A Fresh Start

00:04 Speaker 1 L’chaim, l’chaim. L’chaim. L’chaim, and l’chaim.

00:05 Speaker 2 L’chaim.

00:10 Speaker 1 The story is about the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe Rashab. Reb Shlomo Chaim went in for his first yechidus with the Frierdiker Rebbe. Since he wanted to be a chossid of the Frierdiker Rebbe, he wrote down everything: what he had discussed with the Rebbe Rashab, the matters concerning his spiritual life, what he had asked and what the Rebbe Rashab had answered him, and likewise what had happened a year later. Now, as he went in to the Rebbe, the Frierdiker Rebbe, Reb Shlomo Chaim wrote out all these matters for him, including what had taken place with the Rebbe’s father, the Rebbe Rashab. He wrote it all down for the Rebbe—this and that, a long account of everything that had happened up to that day. He wanted to truly continue with the Rebbe, the Frierdiker Rebbe. The Frierdiker Rebbe took Reb Shlomo Chaim’s note and looked at it, looking and looking. The Rebbe said, “Shlomo Chaim, Shlomo Chaim, what good are those old things? What good are those old things? Forget them! In 5666 this happened, in 5667 that happened, in 5668... Forget, forget, and you’ll have those same strengths. [unclear] And then you forget what happened. What happened, happened. A new time has come, [unclear] on the Rebbe’s shlichus, and you can rise higher.” The Rebbe says:

02:25 Speaker 1 “After all, it’s Pesach Sheni now. We’re counting the Omer; it’s 20 Iyar, and after that [unclear]. It’s a new month of Iyar. [unclear]” There is something tremendous in a single day. Remembering the sins of one’s youth—certainly. That is what the Frierdiker Rebbe says to Reb Shlomo Chaim: “What good are those old things? What good are those old things to us? Put the old things aside; put them in a suitcase. You can start something new here. Every day is a new day.” [unclear] L’chaim, l’chaim, friends, l’chaim. To be silent, to forget the sins of one’s youth.