Creating Positive Change in the Environment
I really believe in the environmental movement right now - it only takes a little effort to make a big difference. (Overheard being said by an Environmental Activist)
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This week is parshas Vayera. We learn about the thin escape of Lot from Sedom, the place he chose to live, during the time of its destruction.
Sometimes I see that people wonder out loud t if their Torah and Tefillah have the desired impact. They ask if that extra pasuk or the extra coin to tzedaka makes a real change in the situation in Israel and in the world. They do it, but carry it out more like ‘divrei Kabbala’ something they just do. There is a reason that people ask this question. The reason is that we live in a coarse world, a world that is becoming ever more coarse and rough with each passing day. In today’s environment, striving for ruchnius, having a spiritual life sounds far away, abstract and impractical. If it’s not tangible no one wants to pay it much attention. We still learn and we still speak about what we learn but since our hearts are thick as rubber, nothing penetrates. This coarseness is what is referred to as timtum halev, a stopped heart.
When we look at younger children we see that they have their natural warmth and emunah while older people over time become cynical and view an open heart and enthusiasm as naïve. It’s largely due to the environment. 50 years ago the street was different. The average person had emunah. The Jews from Europe were full of passion and fiery emunah. Today the street fights against Hashem. It’s gotten to the point that if you wish someone a blessed day or say ‘thank G-d’ they give a funny look. In their minds science has all the answers. All of this impacts us, and the way that we think.
We find this in the Chumash in last week’s parsha when Avraham told Sarah as they approached Egypt; “Now I see that you are beautiful”. Why did he first realize her beauty then and not before? It’s because Avraham was a Tzadik and until now he took no notice of her physical beauty. Now, as they approached Egypt a lowly place and as he took stock of the situation and those that they would encounter ahead and he began to notice. The Rebbe learns from this episode the effect that the environment can have, even on Avraham Avinu. The purpose of descent into Egypt was to effect an even greater elevation, yerida l’ tzorich aliya.
In every generation there has always been people with stopped hearts, but never do we see it on such a large and organized scale as today. So what can do we do as a community and as individuals? Can we be effective at changing this situation for the better?
The lesson we can take today in our lives and our situation is to first fortify and then counteract the ill effects of the environment. What is most important is to remain immune while being effective and making positive changes for the good. True, we get our strength through learning the Torah, davening, connecting to the Rebbe and attending a good fabrengen. Still, we also need to get involved, to enlist ourselves as it were. In practical terms it means not to allow a quick review of a Sicha or a quick listen to a recording to suffice. To be real it has to truly penetrate, and to penetrate and become part of who we are we need to learn and then re learn. Not just that, we also need to contemplate that the Rebbe is speaking to us directly, and what he is saying applies directly to our personal circumstances. Then it’s a different story; it’s alive and relevant. Then it’s calling to us waiting for us to respond and implement what the Rebbe is saying by embracing what it truly means in general and most specifically for us today. The result is increased emunah, bitachon and simcha in practical ways each according to his or her circumstances with the help of a mashpia.
Just listening to the Rebbe’s voice helps us become infused with his message of emunah, bitachon, simcha, optimism about Moshiach and positive thinking in general. And then when it’s relearned and applied we have what we need to stay above the influences of today and, on the contrary, be successful in influencing the environment.
This is the difference between Lot and Avraham that we see in this week’s parsha. Lot picked an environment (Sedom) to be effected by and it didn’t work out very well. On the other hand Avraham changed his environment wherever he went! Avraham was a true leader.
The Rebbe once spoke to someone about creating an environment (in Yiddish: “A Chosid mach’t a s’vivah”). The Rebbe then asked him what is the number of people required to make an environment. The man answered that he felt that a minyon, a group ten people would be required. The Rebbe answered that actually the correct answer is one. Only one person is sufficient to create an environment, but it has to be the right person. It must be person who is connected and is filled with emunah and bitachon. Just as it was with Avraham Avinu, who was known as Avraham Ha’Eviri one man who came alone from the other side, another environment, who successfully changed the world forever.
May we merit to be leaders and to be proactive as the Rebbe wants and has taught us through his teachings and through his example. By fulfilling our purpose may we also merit to see the fulfillment of all the promises given most importantly the promise of the true and complete Geula immediately!
A Good Shabbos