Staying Connected gives us the Power to Succeed in the Marketplace
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
Rabbi Greenglass would tell the following story about a student of the Baal Shem Tov named Kopel. His name was Kopel, but for the people in the region he was known as Kopel Shavisi. They liked to call him Kopel Shavisi because of their impression of him, especially the way he behaved in the marketplace. This is because Kopel was in charge of the weights and measures for all purchases in the market. Kopel was the only one that everyone trusted to be the most meticulous, fair and honest to both sides Jew and non-Jew alike. As he concluded each transaction he would exclaim “shavisi!” meaning that the weight was equal and the transaction was legitimate. Why did he use the word shavisi? Because it reminded him that he is standing constantly in Hashem’s presence (Shavisi Hashem l’negdi tamid- I place Hashem before me constantly). They all respected and trusted Kopel because his honesty and his connection to Hashem were palpable in all that he did.
One day, for some reason Kopel Shavisi didn’t make it to the marketplace. Immediately the marketplace was thrown into turmoil and came to a grinding halt. How could they possibly do their business without Kopel Shavisi? It was unanimously decided to cancel the market that day. Without Kopel they simply couldn’t be certain that the purchases would be fair and correct.
When the Baal Shem Tov heard this story he said that this teaches us a lesson in Avodas Hashem. Without shavisi (as in the pasuk; Shavisi Hashem l’negdi tamid) a neshama cannot do it’s business in this world.
Chassidus teaches us that every one of us has a neshama, a G-dly soul that is a chelek Elokai mama’al mamash. Although there may not be a Shavisi sign or a Da Lifnei Atah Omed sign by the shtender in shul to remind us constantly of Hashem being in front of us, because we have a neshama and we learn chassidus we get the strength to keep Hashem forefront in our thoughts as we go through the day.
One the 12 pasukim says; “Henei Hashem nitav ailav- Behold Hashem stands upon him”. If the fact that Hashem is standing next to us and giving us strength is carved in our minds, then we are able to accomplish. If we ever loose sight of this we know that that it’s a sign that we have to learn more chassidus. Learning chassidus prevents us from driving off the spiritual cliff of forgetfulness. As we go through the day we should always be asking ourselves; is this thing I am doing what Hashem wants me to be doing right now? If we think of deciding by what’s most comfortable, natural or convenient we can be certain we have veered off the path. We need to go back to Sichos and Maamarim to regain our footing.
This was also a central message we took from the Yom Tov of Shavuos. When we look into our lives we ask ourselves about our approach. Is our approach first naaseh, we will do and then nishma, we will understand or is it the opposite. When we take a look around us at what is happening today, we don’t need to look far to see that without focus it’s a slippery slope. Through accepting the Torah in a way of naaseh v’nishma, every Jew fulfills his purpose and keeps his focus. The strength we get comes from learning chassidus. If we keep the shavisi, then we can accomplish.
This week’s parsha speaks about the meraglim. It’s hard for us to understand what went wrong, Moshe picked them, how could he have seemingly made such a big mistake? The meraglim forgot that they were shluchim of Moshe. Moshe is the Rebbe and together they have the power to conquer the land. When there is no shavisi, when we forget that we are shluchim of Moshe and in front of Hashem, then we think that it’s better to stay in the desert surrounded protected by the ananei hakavod closed off from the world. At least there in the desert Moshe Rabbenu can teach us the Torah. When there’s no shavisi then we think that Moshe Rabbenu does not understand the challenges of the outside world. We feel that we can't be frum and live in the land without getting swallowed up by the giants. It was at this moment in the midst of the challenge that Calev made a trip to the Ohel of the Avos and begged and said that he wanted to be connected to Moshe Rabbenu. He did not forget shavisi. He remained firm.
The lesson for each one of us is that if we remember shavisi and stay connected to Moshe Rabbenu then we can bring Moshiach. The 15th of Sivan is the day that the Previous Rebbe was arrested. The Stalinists where strong but the Rebbe, one man, stood up against all of them. He also demanded the same from his Chassidim. He was just as Moshe Rabbenu was, not afraid of the giant, Og.
If we feel that the world is too strong to stand up to, then learn chassidus. Connect with Moshe Rabbenu the Rebbe. Go to the Ohel and daven like Calev and you will see that you have the kochos to do it; it's work but it can be done. In words of Calev and Yehoshua: “Olah naela- we will surely go up” and conquer Eretz Yisroel.
Moshe gave each one of us the echod of שמע ישראל... With the echod we can be strong. This is what Moshe reveals in every Jew. If we forget then we say that it’s impossible to do our shlichus. We need to get back to the shavisi.
The Rebbe strengthens our emunah in Hashem. Everyone can tap into it. We don’t need to say that we did not see the Rebbe and therefore we can’t do it. The Rebbe is giving us the strength now just as before, it’s up to us to tap into it by learning chassidus. This will help us reveal the emunah and bitachon in Hashem that we have and give us the strength necessary to overcome all obstacles and reveal Moshiach now.