Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, said of her husband, the Rebbe, “My husband’s strength lay in his three faiths, his faith in G-d, his faith in the Torah, and his faith in a Jew!”
The Rebbe, Menachem M. Schneerson’s unconditional love for every person was no doubt anchored in his tremendous faith in each person. Many have remarked that the Rebbe believed in them more than they believed in themselves. Be it Elie Weisel’s reluctance to marry after the Holocaust or a Russian Jew’s fear of practicing Yiddishkeit behind the Iron curtain – the Rebbe had perfect faith in each person’s capacity to succeed and reach new heights. When one is convinced how wonderful another person is and when one admires the depth of their qualities – one cannot help but love.
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The name of this week’s parsha is Chukat, meaning decree or – more precisely – “supra-rational law.” The Torah discusses the ritual of purification effected by the ashes of the red heifer. Many mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah are readily understood. But this one is beyond our comprehension. It is simply above our minds.
There are other, perhaps more germane, mitzvot that also defy logic and demand our unwavering commitment. One common example is kashrut, the kosher dietary laws. We may appreciate the regimen and diet gained by the food consciousness developed by adhering to these laws. Ultimately, however, the kosher laws are supra-rational.
What should our attitude be toward these laws? They are given by the same G-d and we certainly observe with them with the selfsame commitment. But can we put our head and heart into something we don’t understand?
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The heart and the mind are both key components to a living human being. The brain maps out all the organs and serves as command central for the bodily functions. To the mind, there is a specific function for the nose, the eyes, the hands and every other body part. No two units are the same, and the head must provide leadership and direction to each individually.
To the brain, priority is supreme. The brain must recognize which organ is vital and which is not life-saving. To each, the brain accords the appropriate level of nourishment and guidance.
Conversely, the heart knows no biases. It offers essential blood to every organ equally. Each cell is identical to the heart. A skin cell and a brain cell both need oxygen to survive. The heart makes no differentiation between superior and inferior organs.
While the brain aims at the functions of each organ, the heart is focused on the existence of each body part. When looking at the functional level, a necessary hierarchy emerges. When viewing the existential level, all are equal and all are one.
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The commandments that are performed based on our understanding are imbued with a richness that recognizes the purpose of each mitzvah. The uniqueness of attachment with our Creator through the lens of caring for the infirm or praying to the Almighty instills a powerful investment into the deed.
When we observe the duties of the Torah that we cannot comprehend, we are bereft of this intellectual devotion, known as kavanah. However, we have an opportunity to connect at a faith level. It is the heart that thrives in this environment. We are not doing the mitzvah because we appreciate the mitzvah per se. Rather, it is the Commander of the mitzvah Whom we appreciate. We are not carrying out an act we love. We are doing an act for our Beloved. In this regard, any act that is considered sacred by our Beloved Creator, automatically becomes important.
We ought to serve G-d with both mind and heart. But it is the heart that touches the essence of our bond, a link that is deeper than logic.
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Perhaps this is the meaning of the Rebbetzin’s remark about the Rebbe. He believed not only in the unique qualities of each individual. He also had absolute faith in the person herself.
When one believes in others not because of their finite qualities but due to their infinite quality of life – everyone is equally sacred and cherished.
As the Rebbe’s 20th yahrzeit nears (observed this year on Tuesday, July 1), we all can take a cue from the Rebbe and continue his legacy of unconditional love to each and every person.
This will surely be a step to accomplishing his lifelong goal – and our goal – of ushering in the era of Moshiach, a time when true faith in and love for G-d, Torah, and every person will abound.