“Become the Yeshaya Schtroks”

By AYR – ZichronShayaSchtroks.com

Several weeks ago a very special person suddenly passed away. His passing young and very suddenly shocked all that knew him. Many people knew him and held him very fondly, somewhat seen from the many comments posted on the different articles about him, but much more from those who actually knew him. Most of those who knew him had no words in what to express their feeling, just shock and pain, as the reader will see from those who left their comments.

Yeshaye himself, on the other hand, is know is now enjoying himself in Gan Eden. He is probably sitting now at a table with a Mishnayos or some other Sefer learning peacefully. He would often mention how he wishes he would have more time and more Menuchas Hanefesh to be able to learn without the many “things on his head” to do.

Now, he has the time and peacefulness to learn and enjoy himself properly, worry-free. Not that he didn’t want to do all the things that kept him busy, but he always would look forward to the peaceful hour or two to learn.

I could just see him meeting his Zayde who he is named after, and the two having a lively discussion. Or, going to listen and watch the great Chassidim learn and Daven, Chassidim who he would always tell stories about their great Davening, to see it now in real. An enjoyable sight indeed.

I could see him look up, and ask me why everyone is so pained, “it’s really nice here”, “tell them to stop feeling sad, better be happy and do something good and useful”. “It makes me uncomfortable when people are feeling like this because of me” he would definitely say.

I would like to write something he would say after other people, respected Chassidim, passed away. He may not have always verbally articulated the following, but it is certainly something he lived with. I think it is only fitting to write it about him. Even though I know that he wouldn’t say it about himself, but I think it is very befitting on him too.

When Hashem made the world, he didn’t only make to the physical and materials that we see, he also made people’s mindsets and they way they think and act. One of these was the fact that people forget those who pass away. Those who knew a Niftar well, may feel very pained for a week or a month, but life has to move on.

There may be those, and there are those who will forever miss, and even sorely miss, the presence of a particular Niftar, but there are always new things that come up, things that have to be done, and that is really supposed to be where we focus. Actually, the reason we forget those who pass on is in order to enable us move on, and be active in our regular lives.

When remembering a person who passed away, we remember all the good things he did. Each person has his own things he was touched by, and will remember a Niftar for those things. Whether it is the gentle compassionateness, the warm smile, the love for children or whichever other quality he is missed for.

Memories can be kept in two ways, one easier, but the other greater and better.

One can either keep memories fond and warm, to be re-awakened when his memory will come up. Those memories are beautiful and important, and have been the fibre on Chassidim in all the generations. A memory of this Chossid, a story of another, and a Farbrengen of the third.

Boruch Hashem, there are many such memories recorded and well preserved. There are many books, biographies of Chassidim of our generation who have passed on. There are (to my knowledge) around thirty, if not more, such books. They portray a beautiful picture of all these people, a pride to their descendants and a Tziyur for others to look up to.

But those are all in the first group of memories, though interesting and important, but not as much as important as the second type of memories, as will be explained.

The memory of a Chossid shouldn’t be kept as a historical reserve, or as an interesting Shabbos story. The goal is that the story should direct us to follow in their ways, and become Chassidishe Yidden too.

The older Chossid is a guide to the younger one how to act; how to speak to others, how to Daven, how to live his life. In this respect, I think the memories of such a person fit the best.

Reb Yeshaye wasn’t a big Mashpia or Rosh Yeshiva, or even a big speaker. He was a regular person. He worked hard, tried his best to bring up good Chassidishe children and Talmidim, had his set times to learn, and kept them as best he could.

He didn’t Daven for five hours on Shabbos, or wake up at three in the morning to learn Chassidus until Shacharis, nor did he write dozens of Seforim and Chiddushim, he just did exactly what one is supposed to do. He tried to bring to himself and those who he taught a Geshmak in Yiddishkiet, a Geshmak in Chassidishkeit and to do what one is supposed to be done. It may have been hard, but if it was supposed to be done, it was done all the way, and happily done. If that is the Halocho or Minhag, it is done despite anything.

Big Mashpi’im are big Mashpi’im, and famous people are famous people. But most people aren’t big Mashpi’im or famous Chassidim, so who do they look up to, to show them how to make become better or that they could be better?

The answer is people like Yeshaye. The ideal chossid. Fills his purpose and goals to the fullest.

I may have made him seem simple, what was written may be, and is a gross understatement of his true achievements, but this is a memory which everyone can, and should preserve. Not as a book on the bookshelf or as a person in history, it should be preserved in ourselves.

Our children should see a Chassidishe Yid in us, we should become Chassidishe Yidden too. Not to become a great Mashpia or a highly respected person, simply to be what we should be.

To instil in ourselves and in our children a warmth to Chassidishkiet, by reading constantly stories of the Rabbeim and of Chassidim, learning their Niggunim and singing them by our Shabbos table. To preserve the values of the Chassidim of our two hundred year history, to keep them going on strong and proud.

We, ourselves and our children are going to be the Chassidim of today, make them the best they can be. No high levels, just the plain, old and simple rich values. “regular” Chassidim, the “foot soldiers” as the Rebbe would call them. Healthy and strong, tightly connected to their predecessors.

Yeshaye was the perfect example for this. He would come to Daven on time, would Daven word for word loud enough for those next to him to hear. A passionate Davening, with the basic Kavonoh of Pirush Hamilos. Anyone can do that if they would just want to, and focus on doing so. Is that a “Derhoibene Madreigoh?” No! It’s just what is expected of every Chabad Chossid.

Two or three times a week he had a Chavrusa in Gemoro. It had nothing to do with what he was teaching, nor was it practical for Halocho. When I asked him why he had that Kvius he looked at me and said simply “I have now a little more time as the children are grown up, so now I can learn.” Very simple, you have time, so you learn.

Chassidus for him wasn’t history or a relic of the previous generation. It was something he lived with, thrived with and lived to spread it more.

Keep his memory, become the “Yeshaye Schtroks” you knew. Bring an Avir (atmosphere) of Chasidus and Frumkeit, with all its warmth, richness and joy. Share with others what he shared with you.

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A Shloshim memorial event will take place for Reb Yeshaye Schtroks o.b.m.
Tuesday, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, May 22nd, 8:00PM
At the Rabbinical College of America, 226 Sussex Ave, Morristown NJ 07960
Separate Seating

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