By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
Guarding our Neshama from wandering like sheep
This week’s parsha is Mishpatim. One of the laws discussed in the parsha is shomrim- those who safeguard other people’s objects. If the object is lost or stolen the shomer needs to swear that it wasn’t lost or stolen due to his negligence. The pasuk discusses an ox, a donkey, a garment and lost sheep. If he was negligent he has to pay and if he swore falsely he needs to pay double.
The Rebbe explains in the service of Hashem that every Jew is Hashem’s shomer for his neshama. We need to return our neshama in perfect condition. We do this by learning the Torah and doing mitzvos, and keeping to the path that Hashem wants us to follow. Sometimes we are negligent because of our nefesh habehamis. We can be at times like a goring ox that gets heated up about worldly affairs, or like a donkey that is cold even at the high point of summer. He can see many miracles and remain as cold as a fish. Then there are sheep, sheep are followers because they do not have the strength to stand up for themselves. The Rebbe explains that this refers to a people whose behaviors and lifestyle are effected and dictated by peer pressure and social mores. Ultimately they do what their peers tell them is acceptable. They do not act based solely upon their conviction for fear of being laughed at or scoffed.
When learning this sicha of the Rebbe I reflected on how this relates to our recent discussions about Chabad standards and what is fitting behaviors for a chosid. A Lubavitcher chosid has always been aware of the standard. He wears Rabbenu Tam tefillin as well as Rashi’s. He wears a hat and jacket and wool tzitzis. He places negel vasser by his bed. He has a mechitza at his weddings even during the meal, not just during dancing. He does the same for Bar Mitzvah’s. The music is chassidish and not disco. He is mihader in kashrus including cholov Yisroel. Tznius means wearing a sheitel. It means wearing a dress that goes below the knees and covers the elbows. This is the image of a Lubavitcher chosid man or woman.
Today we live in an environment with a high level of peer pressure. We are not allowed to tell someone else what to do. Some people say; why should I be more frum that my neighbor? Does halacha require that I have to have a mechitza by the meal of my chassuna? If I wear cotton tzitzis am I not fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzis? Am I not frum if I go to the superbowl? So it goes down the line, many of our Chabad standards being bartered away like lost sheep in order to fit in to peer pressure and social norms. Some will be in Ralph’s and need milk and decide that he isn’t required according to halacha to spend 15 minutes to go the kosher store to buy cholov Yisroel milk! Chabad standard is that drinking cholov Yisroel is a din not only a minhag.
Last week when I was in Yerushalayim I met Mr E., a person who went through the Lubavitch system. He had a trimmed beard. When his daughter got engaged to a young man who was not Chabad, they took Mr E. to visit various Gedolei Yisroel for their brachos. When they visited Rav Kanefsky a well known Torah Scholar, he asked Mr E. why he does not have a full beard. Mr E. repied that he didn’t understand, that there are many frum halachik Jews that do not have full beards. Rav Kanefsky replied; “But you are a Lubavitcher! The Tzemach Tzedek says that shaving your beard is a prohibition of the Torah!” Even the non Chabad world recognizes that Chabad has standards.
There are those that complain that those who speak out also have inconsistencies as well. They are correct. Once there was a debate in South Africa about Judaism that occurred between an Orthodox and a Reform congregation. At one point in the debate the president of the Orthodox shul was called to the podium by the Reform side to explain the proper observance of Shabbos. When he finished explaining that one cannot drive his car or turn on lights etc., he was boldly asked if he himself was 100 percent observant of the Shabbos. He bowed his head in shame and softly admitted that indeed there were times that he falls short of complete observance. This open hypocrisy caused a great stir to the advantage of the Reform side. The Orthodox then called up the president of the Reform shul to answer the same questions about the Shabbos. When he was asked about his personal observance he proudly and staunchly proclaimed that he under no circumstances ever even felt obligated to observe the Shabbos or had any immediate plans to do so in the future (R’L). The representative of the Orthodox then made his point. We see that both these men are not completely observant of the Shabbos. The difference is that this man has a standard (the Orthodox president) and even though he falls short, because he has a standard there is hope for his future. This man has no standard (the Reform president) and what will become of him and those that share his approach?
On a personal note, I know that I am not perfect but still, because we accept the Chabad standard, it bothers me when do not measure up to that standard…
When I returned to Los Angeles after getting married, I served as a Mashpia in Yeshiva for six years. At one point I wrote the Rebbe that I did not feel fit for the job. I felt that that there were some Bachurim that were on a very high level and I did offer to them what they really needed. The Rebbe did not accept my assessment of the situation. From this I understood that I needed to continue and grow into the job.
In conclusion, it is obvious to everyone, even a non Lubavitcher that we have a clear and defined standard. Also, standards give a person a gauge to strive to do and become what we should and should not be. We need to be shomrim, to make sure that we don’t wander like sheep after peer pressure and the demands of our social circles.