Genuine Care and Concern...
When we open the Torah this week in synagogue we will read about the first schism in our nation’s history (unfortunately, one of many to come). Moses’s cousin attempts to lead an uprising against the establishment and the results are catastrophic.
This Shabbat, then, is an opportune timeto focus on the antidote to quarrels &fight; namely dignity &love.
There is a beautiful story told about a Skulner Rebbe that I think is appropriate to share on this occasion:
Toward the end of the Second World War, he found himself along with other holocaust survivors and displaced persons, in the Russian-governed town of Czernovitz , Bukovina .
Passover would soon be upon them. While certain Passover foods might well be provided by charitable organizations the Skulner Rebbe sought to obtain wheat that he could bake into properly-guarded and traditionally baked shmura matzah. Despite the oppressive economic situation of the Jews, he was able to bake a limited number of these matzahs.
He sent word to other Chassidic leaders in the area who would conduct larger Passover seders, offering each of them no more than three matzahs.
One week before Passover, the son of an illustrious Rabbi came to pick up the three matzahs for his father. After being handed the allotted 3 matzahs, he said to the Skulener Rebbe: “I know that you sent word that you could give only three matzahs, but nonetheless my father told me to tell you that he must have six matzahs”. The Skulner Rebbe felt that he had no choice but to honor the request, albeit reluctantly.
On the day before Passover, this son returned to the Skulner Rebbe. “What can I do for you?” asked the Skulner Rebbe. The boy answered, “I want to return three of the matzahs to you”. “I don’t understand”, replied the Rebbe, ”I thought your father absolutely had to have six matzahs?”
“My father said to ask whether you had saved any of the matzah for yourself.” Embarrassed, the Skulner Rebbe replied, “How could I, when so many others needed matzah for Passover?” “My father assumed this would happen”, explained the son. “That is why he requested an extra three matzahs to hold them for you.”
For me this episode captures the essence of the way we should act towards each other.
Let’s do a mitzvah today!
Shabbat Shalom,
