GOING BEYOND
What do I do if I don’t feel I have what it takes?
On the last day of his life, Moshe Rabeinu addressed everyone, the elders, officers, men, women, children, and proselytes – absolutely everyone from the hewers of wood to the drawers of water.[1] Since it stated that everyone was addressed, why was it necessary to specify the inclusion of the hewers of wood and water carriers? This was done to make sure it was understood that everyone means everyone. Each person is valued. No one should think that the covenant between Hashem and Klal Yisrael is limited to people of status. Everyone is vital and expected to do his part.
Sometimes people look at others and wish they had the abilities that others possess. Rav Naftali Amsterdam once presented to his Rebbe, Rav Yisrael Salanter: “If only I would have had the head of the Shaagas Aryeh, the heart of the Yesod v’Shoresh Havodah, and the fine character of Rebbe. Then I could serve Hashem properly.”
Rav Yisrael Salanter responded: “All Hashem wants is that you serve Him with the head, heart, and character of Naftali Amsterdam.” The famous words of Reb Zusha of Anapoli capture the idea. “They will not ask me in Heaven, why I wasn’t like Avraham Avinu. They will ask me why I wasn’t Zusha!”[2]
People have a tendency to think that they are limited in potential. When the day of judgment comes, both a poor person and wealthy person will have to answer the same question: “Why didn’t you engage in Torah study?”
If the person answers that he was poor and preoccupied by my sustenance, he would be asked: “Were you any poorer than Hillel?” His poverty did not hold him back.
Every day, Hillel earned a meager amount. Half he gave to the Beis Midrash and half he used for the sustenance of his family. One day, he did not have money the fee for the Beis Midrash and the guard denied him entry. He climbed up to the roof and sat at the edge of the skylight in order to hear the teachings of Torah below. It was Friday, during the winter and snow descended upon him.
The next morning, when people came to the Beis Medrash, Shemaya told Avtalyon that it seemed to be unusually dark inside. They gazed up to the skylight and saw a man’s figure. They found Hillel under six feet of snow. They rescued him and revived him.
If a person says that he was too wealthy and was preoccupied with managing his possessions, he would be asked, “Were you any wealthier than Rebbe Elazar ben Charsom?”
Rebbe Elazar inherited enormous wealth. His father left him one thousand cities on dry land, and corresponding to them one thousand ships at sea. Every day he would go out to study Torah. He was so devoted to his studies that some of his staff didn’t recognize him when they saw him on the street. One day, as he passed them, they tried to solicit him to come to work for their boss, while he was the boss![3]
Hillel’s and Rebbe Elazar’s devotion to Torah learning was exemplary. If a person is taken to task because he could really do more than he is doing, why would he not be told simply that he could do better? Why would it be necessary to show him the accomplishments of others such as Hillel?
When people see others reaching a goal, it indicates that what was achieved was possible. When someone breaks a record in the Olympics, it gives incentive for someone to go beyond. Setting a record is not a limitation. Rather it demonstrates that people can stretch and do better.
Telling someone that he has potential to do more is not as effective as someone seeing that it can be done. Every person has great value and every person can see lessons all around on how to be even greater.
What example do we present? What would we like to do better in the coming year?
Shabbat Shalom & Shana Tova,
Rabbi Hershel D. Becker
[1] Nitzavim 29:9-10
[2] Likras Shabbos Malchesa Nitzavim pp. 426-427
[3] Yoma 35b