אות - קלג

In Likutey Moharan I, 69, the Rebbe speaks of the great sin of stealing or coveting, even in thought. 210 This lesson was said on a Rosh HaShanah. R' Moshe Chenkes was there at the time, and when he later asked the Rebbe to pray for him to have children, the latter alluded to this lesson. R' Moshe later realized that the Rebbe was hinting at the jealousy of his partner, R' Abraham Payes. Just before the Rebbe passed away, he suggested to Reb Noson that R' Moshe would have children if he remarried. R' Moshe took this advice, divorced his wife, married a sister of the Rabbi of Tomoshpil, and had a son and daughter. This daughter eventually married the Rebbe's grandson, R' Avraham Dov. R' Moshe's partner, R' Abraham, lost his wife and later remarried R' Moshe's first wife ( Parparaot LeChokhmah #69; Tzaddik #155; Kokhavey Or , p. 44, #7, #8; Yemey HaTlaot , p. 4b ff . See details in Through Fire and Water , Parts 4, 6-7, which was published by the Breslov Research Institute). In this lesson, the Rebbe explains the Talmudic teaching, “One who steals even a penny from another must pursue him even to Media ( leMadai ) to return it” ( Bava Kama 103a) . He asks why, of all nations, Media is mentioned. He answers that the word LeMaDai ("to Media") can also be spelled LiMuDei ("taught of"). Therefore, it refers to those “taught of God” (Isaiah 54:13) – namely, children. Theft can pursue even one’s children.

I heard from the Rebbe’s own lips that this is how this Talmudic lesson was taught on high.