Living with the Once When the Rebbe Was Asked to Elaborate on the Nature of His Position, He Explained That He Is a Miner

Shabbat Parshat Sh‘lach M ining the D ep ths Living with the Once when the Rebbe was asked to elaborate on the nature of his position, he explained that he is a miner. Just as a miner digs into the depths of the earth, sifts through much dirt and stone, and R eb b e ultimately comes up with jewels and precious metals, so, too, the Rebbe teaches and empowers us to penetrate to the depths of our Adapted from the works of the Rebbe, being and reveal the inner G-dliness dormant within our souls. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson Now going beneath the surface of our personalities is not In this week's Torah portion, Shelach, we read about the particularly new. For over a century, psychologists have spoken report of the spies whom Moses sent to explore the Land of about this goal, and in the last decades motivational specialists and Israel. The reaction of the Jewish people to the spies' negative personal growth coaches have become a major part of even the report was immediate: "Our wives and children will surely be corporate structure of western society. So what's new about the taken captive by the strong people living there. Let us appoint a new leader and go back to Egypt." G-d, therefore, decreed that Rebbe's approach? they would not be allowed to enter the Land. "But your children, The novelty is not in the idea of digging, but what one comes up of whom you said 'they will become prey,' them I will bring in, with when one digs. and they will know the land you have despised." The children, Secular psychologists have dug and come up with passions and the younger generation, will be the ones to enter Israel, G-d fears that diminish rather than enhance our humanity. Humanists promises. have dug and come up with existential despair and emptiness. The Why is there such an emphasis on children, in both the Rebbe dug and came up with G-dliness. complaint of the Jewish people and in G-d's response? Because children played a role of great significance, both in the Why do the psychologists come up with fears and passions, or the inheritance of the Land and the mission with which the Jewish humanists with despair, when they try to probe beneath a person's people are entrusted. surface? Concerning young children our Sages comment: "A baby Because that is their own inner mindset. They do not set out to breaks into crumbs more than he manages to eat." This means diminish man's potential. Quite the contrary, they want to help; they that a young child utilizes only a small portion of the food he is are well-intentioned and honest. given, while most of it ends up on the floor. But that very honesty causes them to project their own image This saying can also be understood in the spiritual sense. A baby symbolizes a person who possesses little wisdom and over humanity as a whole. You can't blame them for that. They are understanding. The food stands for the Torah and its human and this is the way they see man. But what is their image of commandments which sustain the G-dly soul. A person who is an themselves or of man in general? And what is the image of man the "adult," who utilizes his time on earth wisely, devotes the major Rebbe projects? portion of his life to doing mitzvot and fulfilling his mission in life. They look around at their environment and try to make sense out A child, in the spiritual sense, wastes most of his time by of the different forces and factors they see. They discover patterns becoming involved with foolish and extraneous matters, losing sight of the Divine purpose for his soul. Most of his spiritual and share them with others. By doing so, they reinforce the patterns sustenance, the Torah, ends up unassimilated and undigested, that they discover. "crumbs on the floor." The Rebbe operates from a different perspective. What is This, in fact, was the claim made by the spies: "Why must we significant is not what he or other people see or want in this world, enter the Land of Israel and waste our precious time involving but what G-d wants. Why did G-d create the world? And why did He ourselves with physical matters? Here in the desert where all our create this particular person, this particular situation, and this physical needs are miraculously met, we can devote ourselves particular moment? totally to learning Torah. For even if we will have time to learn once we enter the Land, most of our day will be wasted! It is far The question motivates the answer. It frees a person to look better to stay in the desert than to lower ourselves to that level!" beyond his own individual horizons and see a larger picture - a they claimed. Divine picture. To which G-d responded: "Your children...will be the ones to Most of us do not ask these questions naturally. But as we inherit." Even though the generation of Jews which left Egypt connect with the Rebbe, study his teachings, follow his directives, was on a very high spiritual level, devoting their lives to studying and endeavor to understand his motivation, we learn to do so. the Torah, it was precisely the children, those possessing little Extending this approach further, one looks to the era when G-d's Torah knowledge, who would be allowed to enter the Land of Israel. The new generation would be required to pursue a conception of the world will blossom into manifest fulfillment: the different path, working hard to provide the physical necessities of era of the Redemption. For just as every particular entity was life, while at the same time imbuing their surroundings with G- created with a purpose, so, too, the world at large was brought into dliness and holiness. For this is what G-d really wants Jews to do. being with a goal. As our Sages comment, "The world was created Our mission in life is to lead a normal, physical existence, while solely for Moshiach." at the same time following the precepts of the Torah. For that reason it is important to learn about the era of the The Torah learning of young children is also especially dear to Redemption and appreciate the mindset that will prevail at that time. G-d. "The learning of little children may not be disturbed, even to build the Holy Temple!" we are told. Their pure faith and belief in As we become more acquainted with G-d's purpose for creation, we G-d has the power to arouse G-d's mercy and foil the evil plans are more capable of prodding that purpose into fulfilment and of the enemies of the Jewish people. enabling the world to reach that desired state. L‘C ha im W eek ly N ewsletter such requests had been approved. However, he held an excellent position as a top engineer, and as soon as he would submit his application he would be fired from his job, and if the request was refused, he would be left without any means of support. Rabbi Pinchas Teitz of Elizabeth, N.J. made 22 trips to Russia in Rabbi Teitz was very moved by the fiery dedication of the two the 60s, 70s and 80s. Even in the heyday of the Communist empire Chasidim. He promised to memorize their names and their questions and the secret police, he managed to secure permission for his to tell the Rebbe, as it would be too dangerous to write them down visits. He had good contacts in the government and they trusted and have such a paper in his possession. The three men relaxed and him. Nevertheless, he was often able to utilize his visits to secretly engaged in conversation. The rabbi mentioned that the Rebbe had smuggle in important Jewish paraphernalia, such as tefilin and given him a Tanya to keep with him on the trip. prayer books, for the benefit of the oppressed Jews of the U.S.S.R. "Do you mean to say that you have this Tanya from the Rebbe in Although Rabbi Teitz was born and educated in Lithuania and its your possession? Now? Here?" they exclaimed enthusiastically. yeshivas, it was impossible to be involved in Jewish life in the Soviet Rabbi Teitz silently took the Tanya from his coat pocket and Union in those days and not laud the activities of the Chabad showed it to them. They eagerly examined it from all sides and Chasidim who had dedicated their lives to preserve Judaism there. angles. Their increasing excitement was palpable. Clearly they were Thus, many times he merited to bring objects from the Lubavitcher overjoyed to be holding a book that less than a week ago had been Rebbe to his Chasidim in Russia, and vice versa. in the Rebbe's own holy hands. Once, when Rabbi Teitz was preparing for another trip, a While holding the book, one of them shouted out in amazement. representative of the Rebbe brought him a package. This was no He pointed to what their intense scrutiny had uncovered: a page had surprise; he was already used to and even expected the arrival of an been folded down at the top corner, as a person sometimes does in emissary and the usual package. place of a bookmark. But this time the messenger from the Rebbe also took out a small- They opened to the page and were awestruck by the very first sized volume of Tanya, the foundation book of Chabad teachings, words! "...he is extremely pressed for time and finds it utterly and handed it to the rabbi.

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