Now for my final post on this thread iyh. Heres a summary:
The Rebbe took two FACTS and made a chiddush by putting one as a reason for the other.
Fact one: Hashem reveals Himself to the world through Tzaddikim. “Atzmus Umehus areingeshtelt in guf.”
Some mekoros of this idea:
1) The Rebbe’s five: R Yitzchak called Hevaya bheichal kodsho, a malach called by Hashem’s Name while doing His shlichus, Moshe rabbeinu using Hashem’s pronuon by Vnosati Esev, Rashbi’s face being likened to The Face of Hashem
2) Nefesh Hachayim 1:4 hagoh- same words pretty much verbatim
3)Medrash tehillim 90:1
4)
כי רועה ישראל חשוב כאלוקים ממש כי יושב על כסא ”
השם בארץ … והיינו כיון שהגון חשוב כאלוקות
”
ההשפעה הבאה מרוח קדשו של צדיק הדור אשר השכינה שורה בתוכו וממנו יומשך קדושה ”
“לכל דורו והוא מעונו של הקב”ה ששוכן בקרבו
Both of these quotes are from the Heilige Chasam Sofer (al Hatorah). The first is from Parshas Matos on the Posuk VaYimosru MeAlfei Yisroel the second is from Parshas Ki Tovo on the Posuk Hashkifah MiMeon Kodshecha. (Whis as he says there refers to the Tzadik Hador who is the Maon Kodhso of HKB”H)
Fact two: We can go to Tzaddikim with requests for brachos, although to ask the sun for brachos would be AZ.
Sources:
1) שות מנחת אלעזר סימן סח
2) Tzaddikim being alive after their passing- NEFESH HACHAIM 4:21, also Tanya Iggros Kodesh
3)Tshuvos Mahram Shick, Orach Chayim, 293
So the Rebbe just said the REASON why its ok to go to a Rebbe for brachos is BECAUSE we, Hashem and the Torah are all one, and Hashem is revelaed through the Rebbe.
Now I wanted to know why people would never question the Nefesh Hachaim for saying the EXACT same thing as what theyre all upset about, but feel the Rebbe they can question if he is a gadol. I said this makes no sense because:
1) He made this statement before he became Rebbe AND never retracted it (just remember the NH said the same thing, and lots of other sources, no need why he should retract it.)
2) Spent the rest of his life as a complete tzaddik
3) Was accepted as such by the majority of gedolim, (and I wont address the minority because I don’t want to go there, and anyway unless you say you specifically follow those one or two on every issue in your life (which i am almost sure you don’t, and choosing them davka here to hate on chabad is exactly that, sinas chinam.)
So who is anyone else to say that its “problematic”?
Other sources on the importance of connecting to a tzaddik and how hashem’s hashpoah comes through the tzaddik:
Sefer Hamitzvos 7 (connecting)
Tanya Perek Beis (hashpoah through)
darshos haRan 8 (and even after passing)
Noam Elimelech https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/chabad-shluchah-please-explain-why-davening-to-betten-a-rebbe-is-okay/page/7/#post-1466838
NO ONE DAVENS to the Rebbe, just asks for brachos to be brought down from what Hashem has alloted.
To understand more, there’s a need to learn the concept that NOTHING is a separate entity from Hashem (that would otherwise be the opposite of achdus Hashem cvs), it can only look that way, and our job is to REVEAL how everything is one with Hashem. by a tzaddik this is revealed. (See Shaar Hayichud vHoemuna which is Tanya section two for more on this)
AZ is something that thinks its a separate existence or power from Hashem, and serving it, is treating something like something separate and having power other than Hashem.
Sources outside of the Rebbe about looking at the image of a tzaddik to arouse Yiras Shomayim:
1)Kav Hayashar (16th century)
Concept of mimutza hamechaber vs hamafsik and the need for tzaddikim through which we connect to Hashem
@Chabad Shluchah Please Explain Why Davening To/Betten a Rebbe is Okay
Anyhow there’s many many more sources I am sure, because chassidus never makes things up, just emphasizes the ideas, brings them out of hiding, and elaborates. If you want to ask something else, feel free on another thread. Just do me a favor and stick to one question at a time. Otherwise, its impossible to address properly.
On why we obssess over our Rebbe and how the Rebbe helps me serve Hashem better:
@Chabad Shluchah Please Explain Why Davening To/Betten a Rebbe is Okay
@Chabad Shluchah Please Explain Why Davening To/Betten a Rebbe is Okay
As requested:
Rebyid 23: why not Moshe Rabbeinu himself
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/chabad-shluchah-please-explain-why-davening-to-betten-a-rebbe-is-okay/page/3/#post-1462840 #1