Today’s learning is dedicated to the refuah sheleima of Simcha Nosson ben Zissel.

In the previous post, we discussed the untiring love Hashem has for the Jewish people.

Rabbi Cordovero explains that for us to emulate Hashem’s ways, we must focus on the inherent kinship we share with each other. We have a unique bond, one that can never be broken. 

When the Jewish nation stood at Har Sinai, at the pinnacle of our spirituality, the verse says we were “k’ish echad, b’lev echad,” like one man, with one heart. The commentators explain that we each share one soul; we are parts of a bigger whole. The Reishis Chochmah explains that just as Hashem is One, in perfect unity, so too our souls combine in the higher worlds into one, with no jealousy or competition to divide them.

As Rabbi Riachi writes, “Our souls are interwoven… No matter how much distance there might be between two Jews, and no matter how much one might have sinned against the other, this does not affect the union of their souls in heaven. Their deeds and opinions about one another do not detract from the reality of their both being comprised of one soul – the soul of Israel.”

We see this concept when Yaakov descended to Egypt together with his family. The verse states, “The entire soul (nefesh) of Yaakov’s household who entered Egypt was seventy.” Rashi notes that all seventy members of Yaakov’s family were referred to in the singular as one soul. (Whereas the six members of Esav’s family is referred to in the plural as nafshos – “the souls of his household.”)

This gives new meaning to the verse, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” As the Malbim explains, this teaches us to actively pursue the benefit of others. When we view others as an extension of ourselves, we can share in their pain and rejoice in their gladness.

Bearing this in mind, Rabbi Riachi points out that it would be to our own benefit to be forgiving towards others. A sin on one person’s record, is a sin on our nations record.  

When we view one another as family, we become more patient and accepting. Naturally, we are more understanding towards our own family; this is because we know their true essence. Although they may make mistakes, we know that in their core they are kind, loving and pure.

Similarly, Rebbe Nachman teaches that it is incumbent on each of us to actively seek out the “good points” within every person. He teaches that there is nobody in this world that does not possess goodness; it is up to us to search and find that inherent goodness. Rebbe Nachman urges us to continue searching for every good point the person may possess. The more good we find, the closer our relationship will grow. (Rebbe Nachman adds that we must also search for the good within ourselves.)

Rebbe Nachman teaches, “The Midrash offers a parable to one who found his friend creating a crown, so he asked him, ‘Who is this for?’ He answered that it is for the King. So his friend responded, ‘Since it is for the benefit of the King, every precious stone that you find, you should place on it.’ In the same way, every single Jew is considered a crown for Hashem, and we have to put in him all different kinds of precious stones we can find, meaning we have to search and look for, and go after every side of merit and good points we can find in them, and judge everyone favorably, because they are a crown to Hashem.”

Moshe Rabbeinu was the quintessential leader. The well-being of the Jewish nation was his top priority; he was willing to sacrifice himself to ensure their survival. Commenting on this weeks Torah portion, Rabbi Moshe Kormornick writes, “Rashi points out that despite being told that he would be taken from this world as soon as he had finished battling Midian, Moshe unhesitatingly assembled the army to fight the Midianites, fulfilling Hashem’s will with joy and without delay. Even though Moshe could have delayed the war and prolonged his life by many years, he put the needs of the Jewish people first and saw their advancement into Eretz Yisrael as the best thing for them. (In fact, the Midrash explains that Hashem was giving Moshe an opportunity to live for another twenty to thirty years.) This act of selflessness epitomizes Moshe’s relationship with the Jewish People. As the Torah later relates, Moshe never cared for his own needs; rather, he solely focused on the role that Hashem gave him – to lead and care for the Jewish People.”

Moshe possessed an attribute found by all great leaders – an expanded sense of “I”. As Rabbi Kormornick quotes from Rav Shimon Shkop, “Everybody identifies themselves as an “I” – with one’s own needs at the forefront of their mind. For some people, included in that “I” is their wife and children. For others who are greater still, “I” includes their friends and neighbors. There are some even greater people whose “I” extends to their entire community; but the “I” of the leader, concluded Rav Shimon, includes the entire Jewish people.”

The true leaders can see beyond face value. They see the essence of each person and bring out their fullest potential.  

Rav Noach Weinberg is known for his unparalleled ability to bring unaffiliated Jews closer to Hashem. When asked to reveal his secret, he pointed to a collection of pictures on his desk. The photographs were essentially the “before” and “after” of the people who became religious. Pictures of young men clearly not living a healthy life, next to their later pictures as men with black hats and large religious families. “Even when someone is standing in front of me looking like this,” said Rav Noach, pointing to the “before” photo, “I see this,” he said, pointing to the “after” photo.  

Today marks Rosh Chodesh Av, and the beginning of the period known as “The nine days.” It is a time to reflect, and to mourn the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash. The commentators explain that it was baseless hatred that brought this tragedy upon our nation. Rabbi Avraham Kook therefore concludes, “Baseless hatred destroyed us; baseless love will restore us.”

By focusing on the familial relationship we share, and the “good points” we each possess, we will become more tolerant and understanding; this compassion will lead to increased love and acceptance. Through this, may we merit to see the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash and the Final Redemption, speedily in our days.

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