The Children (Part VII): Anecdotes

00:00 The continuation to the earlier installments regarding Tzivas Hashem, we continue now with installment number seven. In this installment, we will cite various responses and brief anecdotes which the Rebbe had with individual children of Tzivas Hashem. In one unusual response, the Rebbe wrote the following. We'll first read it in Hebrew and then translate it in English. In English, the Rebbe says automatically, referring to the child, that since the child, ani, the person, the child should think about it, that since I am a soldier in the army of Hashem, with Kabbalah Seil accepting Hashem's kingdom, and this is generally the foundation of every army, you know, of discipline, accepting superiors' instructions. So therefore, you just need to reveal what you have in you since you are under oath already from the time of Mount Sinai, from the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. You are a soldier in Tzivas Hashem, and kipirush, this means conducting oneself on a daily basis according to Shulchan Aruch, and it will be for you much easier to accomplish it than you actually figure. Going on now to an answer that the Rebbe wrote regarding the material that is being published for Tzivas Hashem. Cheydis Kislev Tavshim Emaleph, late 1980, the Rebbe wrote the following in regards to the material that is being published and also in regards to the badge of Tzivas Hashem. The Rebbe says they should be mevader by a rov, a rav should pasken al pi halacha if they're permitted to wear this badge on Shabbos, and

02:50 he should also add the directive, his advice, and in regards to being cautious with the sacred standard, with the sacred status of the material that is being published. And kidai that this, they should publicize whatever they are releasing and publishing, and this will inspire others, and others will also begin doing it with a liveliness, with an excitement. On Chofei Teves, when the Rebbe was distributing tzakah to children, the Rebbe asked one of the children in English if he already has a badge of Tzivas Hashem. The child answered that he does not have. The Rebbe asked with a smile, why? On another occasion, about a month later, there was a father and a child who came from Kvachabad, and the Rebbe asked the child, what level are you in Tzivas Hashem? The child did not know what to answer. The Rebbe continued and explained, in Tzivas Hashem, the army of Hashem, there are many different levels. There's a katzin, which means a plain officer, and then the highest level is an aluf, a major general. The Rebbe continued, you should try to learn well and conduct yourself appropriately till you will reach the highest level. And when you will reach the level of an aluf, a major general, you should let me know. On another occasion, in a yechidus, Erev Chanukah, the Rebbe asked the child who came into yechidus, what is he learning? The child answered that he is learning Parshah Vayetze. So the Rebbe asked him a question in regards to Yankov Avinu, which

04:52 is discussed in the Parshas Vayetze. And after that, the Rebbe asked him if he is in Tzivas Hashem, if he already has a badge, and if he was promoted to a higher level. On the Nerov Shabbos, Parshas Emil, Friday before Shabbos, they notified the Rebbe that a child who is a member in Tzivas Hashem was hurt in an accident. The Rebbe responded as follows. We'll read it first in Hebrew and then translate it in English. They should promote him to a higher level in Tzivas Hashem, and that will also bring a promotion, an enhancement in the health of his body. The Rebbe concludes, ask El Alatzim, I will mention it at the resting place of the previous Rebbe in prayer. Going on now to another topic in Tzivas Hashem. During the first few months of Tzivas Hashem, there was also a badge, a certain symbol, which was made to represent Tzivas Hashem. When they sent it into the Rebbe, the symbol was basically the sun and its rays. And the Rebbe commented as follows. That the drawing of the sun and its rays, which were inside the hay, Tzivas Hashem, is exactly the Japanese flag and represents its army. And therefore, it was changed to a different symbol. To conclude with an interesting episode that took place during the Fabrengen by the Rebbe. And at one of the Fabrengens, which took place on Parshas Lech Lecha, one of the Chassidim felt that the children were pushing right near where the Rebbe was sitting. And therefore,

07:22 he wanted to remove them from the table. The Rebbe turned to him and said, they are Tzivas Hashem. They are the army. And you are a citizen. How could you tell them what to do? In fact, these children remained for the next 10 years. Many of them would sit under the Rebbe's table during the Fabrengen, listening to the Fabrengen, and absorbed everything the Rebbe was saying.