Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine. When people lauded him for his accomplishments, he refused to take credit, famously claiming, “Could you patent the sun?”
As I farbreng amongst thousands of Rabbinic pioneers and spiritual inventors from across the globe at the International Conference of Shluchim, I am filled with two distinct feelings.
On the one hand, I am amazed anew each time I meet a Shliach accomplishing crazy things in crazy places.
For example, last night I sat next to Rabbi Feigelstock, the Shliach in Paraguay. Despite the turmoil in his country, who’s president resigned this week, he is making unbelievable strides with the Jewish community. In fact, they recently hired an additional Youth Rabbi to help cater to the 1000 local Jews.
On the other hand, Chabad has become a household name across the globe. It almost feels natural. The revolution of Judaism that the Rebbe initiated has become an almost pedestrian reality. If you travel to some remote enclave, you expect Chabad to be there for you.
Reading this week’s parsha of Chayei Sarah helped me gain perspective on this.
The Torah tells us that Yitzchak brought his new wife Rivka into his late mother’s tent and behold, she was Sarah his mother. There was a familiarity and replication of Sarah. Our Sages declare that this is because Rivkah’s Shabbat candles provided the same miraculous light as her mother-in-law.
Rashi explains that Rivkah was but a three-year-old girl when her Shabbat lights burned miraculously from one week to the next. The Rebbe underscored that we ought to ensure that young girls light Shabbat candles. Even in homes where the mother fulfills the household obligation by kindling candles for Shabbat, her daughters should light as well.
When the Rebbe instituted this decades ago, some argued that it was a new invention – not something their parents had done. Going back to the story of Rivkah, the Rebbe proved that it was always a Jewish custom, albeit often overlooked.
The Rebbe’s revolution did not invent Shabbat candles for young girls. But, he did bring it back – roaring to the forefront.
And, that’s what I keep seeing repeatedly at the Kinus HaShluchim. These are Rabbis simply promoting what Jews have always promoted, unabashedly celebrating Jewish life the way it’s always been celebrated.
They invent nothing new. And, yet – following the Rebbe’s lead – they are the greatest inventors.
Let’s keep on inventing nothing new – until we bring Moshiach!