Individuality & Love

BH

This past Tuesday I made a quick trip to NY to visit the graveside of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, in commemoration of his 17th yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing).

As Chassidim worldwide gathered at the graveside, I slipped my way into the line, which at 5:30AM was already populated with hundreds people. Each of us were here for the same reason; to pray to G-d surrounded by the holiness of the locale.

While nearly 50,000 passed through “Ohel Chabad Lubavitch” that day, each felt as if he or she were the only one there. Each felt the moment was theirs and theirs alone.

How, amongst tens of thousands, can such individuality could be felt? I turn to the Rebbe himself for an answer.

There is a oft retold story of when the Rebbe used to stand all day - usually for many hours - and distribute dollars to the thousands of people, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, that came to see him. (The dollars were to be given to charity as part of the Rebbe’s Tzedaka campaign.)

A woman, who had never visited before asked the Rebbe how, at his age, he was able to stand there for hours on end and give each person attention as if they were the only one?

“A diamond counter doesn’t tire, even though he may stand all day,” the Rebbe responded with a smile, “each Jew must be treated in that very way!” The Rebbe viewed every person as a gem. As if he or she was the only one!

In keeping with that theme, each person felt the Rebbe personally, as if the Rebbe was his or hers! And the statement is true. The Rebbe was - and continues to be - there for every one of us!

As the Rebbe explained with regard to the righteous and the great Torah scholars: “A true master of life never leaves this world; he transcends it, but he is still within it. He's still there to assist those bonded with him with blessing and advice just as before, and even more so!

“Even those who did not know him in his corporeal lifetime,” the Rebbe continues, “can still create with him an essential bond. The only difference is in us: Now we must work harder to connect.”

In this weeks Parsha, Balak, the prophet Bilaam is summoned to administer curses unto the Jewish people. In a miraculous turn of events, (even after being warned by his talking donkey of the impending ‘blockade’) angels are sent to complicate Bilaam’s path. Eventually, when Bilaam attempts to extend these curses, only blessings come forth.

In one of Bilaam’s unintended praises, he extols the virtues of the “Tents of Israel” that he saw at the camp. That verse from the Torah is one of today’s most often related Jewish phrases: “Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenotecha Yisrael!” (How goodly are your tents, Jacob and your dwelling places, Israel!)

Rashi, the great commentator on the Torah explains that this blessing had several meanings. At face value, Rashi explains, Bilaam was related an observation he had made. At the camp he found himself at, he noticed that the Jewish people had pitched tents in a fashion that no one entrance faced another, giving each ‘home’ their deserved privacy.

Furthermore, we can learn from this verse, and subsequent commentary the importance of individuality. As common as it is today to notice the flashy belongings of an individual, such as his new home, his 100-foot yacht or his $250,000 Bentley, we must learn to keep our eyes and ears in our tents. Focus on what we have!

In the spirit of the Tents of Israel and the Rebbe’s individual love for each person, may we all yearn to aim all focus of ourselves toward being who we can be not who someone else is!

I would venture to guess that we would be a lot more peaceful if were happy with our lot, instead of trying to play “Keeping up with the Goldsteins!”