When Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi began to disseminate his teachings in White Russia and Lithuania (circa 1772), many young men flocked to him and became his ardent followers, despite the prevailing opposition to the Chassidic movement. They found that Chassidism injected a new vitality and joy in serving G-d that was lacking in “establishment” Judaism. Among the newly converted Chassidim were the two sons of one of the leading Torah scholars of the time.
One day, they approached Rabbi Schneur Zalman with a dilemma that had been occupying their minds for some time: should they try to win over their father to the Chassidic approach to serving G-d, or is he perhaps too set in his ways to change at this point in his life.
“Does he perform mitzvot with joy?” asked Rabbi Schneur Zalman.
“Every year,” related one of the sons in reply, “when we finish building oursukkah, father climbs onto a bench and kisses the sechach[1].”
“In that case,” said the founder of Chabad, “he is fine the way he is.”
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[1]. The roof of branches (or other vegetation) that is the main component of the sukkah.
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