How We See Ourselves:
An Artist's Perspective
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This week's parsha speaks about the tests that Hashem gave Avraham Avinu which culminated in the biggest and final test of the akeida. So too, each one of us in our personal lives have tests of our own that we go through. Sometimes our challenges can pile up until the point that we lift up our hands in despair. We say; enough! These challenges arrive in many shapes and sizes. They can come from working for a mosad and not seeing progress, to business, health to personal shortcomings.
In Igros Kodesh volume 4 page 222 the Rebbe addresses the topic of challenges and despair. While answering an artist's questions about his difficulties in overcoming personal difficulties, the Rebbe uses an artist and his art as a metaphor for acheiving and maintaining a perspective that transcends life's trails and tribulations. Since the Baal Shem Tov said that everything we see teaches a lesson in the service of Hashem, so too with art. An artist must find a way, using the outer manifestation of the picture to express the inner essence of the subject. This can be difficult if at first he does not see the inner aspect that he seeks to reveal. He must delve deeper into the subject until he is able to realize it because it was covered by its surface. So too, our 'art', our service of Hashem is to reveal the essence of aiyn od milvado, that everything in truth is living solely from the word of Hashem.
Every Jew has a neshama, he or she is a child of Hashem and is always connected (as explained in the Tanya chapter 2). Hashem wants to benefit the neshama by enabling it the merit to earn it's own reward. For this he has given us the Torah and mitzvos so that through our own service we can merit the highest levels. One may ask; what if some do not complete their mission, are they lost? The Alter Rebbe explains in chapter 39 of the Tanya, that "Lo yidach memenu yidach", that no one will ever be completely pushed away and that eventually everyone will fulfill their purpose.
Therefore if someone is being tested, and these tests seem too difficult, he should remember that Hashem, the one who created his neshama gave him those tests and that surely he made it possible to complete his mission. Hashem does not make a burden too difficult to carry. This is true even if we have fallen through in the past. Nevertheless, the Torah says that we are his children; Hashem refers to each and every one of us as his firstborn! Reminding us of this should give us the simcha that we can and will make it. Hashem requests of us just to open up to Him like the eye of a needle, and He will open up to us like the entryway of the Bais HaMikdash.
Still someone may say that although Hashem has this calculation, nevertheless it looks quite different to me. Because I am so low i do not see how i can ever be successful in overcoming my personal challenges, and therefore I consider myself lost. So who is correct? If you have a disagreement between the Rav and the talmid, who do you follow? The Rav! Look deeper into the picture and you will see that the essence is "v'amech kulam tzadikim", that every Jew is a tzadik in his essence, and therefore you DO have the energy and the ability to succeed!
This is especially true for those who have merited to be amongst the congregation of chassidim, to be connected to "Ilana d' Chaya" to the Rabbeim. Therefore we should use our talents to their utmost to help with yiras shomayim, fear of heaven.
The Rebbe ends by saying not to leave for tomorrow what can be accomplished today. Tomorrow is for what tomorrow brings while today is to accomplish the work of today with our utmost in all it's aspects. If we will open up to our avodah like the eye of a needle then Hashem will open up like the entryway of the Bais HaMikdash!
The point of this letter is that we need to know who we are. We are Jews that Hashem created; we are his children etc.. When we do just a little bit then Hashem will help us ten fold. We should not get caught up in the superficial facade of this world. By learning Chassidus we will begin see everything according to the true perspective of the Torah.
(Adapted from Igros Kodesh v.4 pg. 222)