Sichot HaRan Chapter 276
Can copy this into an AI, or connect the whole library to your assistant. For deeper learning, you can directly use the original seforim, sites, and apps.
סִפְּרוּ לִי, שֶׁפַּעַם אֶחָד הָיָה מְדַבֵּר עִם אֲנָשָׁיו. וְהָיָה מוֹכִיחַ וּמְיַסֵּר אוֹתָם הַרְבֵּה בִּדְבָרִים עַל שֶׁעֲדַיִן אֵינָם עוֹבְדִים הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ כִּרְצוֹנוֹ, כְּדַרְכּוֹ הַטּוֹב תָּמִיד לְדַבֵּר רַק מִזֶּה.
The Rebbe was once lecturing his followers, reprimanding them for not serving God as truly befits Him. This was the Rebbe’s constant theme.
אַחַר כָּךְ, אַחַר שֶׁהוֹכִיחַ אוֹתָם הַרְבֵּה, אַחַר כָּךְ נִתְרַצָּה לָהֶם קְצָת. וְהִתְחִיל לְקָרְבָם וּלְדַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם רַכּוֹת. וְאָמַר: "מָה אֲנִי רוֹצֶה מֵהֶם, הֲלֹא אַף עַל פִּי כֵן הֵם אֲנָשִׁים כְּשֵׁרִים".
After admonishing them, the Rebbe began to make up with his followers. He drew them close and spoke very gently. He said, “What do I want from them? They are still religious people, are they not?”
וְהִתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר עַל לִבָּם וְכוּ'.
The Rebbe then began speaking to their hearts.
אַחַר כָּךְ עָנָה וְאָמַר: "בְּוַדַּאי אַתֶּם אֲנָשִׁים כְּשֵׁרִים, אַךְ אִלּוּ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ קָטָן כְּמוֹ אָנֹכִי בְּוַדַּאי הָיָה דַּי מְאֹד הָעֲבוֹדָה שֶׁלָּכֶם, אֲבָל בֶּאֱמֶת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ גָּדוֹל מְאֹד מְאֹד, עַל כֵּן בְּוַדַּאי צְרִיכִין לְחַזֵּק בְּכָל פַּעַם בְּרָצוֹן חָזָק לְעָבְדוֹ כָּרָאוּי לַעֲבֹד אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ אֲשֶׁר לִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵקֶר".
He said, “You are certainly good people. If God were small like me, your devotion would certainly be sufficient. But God is very, very great! You must gird yourself with a strong desire to serve God properly, for you are serving One 'Whose greatness cannot be fathomed’ (Psalms 145:3).”
וְהֵרִים אָז אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְהִגְבִּיהַּ יָדָיו לְמַעְלָה, וְאָמַר: "אֲבָל הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ גָּדוֹל כָּל כָּךְ וְכוּ'" כַּנַּ"ל, וְנָשָׂא יָדָיו לְמַעְלָה בִּתְנוּעָה נִפְלָאָה לְרַמֵּז עַל הַפְלָגַת גְּדֻלָּתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ.
The Rebbe then raised himself and lifted his hands over his head. He repeated the words, “But God is so great ….” Then he then lifted his hands, using them to express God’s greatness.