One Rabbi’s Uphill Battle In The Midwest

By Rabbi Asher Zeilingold, Clear Vision

While I was trying to grow the shul, one of the board members was a fierce critic of many of our new programs. At one point, I thought that either we should ask him to leave, or the programs should be moved to our home.

The Rebbe believed otherwise, he explained to me, that being the rabbi in the shul was not just to receive a salary, “It is your spiritual substance,” and “also” my material livelihood. With that in mind, to move any programs to our home, “Is the opposite of our mission (towards Heaven) as a rabbi.”

When I would overly complain, he reiterated time and time again, “We saw,” stressing that he saw this too, which was very reaffirming, “and the community sees the success, and it will surely in the future be even greater.”

Over the years, the Rebbe encouraged, pushed and cajoled us. He also clearly hoped that we would succeed (once writing, “If you put the effort in, you will be successful”).

I later learned that the Rebbe knew how much of an uphill battle it would be. However, never wanting to discourage us, he never expressed any hesitations beforehand.

“You should stop writing melancholy letters,” the Rebbe once told me. I responded that it would be tough, since the situation really is difficult. He explained to me that it all depends on perspective. If I would recognize how my being at Adath Israel was “totally above the natural order,” it would help me be more content and deal with the daily issues more easily.

“It is incredible that in a city there is an Orthodox rabbi that has a beard, goes with a kapote and when he davens has a gartel,” the Rebbe told me. I did not have a college degree when they hired me and I had never held a previous position, but was straight out of yeshivah. No one compelled them to hire me, “It was with their good will.” He asked me if the fact that I was a pulpit rabbi, a “spiritual leader” in the Midwest, was “totally appreciated by you?”I shouldn’t take my position at Adath Israel for granted.

The success I achieved at Adath Israel therefore held great significance. If I would look at it that way, there would be less to be depressed about.

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