A Teacher’s Success

Every year, I received a gift of honey cake from the Rebbe, in honor of the New Year. In a “thank you” letter one year, I cited a story in the last chapter of my book, where I quote a remark of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of the Chabad movement, which he posed to a government official. Rabbi Schneur Zalman said that G-d asks all of us, “‘Ayeka?’ Where are you?”

I wrote to the Rebbe, “May I have the chutzpah to ask of the Rebbe, ‘Ayeka?’ Where are you?”

The Rebbe’s reply was wonderful. He wrote:

“There is no need, of course, to point out to you that when the question “ayeka” is posed to a private individual, it is likely to refer to the individual personally and to his immediate family, while the same question put to a person of influence who holds communal responsibility, to whom many look up to for inspiration, education and guidance—the question then has wider implications. It also calls for an assessment of where he stands, and what he has accomplished in the public domain. Indeed, perhaps the latter is the more significant challenge, for it is there that the person’s fullest achievement is expressed, as it comes to light in those who benefited from his influence.”

In response to my question, he brought the question back to me, as well as indicating his own stance and effectiveness as a Jewish leader.

“Now a word about my ayeka…I wonder what the practical results of our meeting and discussion were, when I was not only a listener but also a speaker. My ayeka makes me ponder to what extent my words were effective—not in terms of pleasant recollections, but in terms of practical implications.”

Herbert Weiner is the Author of 9 1/2 Mystics

An excerpt from Advice for Life: Education, available soon in your local bookstore or from LubavitchArchives@Gmail.com.