I’ll answer the question directly: We should emulate Hashem and follow all of our ta’avos as well, we must insert one caveat and prerequisite — that all the ta’avos should be of the same type as Hashem’s: born out of strength rather than weakness.
The concept of an Eis Ratzon — an opportune time is mentioned [in Tanach (Tehillim 69:14, quoted in the siddur as the opening phrase on the daily prayers) and many] more times in the words of Chazal.
Am I setting myself up for disaster by having too much Emunah and Bitachon? How will I be able to face reality when it really hits?
Many a time such a question will strike up a heated discussion. One side would strongly claim that we must protect our homes and keep to the highest standards, not letting in any “outside” influences. Others will offer an opposing view on the matter [claiming that such conduct would be divisive and “elitist” in nature. There are indeed cases when one must be wary about which influences reach their children], but I wish to share a perspective that sheds a different light onto this matter.
In the famous ma’amar of Ve’ata Tetzave 5741, the Rebbe explains that there are generally two types of leaders of the generation.
“A few days ago, a young man walked in to [my room] and told me excitedly that he [once] told my father-in-law, the Rebbe [Rayatz] that he wants to connect to the Alter Rebbe. The Rebbe answered him, “Zay mekusher tzu mir, vestu bemeila zain mekushar tzu di mit veleche ich bin mekushar” – that by being bound to him, he would thereby be connected to those whom he (=the Rebbe himself) was bound….
The first known case of a “Chassidishe G’neivah” was “committed” by the Alter Rebbe himself. He himself related it,..
Rabbi Shimon Elituv related how when he came to learn in [a Chabad] Yeshiva in 1951 he used to correspond with the Rebbe very frequently. This went on until the Rebbe became very busy and stopped answering all of his letters, so he decided to stop writing. He was astonished to receive a letter from the Rebbe with a postscript in his own holy handwriting reading, “Your silence is surprising. It saddens me that you are making a calculation – based on the lack of letters from here – that I am loaded with burdens and troubles, etc.”
If I understand the question correctly, it seems like the main complaint here is “why can’t I just wear the clothes I feel good in” like everyone in general society wearing the clothes they choose, and instead must be restricted by a Halachic dress-code?
As with many such ideas, there is a grain of truth to it surrounded by a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings.
Let us first explore the idea of writing to the Rebbe in the first place.
According to Rambam, Jews and non-Jews have identical souls, which of course comes across as very surprising to most of us. But this stems from having a very simplistic understanding of the Rambam.
November 7, 2019