A Jerusalem Post article this week talks about the dramatic shift in the American Jewish landscape seen through the lens of Chabad rabbis graduating at my alma mater, the Rabbinical College of America. Despite the fact that the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s passing was nearly 29 years ago, Chabad keeps on growing.
As we approach the Rebbe’s yahrzeit next week, it’s appropriate to focus on the lessons he taught. Perhaps this can help us understand his legacy.
Here’s a lesson the Rebbe taught on this week’s parsha Shelach.
The Torah portion opens with G-d’s statement to Moshe: Send out for yourself men who will scout the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel.
The Midrash explains that this unique language “Send out for yourself” indicates that this was an optional instruction.
That’s strange. When something comes from G-d, that is the most definitive source possible. Why was G-d’s command to send spies to scout out the Holy Land not really a command at all, but rather a quasi-suggestion?
Hindsight is 20-20. We know that the spies’ mission ended in disaster. Due to their negative report, the Jewish people ended up wandering in the wilderness for forty years. G-d knows the future, so He was not fully condoning this activity.
But, that’s not really a satisfactory answer. G-d always gives us free will. If it was potentially a good move, then it should have been commanded. If they fail, that’s on them – not G-d.
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In the Torah there are many instructions. There’s a long to-do list. And an even longer don’t-do list. Eat this. Don’t eat that. Wear this. Treat someone this way. Don’t treat them that way.
This paints a very black-and-white picture.
But, life as we know it is full of shades of gray. How do we approach the areas in life that are not black and white? If something is not treif, does that mean whatever we do with it is automatically kosher?
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Proverbs teaches us, “Know Him in all your ways.” The Talmud declares that this is a brief passage upon which all fundamental principles of Torah are dependent.
Why?
Judaism is not a religion. It is a way of life.
We aren’t Jewish only when we are in synagogue, eating matzah at the Seder, or supporting our favorite tzedakah. We are Jewish – and must act Jewishly – when we get dressed in the morning, when we eat a casual kosher lunch, and when we are on vacation.
In many areas of life, the obvious relationship with G-d beckons us. In other areas, we tend to think of ourselves as operating in free time, a zone unto ourselves.
In this week’s parsha G-d teaches us a powerful lesson. By giving the spies an optional mission, G-d was allowing them to uplift the ordinary, to create light from gray matter.
Hashem is telling us: There are many aspects of your life that I am not specifically demanding you to perform a mitzvah. But, your behavior should still be mitzvah-like. Every moment in life is an opportunity for sanctity and improvement. It’s the non-mitzvahs that can soar to lofty heights, when infused with meaning and intent.
If we “get” this aspect of Judaism, we have scored an embrace of the fundamental principles of the Torah.
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American Jewish life has seen many attitudes. Some Jews came to this country to live free lives, and quickly abandoned their traditions. Assimilating into society was a central goal – and it came at a high price.
Others came here with determination to retain their traditions, shunning American society. Fearing that assimilation would destroy centuries of Jewish life, they put up high walls between themselves and society.
The Rebbe arrived on the shores of America exactly 82 years ago (from this Shabbat). Instead of picking sides between modernity and assimilation on one side and tradition and isolation on the other, the Rebbe chose to infuse the modern with the spiritual and uplift the mundane to the mystical.
The Spies made an early error, leading to their demise. But, we Jews have learned our lesson. We won’t repeat their mistake. Together, we will uplift the world and celebrate our Jewishness.