The year after the Rebbe added the new Mitzva campaign of Ahavas Yisroel (1976), I had the nerve of asking him, “Rebbe, all the other Mitzva campaigns are practical mitzvos – a practice of a specific mitzva, but this new campaign of Ahavas Yisroel is basically theoretical and generalization without any specific act in mind?”
The Rebbe looked very surprised and said something like, “Theoretical?! Since the 6-days of Creation Hashem is busy making Shidduchim. The practical application of Ahavas Yisroel is to help make shidduchim.” I asked, “Isn’t shidduchim just another among many types of chessed?”
He answered, “No, Chazal tell us that the entire reason a man and women must meet before they marry is V’Ahavta L’rayacha Komocha – a shadchan helps facilitate this meeting.”
I asked jokingly, “So you want all Chassidim to become matchmakers?!” He became very serious and replied, “The first Chosid of a 'Rebbe' was Eliezer, the servant of Avraham. His defining legacy was being a Shadchan, making a Shidduch! Making Shidduchim is the truest expression of Ahavas Yisroel and of being a chosid. It allows humans to partner with Hashem in His Holy work of making Shidduchim. It helps bring down the souls needed to hasten Moshiach. And for the Shluchim it will help combat the ravages of intermarriage which does the opposite of hastening Moshiach. Those that involve themselves in this Ahavas Yisroel will be blessed with abundance of success, material, and spiritual wealth. That is a practical expression of Ahavas Yisroel that hastens Moshiach, a time when the possuk says: Od yishoma kol chosson v’kol kallah – a reference to Shidduchim.”
I asked: “But not every chosid has the ability to be a Shaddchan! Some don’t even know how to do it! They have no experience with making Shidduchim! They wouldn’t even know how to begin!” He responded, “Do you think Eliezer was an experienced Shaddchan? Not at all. But he was a Chosid and he knew he needed to become a Shadchan, so he prayed that Hashem should help him. It worked for him, (the Rebbe smiled) and he made a good shidduch for Yitzchok. With prayer, everyone can and must become a Shadchan. That is the practical application of Ahavas Yisroel.”
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