 | Rabbi Pinchas raised his eyes. There stood the first of the Ushpizin--the honored guest for the first night of the festival--outside the door of his sukkah...
14 Comments Posted
Extremes in anything is not a good thing, a balance must always be struck, but only once.
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Would it have been better if he had said or asked for G-d to do his will? Or did G-d allow this happen to teach something?
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Dear Shawn,
Surely the second explanation you offered is true. But the true are not contradictory. Thank you for writing.
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To me this story teaches us 2 things: One is that there must be balance in our mortal lives. The second is that... our lives depend on chesed [acts of loving-kindness] more than anything...
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The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, the greatest Tzaddik (holy man) of the last century, could have spent the years of his life in solitude, praying to the Creator and studying sacred writings at the highest possible level. Instead, the Rebbe zatzal gave himself totally to the entire Jewish people: holding meetings with individuals throughout the night until daybreak; answering thousands of letters; speaking at Fabrengen and other public events for hours on end; issuing proclamations; giving haskamos (approbations) to good works when needed. There were some saintly rabbis who stayed hidden from the world, afraid that contact with lesser people would interfere with their personal path. This story tells us, as the Rebbe's life tells us, that this is not the way most Jews should choose. Instead, the Rebbe showed that a Jew cares foremost about the well-being of others, and adherents of Chabad chasidus follow this road today.
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As I have tried to prioritize in my life, I have thought this:
If in Heaven and on Earth we can pray and study Torah, however only on Earth can we do mitzvot, then should it not be our priority to do mitzvot here, when we can?
Does this seem like correct thinking?
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that our destiny is after all in our own hands and that we must be thoughtful about it; we must bear the consequences of wrong taken paths, correcting them. It can take sometimes a whole life, and sometimes can't even be accomplished in one's actual only one life, needing sometimes more time in other lives (so I believe).The opportunity is here however. The more we rush to get the chances, the best. The more we distract in not true (tv,void of meaning readings,gossipings,etc...) matters, the worst.
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Torah, Avodah, and Gemilath Chesed (Torah, service, and acts of kindness) said our sages. We need all three, and SKOIAck (kudos) to Judy Resnick for her phenomenal comment that I think was even more powerful than the story! Chag Sameach! Shabbat Shalom! May we all be sealed for the best year yet! Moshiach now!
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For a tzaddik like Rebbe Pinchas, it must certainly have been true that the world needed him. But for the likes of me, surely I could be excused if I might ask for a little peace and quiet in which to focus my thoughts, humble as they are? No! We must activly seek out guests for our sukkah - preferably poor guests - it is a very great mitzvah. The Zohar has very harsh words for the one who keeps his sukkah mitzvah all to himself! Oy, Rabbono shel Olam (Master of the World)! Please let me be happy about these guests I am going to have tonight in my sukkah and the mitzvah they give me! Conquer my selfishness that wants for a beautiful and contemplative experience .....
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This story teaches an important lesson, that at the time of Sukkot we should not be the "species" of Jew that is all Torah study, and no good deeds. Just as an animal must eat lower life forms to survive, we as beings with a G-dly soul are placed on this earth to elevate those lower than us, rather than ourselves. We must leave the study hall, and go out onto the street to teach and help our fellow man. G-d's face shines down on us when we study Torah, and looks up to us when we help our fellow man!
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It teaches that as one gets closer to G-d through the Bible study, prayers and meditation one gets better equipped to help others in the presence of G-d. just like Moses was so great he could stand the presence of G-d closely and he eventually had to buid the Tabernacle outside of the camp.
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Rabbi Pinchas's experience teaches that by helping others we help ourselves. After all, our souls are unified as part of the Oneness of G-d!
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I am reminded of an ancestor who had just attended to a circumcision and was hosting a very special guest. This was a special one as it was an adult. The visitor had to help bring comfort. The host heard the sounds of some trekker & so left the honorable guest to see about the hiker who might need some hospitality along the way. When Abe left The King to see to the traveler; The King was not displeased by the abrupt departure of the patient nor did He lose his patience.
Yes, we can interrupt prayer to perform special deeds. Now, please let us pray that our 'neighbor', Gil, will soon be sitting in a succah with his family. This was just on the local news at 20:30 - Israel Standard Time = 1hr ago!
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