The Wisdom of Foolishness
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This is the Shabbos before Yud Shevat. Before the Yud Shevat of 5710-1950 the Previous Rebbe gave out the Mamar titled “Basi L’Gani” to learn on that Shabbos. Shabbos morning the Previous Rebbe was nistalek. The Rebbe accepted this Mamar as the Previous Rebbe’s Will and Testament for our generation. Every year the Rebbe would focus on one specific chapter of the Mamar. This year the focus is on chapter five. The Mamar stresses that the Shechina, the Divine presence was originally here in this world. Because of sins that presence disappeared. Through the work of Tzaddikim beginning with Avraham Avinu and completed by Moshe Rabbenu in the 7th generation the Shechina returned to be revealed in this world with even greater strength. This presence was revealed in the Mishkon. This is the meaning of the pasuk Basi L’Gani in which Hashem said; I returned to my garden, my original place.
The Mamar also explains the concept of shtus, foolishness. The word shtus means to deviate from the logical or normal path. Usually the word shtus is used to describe the type of foolishness that leads to sin. Nonetheless there is also holy shtus, shtus d’kedusha. This shtus is a deviation from the norm in that we go above and beyond the intellect in the service of Hashem.
Why is it necessary to live and serve Hashem above the intellect? The Mamar explains this by describing the original purpose, Hashem’s reason for creation. The purpose of everything is so that we should make from this life and everything we come in contact, a dwelling place and a home for Hashem. We cannot accomplish this by normal and logical means alone. The whole idea itself is a shtus, a deviation beyond what fits into the normal and logical function of this world. It does not make sense that Hashem’s infinite presence should be revealed and dwell within this finite physical world. Therefore we need shtus d’kedusha in order to convert the world into a dwelling place for Hashem, which is the subject of this years’ chapter of the Mamar.
The Mamar brings the story of Rav Shmuel b’Rav Yitzchok as an excellent example
for shtus d’kedusha. Rav Shmuel b’Rav Yitzchok would juggle 3 hadasim at weddings. Reb Zera said that his behavior was embarrassing for a Talmid Chacham. When Rav Shmuel b’Rav Yitzchok passed away a pillar of fire appeared, a revelation of Hashem beyond all worlds that separated between his bier and the entire world (and all worlds). This revelation was accomplished through his physical service in this world on the level of shtus d’kedusha.
What does all of this mean today in 5775-2015? In order to complete the purpose of creation for which we are here, to bring the revelation of Hashem to this world, it’s not enough to serve Hashem with what we think is logical or comfortable. We need to serve Hashem in a way that is beyond our logic and beyond our comfort zones. Take for example the mitzvah of ahavas Yisroel. It’s not enough to practice ahavas Yisroel with those that we are comfortable and those that we already know or understand, or at a time that is best for us. We also have the ability and the strength to do it even when it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient and goes against our nature.
This week is the 16th Yartzeit of my father HaRav Menachem Shmuel Dovid HaLevi O.B.M. In my father’s home there were certain people who were regulars that had no other place to be. No one else wanted to take them in. They would find their place for Shabbos at my father’s table in our home. Sometimes it was very uncomfortable when they acted without respect and without appreciation or quite the opposite. At times they caused the family pain and difficulties. Nevertheless my father with his ahavas Yisroel would say that they too are Jews and as such we need to help them, even if it was difficult. Once someone made such a raucous that the family reached the breaking point. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. They finally said that this time either the man left and they stayed or the other way around. This fellow was a regular. The man ended up leaving. After seudas Shabbos my father went out and found him and invited him back. He sat with him and served him the seudas. (We also had normal guests).
Only with this approach of shtus d’kedusha will we reach to final straw that breaks the camel’s back, the final barriers of galus and allows back the Divine presence with the revelation of Moshiach and the building of the third Beis HaMikdash Now!
A Good Shabbos