What the Rebbe Taught Me
Getting Down and Dirty

Imagine the ruckus that would ensue if the President of the United States, or even his Chief of Staff, were spotted taking out the White House garbage!

And yet, something similar occurred daily in the Holy Temple.

"G‑d spoke to Moses, saying: This is the law of the burnt-offering: it stays on the flame of the Altar all night until the morning... The priest shall don his fitted linen tunic and pants; he shall lift the ashes which the fire will consume of the burnt-offering on the Altar, and place it next to the Altar. He shall then remove his garments and he shall wear other garments and he shall remove the ashes to the outside of the camp..."1

In fact, to the dedicated priest, taking out the ashes was an honor, a sacred actThe priest, a symbol of purity in Jewish tradition, who enjoyed an elevated spiritual status and whose life was devoted exclusively to the service of G‑d, would retire to the locker room as it were, and change into his "overalls" in order to take out the garbage.

Presumably, involvement in such a menial task would be unheard of for a priest in any other temple or sanctuary in the world. And yet, in the Jerusalemite Temple, such a task was not considered "beneath" the holy priests. In fact, to the dedicated priest, taking out the ashes was an honor, a sacred act. Far from seeing it as an unpleasant and undignified act of necessity, the priest, his heart afire, rejoiced as he bent down to sweep, and be swept away, in fervor.2

For to a true man of G‑d, the objective is communion with G‑d; the path which leads him there is irrelevant. A mitzvah is less about the spirituality or glory of the act than it is about serving and connecting with an infinite G‑d.

This idea is beautifully expressed in the chassidic statement, "If G‑d had commanded us to chop wood all day, we would gladly comply."3

So although taking out the ashes was, in relation to the more prestigious acts of service in the Holy Temple, a "menial" task – as evidenced by the fact that the priest was instructed to change into inferior clothing before commencing with this service – it was an honor relegated to the holiest and most spiritual members of the community.

One of my favorite childhood memories is coming home on Friday afternoon to the sight (and delicious smell) of my father – a Talmudic scholar, commentator and author of note – cooking chicken for Shabbat, sleeves rolled up and a joyous tune on his lips.

A Jew clearly in love with G‑d (and his wife).

How reminiscent of the lovely Talmudic passage4 which describes the various household chores many of the great Talmudic sages would perform in honor of the holy Shabbat.5

Child-Friendly

This leads me to another area, that of childhood education.

Talking to a group of fidgety school children is just not one of the things great leaders commonly doObviously, this is no "menial task"—by any standard. There's no more noble and spiritual endeavor than educating our children. Yet many "important" people consider it beneath their dignity to directly engage in this field, leaving the task, instead, for their employees and representatives.

Following is an excerpt from a letter that the Rebbe wrote to the eleventh annual convention of The Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education:

"…Your convention taking place so close to Purim is full of significance and should set the tone for it.

Our Sages say that the Miracle of Purim, which rescinded the Heavenly decree for the Jews from death to life, physically and spiritually, was brought about by the fact that Mordechai had gathered 22,000 Jewish children, whom he taught the Torah and with whom he prayed for G‑d's mercy…

Let us remember that Mordechai was one of the heads of the Sanhedrin [rabbinical supreme court], the greatest Jew of his time in scholarship, piety and all possible attributes of greatness. Nevertheless, he set everything aside in order to strengthen the foundations of education, actually going in person to teach the holy Torah with piety and Mesiras Nefesh [self-sacrifice], to small children."

I recall someone who lived in my lifetime and behaved similarly.

He too was arguably "the greatest Jew of his time in scholarship, piety and all possible attributes of greatness." And he too, "set everything aside in order to strengthen the foundations of education, actually going in person to teach the holy Torah with piety and Mesiras Nefesh, to small children."

The Rebbe gives a talk to children at Lubavitch World Headquarters

The author of the above letter, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, spent hundreds of hours personally addressing young children—though he could easily have delegated this task to an aide.

Talking to a group of high-energy and often fidgety school children is just not one of the things great leaders commonly do. They may send a special letter to children to be read by their teachers, they may even send a representative if need be, but how many utilize every available opportunity to personally address young children?

In fact, each time the Rebbe addressed a "children's rally," the emcee would translate the Rebbe's words from Yiddish to English for the benefit of the many children who didn't understand Yiddish. Wouldn't that be just another reason to delegate this charge to someone else?

But there was no task too "little" or insignificant for the Rebbe. (Or perhaps, more accurately, the Rebbe simply didn't see this task as little or insignificant at all...)

The Rebbe simply didn't see this task as little or insignificant at allThe adults appreciated the scholarship and wisdom the Rebbe shared at farbrengens, chassidic gatherings. And the little children enjoyed the special "Lag b'Omer Parades," public displays of Jewish pride attended by tens of thousands of children, which the Rebbe would preside over for hours, inspiring, encouraging, and simply radiating love to the youngsters gathered.

And where might the Rebbe be on a busy Friday afternoon not long before Shabbat, if not handing out coins to children to be given to charity.

Indeed, on more than one occasion when a child couldn't reach the charity box attached to the wall, the Rebbe himself would bend down and gently lift the child until he was able to deposit their coin into the box.

I don't know of any Jewish leader since the times of Mordechai, the originator of the "children's rally," who devoted so much time, effort, and personal attention to little children.

How it is that I know all of this?

Because I am one of those children.