What is the Role of the Rebbe in Our Lives?
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
Recently I read something told in the name of the Previous Rebbe. Someone asked the Previous Rebbe if he said the section of Tehillim divided by the week or said the entire Tehillim does he also have to say the section of Tehillim divided by the month. According to the story the Rebbe answered with an example. Even if you have a truck full of oil you still need grease for the wheels. The daily Tehillim is the grease; it gives us strength in all our activities throughout the day.
In last week’s parsha Vayakel, Moshe Rabbenu gathered the Jewish people to teach them how to make the Mishkon. After they completed the construction they came back, in this week’s parsha to Moshe Rabbenu to help them set it up. They couldn’t do it on their own. The purpose of the Mishkon is to convert the physical and lift it up to Hashem. For this we need Moshe Rabbenu who can unite everything together.
How does Moshe Rabbenu help us? In the Rebbe’s V’atah Titzaveh Maamar and many other Maamarim the Rebbe explains how Moshe Rabbenu feeds our emunah. Why does he feed our emunah if we are already believers, and children of believers? In the Rebbe’s 4th Maamar for parsha’s Ki Sisa 5711 the Rebbe asks the following question. The first time the half shekel was given was to count the Jewish people in the desert. In the years following it was given only for communal offerings. Why then does the pasuk read, “When you will count” have to do with the half shekel given for all the future generations? The Rebbe explains based on Maamarim from the Rabbeim that, “Ki Sissa” doesn’t just mean to count it also means to lift up. So just as we asked with regard to emunah, how does Moshe Rabbenu lift our heads up?
The Rebbe explains that even though we already have emunah nevertheless our emunah may not yet be integrated into our lives. He brings the example of the ganav, the thief who prays for success in his crimes. The ganav may believe but he still steals. He still steals because his emunah is still not integrated.
The Rebbe brings a few examples for who this ganev could be on a refined level. One example is a businessman who knows that everything comes from Hashem. He knows he has to give a tenth or twenty percent of his income to tzedaka and when he is successful he thanks Hashem. What happens however when the he is not successful? He starts to get nervous. He thinks he needs to do more. Suddenly he feels that there isn’t enough time for learning and not enough money for tzedaka, so he cuts back. Then a little further down the line he falls prey to shady business dealings. What is the proper path? To keep the same schedule by learning, davening and giving tzedaka the same as always and look for ways to strengthen the connection. Instead of this he’s looking into crafty and cunning ideas to get ahead. Now he’s got a lot less time for Hashem even though he has emunah, that Hashem is the one who gives him parnassa, it just hasn’t penetrated. That’s why we need Moshe Rabbenu.
A Jew once went to a tzadik for advice. He asked for help because he davens and he learns but he doesn’t feel uplifted. The tzadik asked him how long he davens and learns each day. He answered; “Three to four hours”. “And business, how long?” He asked. “Six to seven hours.” he replied. The tzadik continued; “ So how’s business?” He answered; “I’m barely making it.” The tzadik then said; “Your giving business 6-7 hours and barely making it, how can you possibly expect that your davening and learning will uplift you if you’re only giving it 3-4?” He said; “So what should I do?” The tzadik answered; “You created a wall in your life. On one side was the service of Hashem and on the other your business. The truth is that business is also the service of Hashem. It’s from the business that tzedaka and help for others comes from. You are always connected to Hashem in all that you do; both are vehicles of the service to Hashem. The feeling that you are connected 24/7 even in business comes from Moshe Rabbenu who lifts up the soul of a Jew to his essence.
Practically speaking, it’s by following the Rebbe’s guidance by learning Chitas, Rambam, going on Mivtzoyim, learning Maamarim and Davening that we get that lift that effects every area of life. They are all one thing, a Mishkon to Hashem in which Moshe gives his bracha of success to in this week’s parsha.
A Good Shabbos