Hobart, Tasmania is not exactly around the corner from New York. Or from Israel.
But it was front and center in the eyes of the Lubavitcher Rebbe of righteous memory.
Rabbi Chaim Gutnick of Melbourne, Australia was shocked when he received a letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, instructing him to go to Tasmania. The letter, written over fifty years ago, did not specify why he should go and what he should do there – just that he must go at once.
A Chassid follows his Rebbe’s advice – so he went. Roaming the streets of Hobart, he certainly was noticeable. Yet, he had no clue what his purpose was. Until – suddenly – a fellow came running up to him. “You must be a Rabbi!” he exclaimed. “Please come to my home.”
Rabbi Gutnick followed the man, Michael Hasofer, to his home. It turns out that Michael, a kibbutznik, had emigrated from Israel a number of years ago. Though raised thoroughly secular, a series of events had aroused his curiosity about his own faith and he had prayed to G-d that some sign of Jewishness should appear in his life (the Jewish population of Hobart was under 30 families). He was now intrigued by the rabbi – who had miraculously appeared as an answer to his prayers – and they held a discussion for a long time.
One thing led to another, and soon Michael, his wife Atara, and their family moved to Australia, where they could lead a more observant Jewish life.
Fast forward to 1980 and the Hasofers – now themselves ardent followers of the Rebbe – find themselves in an audience with the Rebbe in New York. As they finished the conversation and got up to leave, the Rebbe suddenly changed the subject and said, “There are Jewish souls in Malaysia. Go there and research meditation. Afterwards, you will be able to influence many young Jews who are studying the wrong, often idolatrous, forms of meditation. You can teach them the correct way.” With that, their meeting was over.
Stunned, the couple set off for Malaysia. Atara got to know a 97-year-old monk – considered one of the top experts in meditation - who revealed that his parents were really assimilated German Jews. He was really Jewish!
Atara began teaching the monk Tanya.
Soon afterwards, a British girl came to the monk to learn meditation. When he learned she was Jewish, he told her, “Your place is not here. You must go to the source, to a place where they will teach you Tanya.”
He gave her the contact information of the Hasofers. The young woman eventually enrolled in a yeshiva and embraced Judaism!
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The opening words of this week’s parsha, Tzav, instruct the kohanim (priests) to ensure that the fire on the altar stays lit all night, until morning.
The mystics explain that night refers to spiritual darkness. Specifically, it signifies the spiritual darkness of exile. Fire represents spiritual light.
The Torah is thus enjoining us to light up the darkness with light. There are dark places and dark times. Moments of spiritual emptiness. Places devoid of holy energy. Our mission is to illuminate the darkness. We accomplish this by shining the light of Torah and mitzvot into these dark spaces and moments.
But it isn’t enough to shine a light into the darkness. We must burn a fire through the entire night. This means that the impact of Torah and mitzvot must penetrate every moment and every place of exile.
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We each do our part in this critical mission. But it is the great leaders of the Jewish people that cannot sleep at night if there is but one space, but one soul in the furthest reaches of the world, that has yet to experience light. Every dimension of night must be replaced with light.
This coming Tuesday, the 11th of Nissan, marks the birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. His landmark contribution to Jewish life is amplified on this day as he continues – from on high – to shower us with blessings in accomplishing this mission.
Just as he labored tirelessly on behalf of every Jew during his lifetime, I am certain that his soul continues this valiant, incessant effort on high.
And he will not rest until the fire illuminates the entirety of night (exile) and ushers in the morning (redemption).
On Tuesday, please take a few moments to carry the torch with which the Rebbe has entrusted us. Reach out to a fellow Jew. Do an extra mitzvah. Say an extra prayer. Learn some more Torah.
The morning is around the corner.