbi Y. Oliver

Earlier we discussed the tremendous potential for Kedusha that lies in modern audio technology.

This technology is particularly beneficial for chassidim, who should make a point of regularly learning our Rebbe’s teachings. It enables those who understand Yiddish (see here) to listen to the Rebbe speak directly, without the intermediate stage of a transcript, which although faithful to the original, invariably loses much in translation.

Moreover, audio of the Rebbe’s holy sichos can inspire the person emotionally in a way that would not be possible through studying the transcripts (edited or unedited) of his sichos.

As the Rebbe said many times, “Words that emanate from the heart will penetrate the heart” (Sefer HaYashar of Rabeinu Tam #313) and have their desired impact. The Rebbe Rashab explains (Sefer HaMa’amarim 5671, p. 44) that this is referring specifically to spoken words, for since they are uttered with passion and enthusiasm, they have a special power to penetrate the heart.

Moreover, Chassidus explains (see ibid.; Sefer HaMa’amarim 5666, p. 493; Toras Menachem 5713, Vol. 1, p. 254) that speech stems from the essence of the soul, as it is written, “his soul went forth in his speech” (“נפשי יצאה בדברו”—Shir HaShirim 5:6). (Unfortunately this also holds true in the negative sense, for the deepest evil traits in a person are revealed specifically through vile speech—see Sefer HaMa’amarim 5670 p. 21).

So to “translate” this to listening to the Rebbe: Since emotions are expressed in speech, the Rebbe’s holy emotions—faith in Hashem, love and fear of Hashem, love of Torah, love of his fellow Jew, and so on—are surely expressed in his speech. And since all the Rebbe’s words surely “emanate from the heart,” listening to his words surely has a special power to “penetrate the heart” of the listener. Moreover, since spoken words stem from the essence of the soul, it follows that listening to the Rebbe speaking has the power to connect the listener to the essence of the Rebbe’s soul.

Using audio technology was always a very important way to bond with the Rebbe, even before Gimmel Tammuz, back in the day of cassette tapes. However, it is obviously vital after Gimmel Tammuz, when, due to our many sins, we are no longer able to hear the Rebbe speak physically.

Although hearing the Rebbe’s holy words directly and physically is surely likely to have the greatest impact on one’s feelings, in the meantime it surely behoves us to take advantage of the technology available (such as iPods, mp3 players, etc.) to maintain our bond with the Rebbe as much as possible despite his (temporary) concealment from us.

And this will prepare us to see and hear him address us again, and reveal to once and for all the most sublime and sweet secrets of Torah, may it happen now!