Dear Friend,
Earlier this week I waited in a line, in the NY heat wave, that took four hours to complete.
Whilst waiting, I gained a deeper appreciation for the Rebbe’s greatness. And a new perspective on the story in this week’s Parsha about Moshe hitting the rock.
Here is what I mean.
Three thousand three hundred (and some) years ago, Moshe was chosen by G-d to shepherd the Jewish people.
Taking them out of Egypt, through the sea that split, transmitting the word of Hashem at Sinai and bringing them to the banks of the Jordan river poised to enter Israel.
Ever since then, the Jewish people has been gifted with shepherds that guided, uplifted, advocated and motivated the Jewish people of their generation.
The Rebbe, whose day of passing we marked earlier this week, was a modern-day Moshe, the leader and shepherd of our generation.
As I mentioned, I waited close to four hours in a line of people that entered the Ohel of the Rebbe for two minutes of prayer time.
In those two minutes as I walked by the Rebbe’s resting place with the line that passed through the Ohel, I crammed in prayers for myself, my loved ones, my community, my partners and for the collective of Am Yisrael.
(During the year one can pray there for as long as one wants. On the Hilula/Yartzeit day of passing, when tens of thousands of people want to visit on the same day, the time is limited).
I didn’t feel frustrated by the long lines.
On the contrary, I was inspired.
The obviousness of the relevance of the Rebbe’s legacy is the fact that more and more people are inspired to come and soak up the atmosphere and blessings of the Tzadik.
Thirty years ago, the crowds were considerably smaller. The line would have taken less than an hour. Now the lines are four hours.
The facts speak louder than any explanation or sermon. There is a reason why myriads of people are paying a visit to the grave of a person who passed away thirty years ago.
People are usually forgotten after they pass.
(Thank G-d for that. It allows people to move on and not get mired in sadness).
With Tzadikim things are a lot different.
A Tzadik continues to live even after they have physically passed away.
Through his teachings. Through his students, you and I, who glean inspiration and commitment to Hashem via his guidance.
After standing on my feet in a line for four hours and feeling quite tired, I got a new perspective and deeper appreciation of the incredible shepherding of the Rebbe.
The Rebbe stood on his feet for more than four hours every week greeting people. During his eighties. In respect to those who came to see him, he didn’t even agree to sit down but stood as he greeted those who came to meet him.
Click here to see how the Rebbe greeted thousands of Jews ever Sunday to give them a dollar to give to a needy person.
Here am I, a youngish person, yet after four hours on my feet I was a bit tired.
Additionally, I know how emotionally depleted I feel on a day that I have had multiple meetings with all kinds of people. Meeting people is tiring. You have to focus on the person. Then you need to remove your focus from the first person and refocus on the next one.
Exhausting work.
The Rebbe did it, week after week, with thousands of people.
Is it difficult to fathom?
Yes.
It highlights the fact that we really don’t understand the life and feelings of a Tzadik. Saintliness is a plateau that is achieved by only a select few. It is not a standard experience that we can really say we feel.
We humans tend to judge other people based on the feelings and thoughts we have ourselves. If we truly understand what a Tzadik is, we will understand that we cannot understand them. They are too different. On a totally different level.
For example. Do you ever feel an urge to do something wrong?
Think about it for a minute. Honestly. Even if you have never acted on your desire, it is almost guaranteed that you have felt a pull to do something inappropriate.
A true Tzadik never contemplates or is even pulled in the direction of doing something wrong.
You and I cannot begin to comprehend what it must feel like to be a Tzadik and totally sublimated and committed to Hashem.
That is why it is so difficult to understand the ‘sin’ of Moshe in this week’s portion. Where Moshe doesn’t speak to the rock but hits it. And Hashem gets angry and says that Moshe will have to stay in the desert.
It cannot be so simple. It doesn’t make sense that Moshe simply did not follow Hashems instructions.
The commentaries offer many perspectives. Click here for some.
Allow me to share the one I felt connected to most this week.
The opportunity for sanctifying Hashems name in the story of the rock is as follows.
The rock giving water after merely being spoken to, would create a chastisement of the Jewish people.
‘If even a rock gives water when Moshe speaks to it by command of Hashem, how much more so the Jewish people should be obedient of Hashems commandments to them’
It was precisely this comparison which would paint the Jewish people in a non-favorable light that Moshe wished to avoid.
He disregarded what not speaking to the rock would mean for his own future. Indeed, he didn’t go into Israel because of this. But he protected the Jewish people by not allowing this comparison to be drawn.
This interpretation fits my image of true leadership of a Tzadik. As it fits well with my vivid memories of the Rebbe standing for many many hours on his feet, gazing into the eyes of Am Yisrael as they walked by him for blessing.
The Rebbe life was lived in selfless service of the Jewish people.
His mission was to uncover and develop the innate greatness in each person.
Click here to hear from four leaders about the impact the Rebbe had on their lives even though they never met him.
The lesson is crystal clear.
We ought to carry out more acts of selflessness, giving to others and looking out for the good of the collective.
At the core it is about asking yourself, not what is best for me, but what is best for those around me.
What is best for the Jewish people.
And march forward with energy and joy to implement it.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Yosef Kantor
PS Click here to see a clip highlighting the Rebbe’s message of empowerment for each of us.