Turning Mirrors into Windows of Opportunity
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
The Hayom Yom for the 9th of Iyar states: “Our teacher the Baal Shem Tov said: Every single thing one sees or hears is an instruction for his conduct in the service of G‑d. This is the idea of avoda, service, to comprehend and discern in all things a way in which to serve G‑d.”
In a Sicha (Likutei Sichos v. 10) the Rebbe teaches what one should do when he sees a negative trait in another person. From the above mentioned Hayom Yom the Rebbe mentioned another teaching of the Baal Shem Tov that seeing a negative trait in someone else is also a sign to examine one’s own behavior. Aside needing to see it in order to help others, many times it’s a mirror for ourselves.
Last week we saw an example of this during the Senate confirmation hearings for the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to serve in the Supreme Court. The very fact that the whole event was held in such a circus-like atmosphere with so much public excitement and passion on all sides in and of itself tells us that there a vital lesson in the service of Hashem. A centerpiece of public attention in these hearings was the testimony of an individual who accused Brett Kavanaugh of criminal misconduct in his teenage years. According to the Torah a case cannot be brought before the Bais Din unless there are witnesses or credible evidence. On the contrary if someone accuses another person without evidence or witnesses it is considered worse than gossip, it falls under the transgression of making a bad name for someone else.
The very fact that this accusation is related to an alleged event that occurred over 35 years ago teaches a lesson that everything we do has a ripple effect. Nothing is lost and everything we do has lasting impact even 35 years later. All the more so for good things.
How fortunate we are that we have been given the opportunity to do teshuva and to correct past misdeeds. There is no such thing as being a lost cause no matter how much time has passed. We have teshuva and Yom Kippur a day of atonement and to make things right. How happy we are to have a Creator with infinite kindness that grants forgiveness so much so that if we change nothing is mentioned on the day of judgement. It is completely wiped off the record as if it never occurred.
In another Sicha (Shabbos Teshuva parshas Vayelech 5719) the Rebbe quotes the sefer Minhagei Maharil. The Gemara (Shabbos 153.) says in the name of R’ Eliezer to do teshuva one day before one’s passing. The students of R’ Eliezer asked which day is that, being that a person doesn’t know the day of their passing, how then will they know which day is the day before? R’ Eliezer answered; that makes it all the more important to do teshuva today because he doesn't know if tomorrow he will pass; and in that way he will spend his entire life doing teshuva.
The Maharil brings a different approach and reason for spending one's entire life doing teshuva. This other reason is because in the days of the Moshiach no one will be being accepted to do teshuva. The time for teshuva will be over. This is similar to not receiving converts in the days of Moshiach. The reason converts will not be accepted is because conversion must be an authentic act made out of love for Hashem. When Moshiach arrives everyone will want to convert in order to join in the celebration of the Jewish people.
Since we are waiting and anticipating the arrival of Moshiach everyday, if someone doesn't do teshuva today and then Moshiach arrives, the opportunity will be forever lost and he or she will be left together with their sins. Therefore today we still have the opportunity to do to complete teshuva as soon as possible.
The Rebbe said that this reasoning of the Maharil, different than the Gemara, is a very pleasant word. Why do we need to speak about having to do teshuva because they're afraid that it might be their last day of life? It's much more pleasant to grab the opportunity to do a real teshuva with the hope that Moshiach is coming by tomorrow (at the latest) and today is the last our last opportunity.
In a Maamar (5701 page 41) the Previous Rebbe mentions that after the neshama goes through various punishments and lifetimes to cleanse itself from choosing folly over fulfilling its purpose in this world of elevating sparks, and bringing the flow of blessings from on high into the world; eventually the neshama fulfills its purpose.
The Rebbe then goes on to explain our request during davening (Birchas Krias Shema): “May we never be embarrassed, and may we never be disgraced, and may we never stumble forever.”
“May we never be embarrassed” refers to embarrassment in this world, because in this world we do not know what is in the heart of our friend and we need to look only at his or her good, but we do know what is in our own heart, and for that we are embarrassed.
“May we never be disgraced” refers to the World to Come because there it is the world of truth and everything is explicitly and inherently known. If we don’t do teshuva in this world (Hayom La’asosam) there is no opportunity offered there for teshuva. This is why we are disgraced there, because there is where we face public and known embarrassment, which is itself one of the greatest possible punishments.
Which brings us to the last phrase of our heartfelt request; “And may we never stumble forever” refers to Techias Hameisim when all the bodies destined will arise according to the laws of the Torah. At that time there will be a judgement. This is the stumbling after the embarrassment in this world and the disgrace in the World to Come. For all of this we pray that Hashem should put within our hearts the motivation to do teshuva now and therefore avoid embarrassment, disgrace and stumbling. On the contrary, we pray to fulfill the true intention for our neshama’s descent into our bodies in this world which is to learn the Torah and do mitzvos thereby fulfilling Hashem’s desire of making this world into a dwelling place for Hashem.
With our primary focus being on the coming of Moshiach immediately we learn from the events of this world to teach us lessons to do teshuva with inspiration and simcha and make the most fitting preparation possible for Moshiach.
A Good Shabbos