Be Something

The point is not to be a nothing.

G‑d created you to be a something.

But not a something because you are something.

A something because your purpose is everything.

See Bachodesh Hashlishi 5729.

« Previous

A Time For I

Freedom Out of Darkness

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

Browse Book

Wisdom to Heal the Earth »

By Tzvi Freeman

Buy Book

Wisdom to Heal the Earth is a revolutionary new look at Tikun Olam based on the teachings of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

In this Book

Join the Discussion

Sort By:

NewestOldest

23 Comments

Feigue Cieplinski Middletown June 27, 2024

The fact of being alive and sane is itself a purpose. It is your duty to take care of yourself so that you can fulfill the purpose that has been assigned to you. This is not something we discovered in one shot since as we grow older we expand our understanding and sense sharper what our purpose is. If you have trust in Hashem then there is your first purpose be a Jew and fulfill the best you can the Mitzvot. As for the issue of gender this is the confusion of a patriarchal society because Chava speaks more with H' than Adam, and our matriarchs were extremely active and found their purpose; so should we women. and not let be defined by society. Reply

Mayer Korchin Canton,OH June 23, 2022

Yes, I do like this quotation! Reply

Leah Brooklyn March 13, 2020

I thought we needed to become Nothing because Gd is Ayin (nothing), and this "nothingness" is the way we can be closest to Gd. It means that all the stuff we egotistically seek is not valuable. Instead, the only true pleasure & meaning come from cleaving to Gd, and this in turn comes from praying and behaving with kavannah (with our intention directed intensely to Gd). Other than to be connected to Gd, there is nothing worthwhile to be.

Is that what you meant, Rabbi? Reply

Anonymous June 24, 2022

in response to Leah:

I liked all that you said , I feel so closely connected to what you said and mean and I feel it is true. The point expressed here in this message is also the same I feel : “not to be a nothing ,but to yet be a NOTHING .” That’s the way I understand this message . I hope I am getting it right . Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada August 10, 2017

Be WIthin Everything In the ultimate spiritual system we are all interdependent and interconnected. We compose one dynamic harmonious system together with G_d. Everything exists for the benefit of the others.
Everything depends on you and you depend on everything else.
If we work in favour of our self, the system becomes unbalanced until it crashes.
This is the nature of us now: shattered parts, all working to profit or to profit off others.

The world is at a critical turning point now. It has reached it's worst place filled with extremely volatile, hyper-sensitive egos. The ego's development is over.
We have difficult times ahead and will have to suffer devastating blows in order to correct our attitudes...unless Israel unites as one man with one heart to draw the Light into our world, guided by Authentic Kabbalists who follow the holy instructions applied by our sages. Only then can the Light remedy all humanity. Then all will rise to the next level of existence in which you will be part of everything! Reply

Chanoch Boynton Beach March 14, 2020

in response to Brenda:

Be something The universe is not ending. Know that you have a part in this life and universe. Love is the answer, the recommendation is to find yours'.
Be well and prosper Reply

Brenda Toronto, Ontario, Canada November 17, 2022

in response to Chanoch:

To love is to be light.

When we feel connected and part of everything then we are filled with the light. We are one soul.
A 'world' is defined by the amount of light it holds. We live in the lowest world which is dominated by our ego. It is the darkest world - the absence of the light.
When we effort to love we get Help to change our nature.
Eventually will rise to the Upper world which is filled with love and light. This egoistic, material world will vanish from our consciousness.

Be light! Reply

Tomas December 14, 2015

It is delightful to read this post and i get many useful point through this post. Please keep posting such kind of material. Reply

Anonymous USA July 6, 2015

Be Something As against the egocentric? As otherwise so called? Reply

Ruth St. Paul November 28, 2013

Anonymous of mesa asks if a woman exists in order to serve her husband.
And does an unmarried woman have a way to serve GD?

Nobody has answered her, so I am asking again.

Can a woman serve Gd directly even if she is an old maid, or a widow, or divorced?

Can she serve Gd even if she has no husband? Reply

Karin Kruger Oklahoma City, OK/USA August 10, 2017

in response to Ruth:

Of course! Certain mitzvot are not gender specific and tikkun olam is definitely not.

I have been a widow since 2006 ... and Hashem has provided me with many ways to serve Him ... and in the process have discovered hidden talents that can be used. I did it through volunteer work at my shul, hospital volunteer work, etc. Study of Torah is also not gender specific; I would like to suggest an on-line course offered by Chabad. Rabbi Zajac does a daily video, roughly 5 minutes, Daily Halachah ... I have learned a lot, even in the things I have no obligation to do. (I started it in 12/15 and have finally reached 46:10; I may not live long enough to get through all of the Shulchan Aruch,)

It is a very small thing, but I also recycle and know I'm doing my part in physical tikkun olam.

Most of all, our main job is to give thanks to G-d. As the psalm says "sing to the Lord and make a joyful noise! Reply

Anonymous August 10, 2017

in response to Ruth:

A woman does not exist simply to serve her husband.
All of us exist to serve Hashem, not other humans.
And, to paraphrase the Rebbe, "The true and complete redemption will occur as a result of the righteous women of our own times."
Sounds like women are pretty important in the service of Hashem in their own right. Reply

Anonymous Beira, Mozambique September 12, 2012

Something and Purpose Thank you this helps me so much in a time when I am having to reassure different people in my life that they do have a purpose and so are something and yet I have been wondering what am I as I did not realise my purpose in the move to a new life, home, city and business. Thank you Hashem, please give me your guidance. Reply

Anonymous monsey, NY June 12, 2012

WOW! thank you! Hashem always gives me whatever i need to hear! Reply

Claudio Kotujansky Sao Paulo, Brazil June 12, 2012

Be something Beautifull, rav! Reply

Ellen Gore River Fall, Alabama U S A June 11, 2012

BE Something : Well said keep touching our heart! You are blessed by G-d. Reply

zs brooklyn, NY June 10, 2012

Meaningful! Inspiring! Reply

Mrs. Irene McClure June 10, 2012

Be Something hmmm. Interesting thought. Don't puff yourself up just because you are somehing to G-d who has a purpose for your life. Thank you for sharing this wisdom of thought. Reply

Anonymous mesa June 10, 2012

To Be Something Some times Hashem reveals to us where we come from, and what we are in essence, but He, blessed be He, keeps a silence as to what our purpose is. I guess that our purpose is to serve him by glorifying His Name. As a woman, men limit what we can do. Unless we are married to them, we are just a vehicle/instrument to be used. Very few men understand what a woman is worth according to G-d's commands. But like Leah, my prayer is that our Creator listen to my cry and give me His blessings. Because of Hashem's blessings I live, and exist. Baruch Hashem!! Reply

Eugina G Herrera New York, New York June 10, 2012

To Be To be doing something, and to feel complete, to be with G-d in one creation. To be creative with our Spirituality with one G-d. Reply

Anonymous Los Angeles, ca June 10, 2012

Be Something This has been a tough week for me. Reading these words eases my heart.... Reply

David Levant Emerson, N.J. June 10, 2012

Purpose G-D gave everyone a purpose in life.All human beings are born with a certain skill which is appropriate for them.Trouble is,that the gift G-D gave people to function in this world becomes lost in the transition. Most people don't search for meaning in their lives anymore.They do what they have to do rather than doing what they were meant to do.This causes things to get quite "mixed up"which is evident in today's world. Reply

Stephanie Deiters Mönchengladbach, Germany June 10, 2012

be something Yes, many people shows me, that I am a nothing, Then I feel often like a nothing. But you are right no one is a nothing. We are all have our own worth. Thank you. Reply

More in this section

Join the Discussion