Shneur was a man on the move. He seemed to always be thinking of new projects and getting his class involved in carrying them out. He was the one who came up with the plan for the “Lunch N’ Learn” Rambam shiur in school. He also initiated the Sunday “Daven and Dine” club, inviting people from his Mivtzaim route to come to shul. Everyone enjoyed a bagel and dips breakfast after davening. Then there was the Mezuza clinic that he organized for a few days in Elul at the kosher bakery. People could bring in their Mezuzos to be checked while buying their Challos or honey cake, and pick them up a few days later. These are just a few examples of Shneur’s initiative and drive.
How did he cover the expenses of his many projects? No problem, Shneur had a thousand fund raising ideas. He even managed to get many of his classmates to help him bring his plans to fruition. Most of the boys looked up to Shneur, admiring his dedication to the Rebbe’s Mivtzaim.
One boy, however, was not impressed. Boruch was a p’nimi, one who focused on avoda – the hard labor of refining oneself from the inside out. He looked at Shneur’s projects and came to the conclusion that it was not motivated by the right reasons. He believed that he detected the factor behind everything that Shneur did. He smelled the scent of yeshus, even arrogance. He could not let this go unchecked. Why, the imperative of Ahavas Yisroel demanded that he help his friend get rid of this terrible trait! Boruch had decided that he was going to find an opportune time to deliver his message to Shneur, but how he would do it he did not exactly know.
“Hey, Boruch!”
Boruch looked up in surprise. Here he was sitting, wondering how to approach Shneur, and who comes up to him? None other than Shneur himself! What Divine Providence!
“Boruch,” continued Shneur, “would you have some time now to go over a sicha on the parsha with me? I’m organizing a new project in the boys’ minyan. Each week a different person will give over a Sichas Kodesh before the Torah reading. I’m doing it this first week, to start it off. I want to make sure that I’ve got it right. I want this project to be a super-success.”
Shneur smiled, thinking to himself: There he goes again, always looking for ways to stand out! What arrogance! Maybe this will be my chance to set him right! Aloud, he said: “Sure, I’ll be happy to learn with you. Have you chosen which one you want to learn?”
“Well, there is one in Cheilek Ches on the first pasuk and Rashi in the parsha. I think that will catch everyone’s attention.”
See, I was right, thought Boruch, he wants everyone’s attention!
“…Because if the first time works out well,” continued Shneur, “then it’s likely to continue. Just think how much nachas the Rebbe will have.”
The two sat down to learn. Boruch figured that somehow he would find a way to tell Shneur to stop being such a ‘yesh.’ Meanwhile, they started learning together.
As they read, Boruch started to get the feeling in the back of his mind that something sounded very familiar. As he got to the part of the sicha that spelled out the practical lesson he nearly fell off of his chair! It was as if it was written for him! The Rebbe had pointed out that in a situation where someone is involved in doing a good thing, and one think that his motives are not pure, don’t knock him.
Firstly, even if there are other motives mixed in, those are superficial, because deep down every Jew has a pure desire to serve Hashem. Secondly, no matter what the motives are, doing a good thing is definitely better than not doing it. Thirdly, can anyone really know what the other person’s motives are? In fact, maybe the person who is so critical has an impure motive himself!
“OY, OY, OY! I’m the arrogant one! I’m the one who needs to do T’shuva,” Boruch cried out.
“You???” wondered Shneur. “You are such a p’nimi. I wish I could be a true Chassid like you!”
“And I wish I could be an ‘activist’ like you, Shneur!”
“So maybe you want to volunteer to give over a sicha next week in the boys’ minyan!”
The above story is fictional. The lesson is based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 8 pp. 160-170.