Reb Nochum Sossonkin shared the following anecdote that he heard from the holy chossid, Reb Dovid Tzvi Chein (Radatz):[1]
“Once, I was in a certain synagogue with the Radatz preparing for prayers. The Radatz was standing with his talis draped over his shoulders and was in a talkative mood. He suddenly said to me that he ‘is dissatisfied with Lubavitch.”
When he saw my shock, he went on to explain:
“When I was young, my father, Reb Peretz, did not allow me to learn any Chassidus. My entire world was studying with the interpretation of Rashi and Ramban. When I afterwards began to study Chassidus it had a deep effect on me. Yaakov and Lavan were totally different individuals than expressed in the simple verses. However, because in Lubavitch the commence studying while they are still young, they lose that appreciation.”
Reb Nachum goes on to explain, that though he agrees that when one studies Chassidus when they are young, they are lacking an appreciation for what it truly is, it was nevertheless necessary for the 5th Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom Dovber to institute the study of Chassidus from a young age.
For, being that in that era, the winds of the enlightenment blew strong in Russia, if one were to wait until the child was older to begin studying Chassidus—it may be too late!
The Rebbe however stressed another reason why the study of Chassidus is of utmost importance. It is not only due to the intense darkness of the era—as expressed by Reb Nachum—but that we are the threshold of the redemption and we must prepare for its arrival. In such a situation Chassidus is a necessity and not merely an additional ornament.
[1] Zichronotai, Pg. 300-302
