Shneur Zalman Rubishov, more commonly known as Shazar - the third President of the State of Israel, came from a Chabad upbringing but ultimately wandered off into secular Zionism. It seems however that in his heart there remained some Chabadsker warmth. So everybody knows that in Chabad the alter Rebbe’s niggun Daled Bavos is mamash Sanctum Sanctorum. It is sung in public only on very rare occasions. When a Lubavitcher chasid would find himself in a real tight spot he would sing the niggun to himself an salvation would quickly come. Shazar, even in his bareheaded days followed this custom.
Then in 1947 he was sent by the Jewish Agency to UN General Assembly where the was going to be a vote on whether the UN would support a Jewish State in Palestine. Shazar was sitting there in unbearable trepidation, "Will they vote for us or not?" He attempted to sing the niggun Daled Bavos but this very familiar niggun disappeared from his memory. He realized that the gates of heaven were closed and he started sweating while trying with all his might to retrieve the niggun. Finaly, from the depths of desperation he reached into his pocket and took out a slip of paper upon which he wrote the words, "Ana Hashem Hoshia Na!" He then turned around an handed it to a man sitting behind him who looked a little Jewish. The man immediately handed back the paper with the words, "Ana Hashem Hatzlicha Na!" And all heaven’s gates burst open; the Alter Rebbe’s niggun came down. And Shazar knew not to worry about a thing, because everythin’ is gonna be alright. And the motion for a Jewish State passed in the UN with 33 votes for, 13 against, and 10 abstaining.
Shazar later told this story to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Reb Yosef Yitzchak, who told him that the passing of the notes was like an act of prayer.
Then in 1947 he was sent by the Jewish Agency to UN General Assembly where the was going to be a vote on whether the UN would support a Jewish State in Palestine. Shazar was sitting there in unbearable trepidation, "Will they vote for us or not?" He attempted to sing the niggun Daled Bavos but this very familiar niggun disappeared from his memory. He realized that the gates of heaven were closed and he started sweating while trying with all his might to retrieve the niggun. Finaly, from the depths of desperation he reached into his pocket and took out a slip of paper upon which he wrote the words, "Ana Hashem Hoshia Na!" He then turned around an handed it to a man sitting behind him who looked a little Jewish. The man immediately handed back the paper with the words, "Ana Hashem Hatzlicha Na!" And all heaven’s gates burst open; the Alter Rebbe’s niggun came down. And Shazar knew not to worry about a thing, because everythin’ is gonna be alright. And the motion for a Jewish State passed in the UN with 33 votes for, 13 against, and 10 abstaining.
Shazar later told this story to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Reb Yosef Yitzchak, who told him that the passing of the notes was like an act of prayer.
No comments:
Post a Comment