Bayis - A person's Home - Part 3

00:01 The hemshech in continuation to the earlier installments on the concept of a home, a bayis, bayis Yehudi, a Yiddish home, we now continue to discuss additional aspects on this topic. In the earlier installment, we discussed the Rebbe's sicha as the Rebbe related the story of Rab Shmuel Munkes coming to the Alter Rebbe's home and requesting to be allowed into the house. We now continue to refer back to the Rebbe's insights on this story and what this implies and teaches us in Avodas Hashem in one's personal service to the Creator. We will now return to the dialogue between the Alter Rebbe and Rab Shmuel Munkes. The Alter Rebbe asked, "What do you want?" As if saying, "Is it clear to you why you have come here?" "Yes," Rab Shmuel replied, "I have come to warm myself. I realize that my previous goals are not sufficient. I feel like I have been stumbling in the darkness, and now I wish to learn from you how to serve Hashem with all my heart. I recognize that from the outside, many houses ap-appear to be nicer and are more appealing. However, I realize if there is no light inside the house, this is not the place for a Jew." "Surely, there are other houses where, where you can warm yourself," the Alter Rebbe replied. "Are you prepared for the kind of spiritual exertion that will be required of you here? You will not be able to elevate yourself just by being near the Rebbe. If that is your intention,

02:11 there are other tzadikim who will welcome you. Here, you will have to work hard on your own." Rab Shmuel replied, "Isn't this a Jewish house? If I must, I'll force my way in." "Yes," Rab Shmuel was saying, "that is exactly what I want. I have no desire to go elsewhere. My only desire is to stay with you. I know you can guide me and teach me how to serve Hashem, and I am determined to stay here no matter what." The Alter Rebbe replied, "If you force your way in, the goy will throw you out. Not the goy who is the servant of the house, the goy in your heart. Since you have not yet refined yourself completely, and you still perceive yourself and the world as independent entities, that is to some degree independent of Hashem, you will not be able to attain the true light of the Torah and true service of Hashem. This is not something that can be achieved by force." The Rebbe's words penetrated Rab Shmuel's heart, and he cried out, "Oi Rebbe, my goy is stronger." We must understand that Rab Shmuel was already an exceptionally accomplished scholar and considered a tzadik in his own right. He had come to the Alter Rebbe in order to dedicate himself even more to the service of Hashem. The Alter Rebbe was confronting this head-on. "Don't think you can rest on your spiritual experience," he was saying. "It is true you have achieved a lot, but there is still a goy, a strange

04:22 God within your heart who will throw you out and prevent you from achieving your goal." Of course, uh, as it will be mentioned further, this speaks about the yetzer hara, the evil inclination. Hearing that, Rab Shmuel realized that there was still something separating him from recognizing the true oneness of Hashem. From the depth of his heart, he cried out, "Oi Rebbe, please let me in." Realizing how strong his goy was really, that the yetzer hara still had a subtle control over his character and his middas, Rab Shmuel also realized that he could never overcome it without the crucial help of the Rebbe. Once Rab Shmuel had come to this conclusion, the Alter Rebbe let him in and agreed to be his teacher. Rab Shmuel had become a Hasid.