The year after the Rebbe added the new Mitzva campaign of Ahavas Yisroel (1976), I had the nerve of asking him, âRebbe, all the other Mitzva campaigns are practical Mitzvos â a practice of a specific Mitzva, but this new campaign of Ahavas Yisroel is basically theoretical and generalization without any specific act in mind?â
The Rebbe looked very surprised and said something like, âTheoretical?! Since the 6-days of Creation Hashem is busy making Shidduchim. The practical application of Ahavas Yisroel is to help make Shidduchim.âÂ
I asked, âIsnât Shidduchim just another among many types of Chessed?â
He answered something like, âNo, Chazal tell us that the entire reason a man and women must meet before they marry is "××××ת ××¨×˘× ××××" â a Shadchan helps facilitate this meeting.âÂ
I asked jokingly, âSo you want all Chassidim to become matchmakers?!â
He became very serious and replied something like, âThe first chosid of a âRebbeâ 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: ע×× ×׊×ע ק×× ××Ş× ×ק×× ××× â a reference to ShidduchimâÂ
I asked/commented, âBut not every Chosid has the ability to be a Shaddchan! Some donât even know how to do it! They have no experience with making Shidduchim! They wouldnât even know how to begin!â
He responded, âDo 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.â
Although I put âquotationsâ â these were for sure not the EXACT words and I am really unsure if those were the meaning of his words â this is merely what I understood.
My own thoughts: This was well before the concerns over âShidduch crisisâ or the current extreme high level of intermarriage. In hindsight we can see from this the far reaching foresight of a true leader who sees and plans ahead and preempts solutions, and it is all part of his master plan to hasten the coming of Moshiach.
Malka
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