This lecture, at a dinner for Karlin Stolin, 28 Teves 5776 (January 9, 2016), highlights some powerful teachings of Karlin Chassidus. The joy of life and of a mitzvah; the connection to a Rebbe; discovering the inner soul and beauty of every person, and the need to internalize inspiration.

In the world of yesteryear in a small village near Karlin, Belarus, lived two Jews. One was a Chassid—a pious follower of the great master Rabbi Aaron of Karlin, the Bais Aharon. The other was a Misnaged, from those Jews who deeply apposed Chassidim and Chassidism and everything they represented. In keeping with age old tradition the misnaged (the opponent) was tremendously wealthy and the Chassid—a desolate pauper.

Shimon the misnaged had everything a man desires, except one thing: cheerfulness. He was a bitter and miserable soul. He never had a pleasant moment, he was always tense and suppressed. He would be quicker to pay full price for something than to smile. He was a religious person, but his religion has no soul, no smile, and no joy. It was all about rigid law. 

Across the street at the corner, was a shack, a wretched excuse for a home, where a Karliner Chassid lived or, to be more accurate, was surviving. He barely had money to buy nutritious meals for his family. He lived on the edge. But one thing that never lacked was joy, exuberance and warmth.  On Sukkos, the great confrontation happened. The angel of death got involved, and a new life was breathed into a miserable soul.