Active Participation
Love for a fellow Jew is central to Chabad Hassidism, as well as the desire to bring everyone closer to their heritage. However, in the face of apathy, insecurity, or mundane distractions, retaining the idealism can be a challenge. The Avner Institute presents a two letters warmly highlighting the Rebbe’s encouragement toward those on the frontlines in Melbourne or Milan, who realize that they can become a spiritual CEO, instead of rank-and-file employee, of their environment.
Dedicated in memory of loving memory of Hadassah Lebovic A”h
“Whose ship is it?”
By the Grace of G-d
11th of Cheshvan, 5721
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mrs. Dvorah Groner
69 Hotham St.
E. St. Kilda
Melbourne, Australia
Blessing and Greeting:
I received your letter of Monday, Parshas Noah, and the two preceding letters. Although I have discussed the matter at length with your husband, who will undoubtedly convey to you my thoughts, I wish to put down in writing at least several points, in the hope that this letter will contribute to a happier outlook on
the various matters about which you wrote in your letter.
First of all, in regard to your question, “Whose ship is it?” I am surprised that you should have any doubts about it, since, obviously, the ship is that of my father-in-law of saintly memory, our Nossi [leader] and the Nossi of our people. It is explained in the Zohar and in the Tanya at length that tzaddikim continue to participate in our world even in afterlife, and, moreover, in a greater degree than during their life on this earth, since, in their exalted state they are free from physical limitations. Happy are they whom he has enrolled in his crew and has assigned to them various tasks. The more responsible a task is, the greater is the reward, of course, both in this world and in the World-to-Come.
Quality & Character
You mention other points in your letters, concerning opinions and attitudes of other people, the lack of appreciation, etc., all of which you seem to have taken in a rather sensitive way, which gave rise to your thoughts on the relative disadvantages of your husband’s present position by comparison with his previous one.
As I have emphasized to your husband, the difference between his present work and his previous work is not a difference of place or surroundings, but a difference of the essential quality and character of the work itself. For previously he was in the capacity of an employed “clerk,” and as such, there were certainly a number of advantages.
A clerk has definite hours, and upon completion of his day’s work he can dismiss it from his mind, knowing that the responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders of his superior. He need only to do the task given to him, in his best way, and he can then feel no worries, responsibilities or other commitments. Furthermore, such a job arouses a minimum of envy, less nervous strain, etc.
On the other hand, when one has the task of an executive, upon whom the full responsibility rests, all the more so being at a great distance, and having to make decisions, and especially when he takes up such a job willingly and enthusiastically and is successful, it is bound to call forth envy. And envy is such a mental state that it evokes various feelings in the envious person and other expressions, which frequently are inconsiderate and unjustified and very often — the envious person himself regrets them. It is also obvious that such a position entails greater
personal commitment, nervous strain, etc.
Obviously, one whose capacity limits him to a secondary position, such as that of a clerk, there is little he can do about it, as this is all that he can accomplish. On the other hand, one who has the capacity to be an executive and in charge of a responsible undertaking, if such a person should confine himself within the
framework of a clerk’s job, it would be a gross injustice even for himself, not to mention to the cause.
It is written, “More knowledge, more pain,” and the more knowledgeable and advanced person is inevitably involved in more complicated things. One can say: “I don’t want to be on the higher level, so that I be spared the pain.” But this would be like a person saying: “I don’t want to be a human being; I want to be like an animal and be spared all the pain associated with human life.”
New Dimensions
Aside from the above general considerations and principles, if one considers the specific work of disseminating and strengthening Yiddishkeit, the outlook assumes new dimensions. For our Sages say that the first word of the Torah, Bereishis, indicates that the whole of creation is for the sake of Torah, which is called Reishis [beginning]. Considering further that the work concerns education of Jewish boys and girls, which is not only of vital interest to themselves but also to posterity, for all generations to come, we arrive at a further dimension, namely, the second interpretation of Bereishis: “For the sake of the Jewish People who are called Reishis.”
Furthermore, there is the added dimension in that the work is carried on in a country where Judaism is still in its infancy, requiring a real pioneering spirit to transform the whole of Jewish life in that remote continent. What a challenge and
opportunity such work offers to the qualified person!
Leading the Way
Finally, and this is the most basic consideration, it is necessary to bear in mind that “G-d directs the steps of man and finds delight in his (His) way,” as explained at length by the Baal Shem Tov and the Old Rebbe [Shneur Zalman of Liady, founder of Chabad]. When individual Divine Providence leads a Jew, man or woman, in a certain direction, and in a way that G-d finds delight in because it is His way, it is to be expected that the yetzer hara [evil inclination] will seek ways and means to lessen the enthusiasm and dampen the spirit. For the greater the accomplishments in the realm of holiness, the greater is the opposition on the part of the “other side.”
As for what can actually be accomplished, I mentioned to your husband the experience in a somewhat similar situation, when the father of my father-in-law sent two Jews to Gruzia (Georgia, Caucasus), a remote and neglected region, the two emissaries so transformed Jewish life there that even now, 45 years later, we
find grandchildren of those native Jews in New York who are strictly religious and devoted Chassidim.
There is this difference, however, that those two Jews who revitalized Jewish life in that remote region, were the only pioneers and had no helpers. They had to start from scratch, whereas you and your husband came to Australia, finding there a group of anash [congregants] who have, to a considerable extent, already “prepared the ground,” except that many phases of the work have still to be accomplished and could best be done by people who have an American English background, since, basically, the Australian society is similar to that of the English American society.
Freedom of Action
I hope that the above lines will suffice to form a basis for further reflection along the lines suggested, for, needless to say, the subject is by no means exhausted. After all these reflections, I explicitly told your husband that as far as he and you are concerned, and as far as the continuation of your work in Australia is concerned, you have complete freedom of action now, as before you set out for Australia, when you were in Brooklyn or Buffalo. You have the freedom to decide whether you wish to continue your work in Australia at the end of the three-year period, with all that it entails, or return to an easier job in this country. As a matter of fact, the job at the Yeshivah which your husband held before, would undoubtedly be available to him in the same capacity as before, [which is that of the category of a “clerk,” with all the “advantages” indicated earlier].
Furthermore, I assured your husband that there is no implication of kapida [reproof] from my part, whatever decision he and you make. The important thing is that if the task is to be done successfully, the work must be carried on willingly, without compulsion and without considering it as penal servitude or deportation. On the other hand, I would be amiss of my duty if I were not to point out the essential differences between one job as against the other, in the light of the quotation mentioned above, “More knowledge, more pain.”
May G-d grant that you make your decision in a way that will be truly good for you both, materially and spiritually, and that you have good news to report.
With blessing,
[signature]
P.S. What has been said in regard to your husband’s work applies also to your work in disseminating Yiddishkeit among the women and daughters of Chabad, although perhaps not to the same extent, since among the women of Chabad there are a number of persons who have an American English background. Needless to say, however, you have the advantage of having been in the proximity of my father-in-law and having imbibed directly from his fountains, whereas the other women in Australia could do so only from a “second or third” vessel.
“From heaven to earth”
By the Grace of G-d
28th of Teves 5721
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Miss Sarah Rifkah Posner
c/o Garelik
Via Giulio Uberti, 41
Milan, Italy
Blessing and Greeting:
I received your recent letter, and the previous one. Needless to say, I was somewhat taken aback by the tone of your letter. It is a good illustration of how it is possible for a person to read and to learn and to receive instruction from books and teachers, and yet when it comes to actual experience, all this instruction goes by the wayside.
I refer to the things which you have surely learned in books of mussar [ethics], and especially Chassidus, about the tactics of the yetzer hara to instill a spirit of depression, discouragement, and despondency in order to prevent the Jewish person from fulfilling his Divine mission. This is the most effective approach.
If the yetzer hara would attempt to dissuade the person directly from fulfilling his mission, he would not be easily misled. However, instead, the yetzer tries to discourage the person in all sorts of ways, using “pious” arguments, which, unfortunately, often proves effective, at least in some degree.
This is exactly what has happened in your case, and I am surprised that you do not realize it. The proof is that from the information that I have received, I can see that you have accomplished a great deal more than you imagine. Incidentally, at the Annual Dinner of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva last night, Rabbi Lookstein spoke of his visit in Milan and how impressed he was with the Lubavitch work there, and his address was one of the highlights of the Dinner.
Additional Consideration
Let me also add another important and essential consideration. You surely know of the saying of the Baal Shem Tov that a soul comes down to live on this earth for a period of 70-80 years, for the sole purpose to do another Jew a single favor, materially or spiritually. In other words, it is worthwhile for a Jewish soul to make that tremendous journey and descent from heaven to earth in order to do something once for one fellow-Jew. In your case, the journey was only from the U.S.A. to Milan, and can in no way be compared with the journey of the soul from heaven to earth, and however pessimistic you might feel, even the yetzer hara would have to agree that you have done not only a single favor but numerous good deeds, and even only your work with the children of the Gan would have justified it.
Considering further that every beginning is difficult, especially where there is a change of place, environment, language, etc., and yet the beginning has proved so successful, one is surely justified in expecting that as time goes on and the initial difficulties are minimized and overcome, there will be a more than corresponding improvement in the good accomplishments. Not to mention that the fact that your arrival in Milan has undoubtedly considerably encouraged also your sister and brother-in-law and has inspired other young people on similar missions.
Great Interest
As for your mentioning the fact that no one seems interested in your work, etc., surely you will admit that G-d, whose knowledge and providence extends to everyone individually, knows and is interested in what you are doing, especially as you are working in the field of education of Jewish children, boys and girls, which is
so much emphasized in the Torah, for after all, to teach children to make a bracha [blessing] and to say the prayers, etc., this is living Yiddishkeit. [I need hardly add that I too, am interested in your work]. If it seems to you that you have been left to “carry the ball” yourself, it is surely only because there is confidence in you and that since you have been sent to Milan, you undoubtedly have the ability, qualifications, and initiative to do your job without outside promptings, etc.
Since one is only human, it is not unusual to relapse occasionally into a mood of discouragement. But, as has been explained in the Tanya and in other sources, such a relapse should only serve as a challenge to bring forth additional inner reserves and energy to overcome the tactics of the yetzer hara and to do even better than before.
I trust that since you wrote your letter, your mood and outlook have considerably improved, and that this letter will find you in a completely different frame of mind. Nevertheless, I am sending you this letter, since one is only human and subject to changes of mood, as mentioned above.
Great Relief
Finally, I want to say that the above should not be understood to mean that if you do find yourself in such a frame of mind, you should try to conceal it and not write about it. For our Sages have said that “when someone has an anxiety, he should relate it to others,” for getting something off one’s chest is in itself already a relief.
One should also bear in mind, as the Old Rebbe has stated most emphatically in the laws of learning and teaching Torah, that a person who is engaged in teaching children should especially take care of his health, since it directly affects the success of the work. I trust, therefore, that you are looking after yourself in matters of diet and rest, etc., and that you will always be in a state of cheerfulness and gladness.
Hoping to hear good news from you,
With Blessing,
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