The KOTZKER REBBE on Parashat BO

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H 

Translation:

BO - COME 

A famous and popular teaching by the Kotzker Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Morgensztern, 1787 - 1859): 

"Hashem said to Moshe: COME (BO) to Pharaoh ..."

Why is G - d telling Moshe to COME to Pharaoh instead of GOING to Pharaoh ? Moshe is not there yet and still needs to go to Pharaoh in order to speak to him. 

The Kotzker Rebbe sees the BO as if G - d Himself is already there. He is a Pharaoh's and waiting for Moshe to COME. This implies that, wherever the Jews are going to, G - d is already there. Even in the Diaspora, the Jews are not alone. 

Whenever we feel alone, we are not, as there are two "people": Me and G - d.

Emet - Truth

 Kotel - Western Wall in Jerusalem

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H 

The unique nature of Truth is that it can never be forged, for if it is forged it is no longer truth! 
(Kotzker Rebbe)

Truth - Emet

B"H

In a chassidic sense, "Truth - Emet" means a total sincere devotion to G - d. Serving Him sincerely without any external selfish motives. The idea of directing the mind solely to G - d while studying Torah and doing Mitzvot. Falsehood is spiritual death, but G - d is present when truth is present.

Chassidut Gur took over the Peshis'cha as well as the Kotzker ideology and especially the Kotzker Rebbe, emphasized the concept of truth.

How much I wish that today's reality would show more truth. Nowadays, too many Rabbis are just running after fame in order to satisfy their urge for acceptance. Today, too many Rebbes as well as the Rabbis of the litvishe world in Israel deal with politics and thus forget the absolut devotion to G - d.

________________________

Source:

"The Encyclopedia of Hasidim"

by Tzvi M. Rabinowicz

Where is G - d ?

B"H

The Kotzker Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Morgensztern, 1787-1859, was asked where is G - d ? He responded: "Where you let him in !"

A Teaching of the Kotzker Rebbe

B"H

The Kotzker Rebbe Menachem Mendel Morgenstern (original name: Halprin) was an important chassidic Rabbi in Polish Chassidut. He lived from 1787 - 1859 and was a step towards the foundation of Chassidut Gur.

An important teaching of the Kotzker Rebbe was that none of his Chassidim was allowed searching for the truth outside the approved ways (Torah, Talmud, Midrash, Mussar, Maharal of Prag, etc.).

"Only G - d is truth in Himself; human beings can only be searchers for truth. And as they seek the nearness of G - d, they must be forever on guard, lest pride or egocentricity pervert the purity of their quest".

The Kotzker Chassidim were encouraged to examine their own conscience and the firmness of their faith by constant self - questioning. Those Chassidim who had doubts about the existence of G - d were told that they needed not to fear as long as they believed that without G - d, life was not worth living, they still were on - the - derech (orthodox).

The main goal of this concept was that someone searching seriously and enthusiastically for G - d would discover such deep religious aspects bringing him automatically closer to G - d. On the way of his search, he would find G - d and strengthen his faith even more than ever before.