The Eternal Flame of Yud Shvat
A Reflection on Legacy and Light
As we gather for our weekly Torah and Tea to study Parshat Beshalach, we do so on a uniquely meaningful day on the Jewish calendar—Yud Shvat, the 10th of Shvat.
In the world of Chabad, and far beyond it, this date marks two pivotal moments that reshaped modern Jewish life. Yud Shvat invites us to look beyond the surface of life and death, and to reflect on the enduring power of legacy.
Returning to the Garden
In 1950, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, passed away. His final maamar was titled Basi L’Gani—“I have come into My garden,” a verse from Shir HaShirim that expresses Hashem’s desire to dwell within this physical world.
The Rebbe taught that although the world can often feel distant or dark, Hashem’s original intention was for this world to be a garden—a place where His presence is revealed. While human failings may have pushed the Divine Presence into concealment, our mission is to draw it back down. Every mitzvah, every act of kindness, restores another corner of that garden.
The Heroism of Self-Sacrifice
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak embodied extraordinary courage. He lived under the brutal Soviet regime, where Jewish observance was criminalized. Despite arrests, suffering, and physical hardship, he remained unwavering.
He established yeshivot, mikvaot, and kosher infrastructure, determined that the flame of Judaism would not be extinguished. The vibrant Jewish life that has emerged from the former Soviet Union stands as a living testament to his mesirus nefesh and leadership.
The Seventh Generation and Our Mission
Exactly one year later, in 1951, his son-in-law, the Rebbe, formally accepted the mantle of leadership. Possessing unparalleled brilliance and memory, the Rebbe was defined above all by humility. He never placed himself at the center, attributing everything to his father-in-law, his Rebbe, and his guide.
In his first public address, he charged us with a defining mission: we are the seventh generation. Just as Moshe—seventh from Avraham—brought the Divine Presence down at Sinai, our task is to complete that work and usher in the era of Mashiach and universal peace.
The Eternal Father: A Lesson from Jacob
There is a fascinating and unique idea in the Talmud regarding our forefather Jacob. When discussing the passing of the Patriarchs, the Torah openly says that Abraham and Isaac "died." However, when it comes to Jacob, the Torah uses a different word: va’yigva—he "expired."
Our Sages in the Talmud (Taanis 5b) make a startling statement: "Jacob our father did not die." The Gemara immediately asks, "But did the eulogizers not eulogize him? Did the embalmers not embalm him? Was he not buried?" The answer given is one of the most famous principles in Jewish thought: "As his children are alive, so he is alive."
Why is this said specifically about Jacob and not about Abraham or Isaac?
I would like to suggest that it is because of the nature of "Fathers." We only have three "Fathers" of our nation—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After Abraham passed, we were not left as orphans because we had Isaac. After Isaac passed, we still had a father in Jacob. But after Jacob, there was no one left to take that specific title for the whole nation. If Jacob had "died" in the absolute sense, the Jewish people would have been left without a father. Therefore, Hashem tells us that Jacob did not die. He remains our eternal father, living on through the actions and the spirit of his children.
The Chain of Leadership
We see this exact same pattern in the history of Chabad. For seven generations, we had a physical, living Rebbe to lead us, one after the other.
After the Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Shneur Zalman), there was the Mittler Rebbe (Rabbi Dovber).
After him came the Tzemach Tzedek (Rabbi Menachem Mendel).
Then the Rebbe Maharash (Rabbi Shmuel),
followed by the Rebbe Rashab (Rabbi Sholom Dovber),
and then the Previous Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak).
Finally, we reached the seventh generation, our Rebbe. But after our Rebbe, there is no successor. We don't have an "eighth" Rebbe. We are the generation of the seventh.
Just as it was with Jacob, because there is no successor to "substitute" for the Rebbe, we say the same thing: He did not die. He is still with us. He is still our shepherd, our leader, and our inspiration. As long as we—his children—are alive and active, as long as we are fulfilling his instructions and living by his spirit, he is alive and effective in this world.
Living with Inspiration
This realization changes how we look at everything. It means that there has been no cessation of the Rebbe's work. It continues through every pair of Tefillin wrapped, every candle lit, and every word of Torah shared.
This truth gives me great strength, especially as we reflect on the yahrtzeit of our son, Levi Yitzchak, and our son-in-law, Menachem Mendel. Just as we said of the Rebbe, we can say in a smal way of them: They have not died.
When we see the thousands of people who were inspired by their lives to do a mitzvah, we see that their impact hasn't stopped—it has only grown. We never know the future of a child when they are born, but when a person completes their life as a righteous, holy, and devoted Chassid, we should celebrate. They stayed the course until the end.
So today, on Yud Shvat, let us not feel down or melancholy. Let us look at the incredible privilege we have to be the "children" who keep the flame alive. Let us be inspired by the lives of the Rebbes and our loved ones to bring more light into the world.
We wait for the day, very soon, when we will be reunited with our loved ones with the coming of Moshiach. As it is promised: "Those who rest in the dust will arise and sing." May it happen speedily in our days. Amen.
A Personal Reflection: Levi Yitzchak
This teaching resonates deeply for us. This past Shabbat marked the yahrzeit of our precious son, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Wolosow. We had planned a celebration to complete a Sefer Torah written in his memory and in the memory of our son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Plotkin. Though circumstances required the event to be postponed, the message remains unchanged.
When we see the countless people who put on tefillin, learn Torah, and perform acts of kindness because of their inspiration, we know that they have not departed in any spiritual sense. They remained devoted Chassidim, unwavering until the very end.
Such loss should not be viewed only through the lens of sadness. It is also a profound privilege to have been connected to souls of such depth and goodness. When we live by their teachings, they live on through us.
Looking Forward
On this Yud Shvat, as we honor the memories of the Rebbes and of our own loved ones, may we transform tears into inspiration. Let us say, “Thank You, Hashem, for such beautiful lives.”
We hold fast to the promise that soon, “those who rest in the dust will arise and sing.” May we merit to be reunited with our loved ones and witness the ultimate redemption speedily in our days. Amen.