The Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, passed away on Yud Shevat, 1950. Soon after the shiva was over, individual chasidim–from the most prominent of the elder chasidim to young yeshiva students–began approaching the Rebbe, begging him to accept the mantle of leadership.

Upon the completion of the thirty day period of mourning for the Previous Rebbe, the Rebbe received petitions with hundreds of signatures, from Israel, England, and D.P. Camps in Germany proclaiming the chasidim’s acceptance of the Rebbe as the Nasi–or leader, of Chabad-Lubavitch. But the Rebbe had not accepted the leadership. In fact, as an outward sign of his refusal, the Rebbe removed the long, black coat worn by chasidim for Shabbat and holidays that had been his garb during the entire 30 days of mourning and reverted to wearing a regular suit.

Though an Israeli newspaper from autumn, 1950, reported on a gathering of chasidim in Jerusalem from throughout the Holy Land at which point they “crowned” the Rebbe as the new Rebbe, the Rebbe did not accept the position or title. In fact, when the Rebbe found out that a Lubavitch emissary in England had printed new stationary listing his institution as being “under the leadership of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson,” the Rebbe sent the emissary a telegram insisting that all of the stationary be destroyed.

The Rebbe did accept the request of some chasidim for “yechidut” — a private audience with the Rebbe which involves the communing of souls. However, many more were refused than accepted.

As weeks and months passed, more and more chasidim began to publicly proclaim the Rebbe as the successor of the Previous Rebbe. The Jewish world at large also began to acknowledge the Rebbe’s leadership.

On the 26th of Tevet, two weeks before the first yartzeit of the Previous Rebbe, articles appeared in all of the New York Jewish papers stating that the chasidim had collectively given the Rebbe a “Pledge of Commitment,” accepting his leadership. The newspapers reported that the official acceptance by the Rebbe was expected to take place on the Tenth of Shevat.

When the Rebbe found out about the articles, he indicated to his secretary that the editors should be called and told, in the Rebbe’s name, that he had not agreed to accept the leadership on the Tenth of Shevat. Three elder chasidim spoke with the Rebbe at length, begging him not to insist on a retraction. “The newspapers didn’t say the Rebbe has accepted the leadership, only that the chasidim have accepted the Rebbe,” protested one of the chasidim. Eventually the Rebbe agreed that the newspapers did not have to be called.

And then the eve of Yud Shevat arrived. Representatives from Jewish communities throughout the world went to the Rebbe that evening and gave him “Pledges of Commitment” from their communities. The following morning, hundreds of chasidim went, together with the Rebbe, to the resting place of the Previous Rebbe. At the grave, the Rebbe read the personal letters that had been given to him to read at this holy site. A group of elder chasidim publicly read a collective “Pledge of Commitment” from all Chabad-Lubavitch chasidim and then handed it to the Rebbe. At first, the Rebbe refused to take the letter, but finally he accepted it. As he read it quietly to himself, the Rebbe cried bitterly.

A farbrengen, a public gathering of chasidim, was scheduled for the evening following the Tenth of Shevat. At 9:45 p.m. the Rebbe entered the crowded shul. Jews from all over, not just chasidim, had come to witness this momentous event. The Rebbe spoke and the chasidim sang for nearly an hour. And then, suddenly, one of the elder chasidim stood up and called out loudly, “The assembled beg the Rebbe to say a Chasidic discourse… Favor us with a Chasidic discourse.”

Until that time, the Rebbe had spoken at public gatherings numerous times, but did not generally share his own novel expositions on the Torah. Rather, he repeated and stressed the teachings of the Previous Rebbe. A Chasidic discourse, a deep, philosophical treatise of his own, however, would be unprecedented. Everyone held their breath and watched the Rebbe closely to see his reaction.

The Rebbe looked into the booklet in front of him for a moment, a copy of the Chasidic discourse, “Basi Legani” prepared by the Previous Rebbe to be given out on Yud Shevat one year earlier and began, “In the discourse that the Rebbe gave out for the day of his passing, the Rebbe begins with the words [from the Song of Songs], ‘I came into my garden.’”

Using, for the very first time, the special chasidic melody reserved for delivering a discourse, the Rebbe began to expound upon the Previous Rebbe’s discourse bringing in his own insights and explanations. It was clear to everyone present, that the Rebbe had finally accepted the leadership.

Reprinted from www.LchaimWeekly.org – LYO / NYC