Man and Fellow

The founder of Chassidism, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, taught that every existence, event or phenomenon that one encounters should serve as a lesson in how to live one's life and serve one's Creator.

A feature of modern life is the practice of purchasing insurance against a variety of unforeseeable circumstances. When a person takes out an insurance policy, he or she is, in effect, joining a group of people who have agreed to be responsible for each others misfortunes. Should one of them suffer a loss, G-d forbid, he is compensated from funds generated by the premiums paid by all.

The lesson to be derived is obvious: if such a consensus can be achieved regarding material concerns, how much more so should it be applied to our moral and spiritual selves. We should all consider ourselves part of a universal mutual fund: if a fellow human being lacks something, be it food and shelter or knowledge and guidance, even if he is halfway across the globe and one has never heard his name or that of the city in which he resides, it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to satisfy his need.