Weekly Story: Nature or Above Nature

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

I take this opportunity to wish all the readers and klal yisroel a kesiva v’chasima tova, l’shana tova umesuka. At the same time I want to thank all those that benched me with their brochos of a refuah shleima. Boruch Hashem, I am on the road to recovery.

I decided to post this story and thought (which is taken from the newly expanded edition of Reb Hillel Paritcher, which is about to go to print). Rosh Hashanah is the day that we proclaim Hashem as the constant Creator of the world, which Hashem runs through nature. Yet, nature on its own is non-existent, as He can change it whenever He so desires. And that is the gist of the thought on this story. Your feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.

KNOW YOU ARE IN DARKNESS

While there are certain days that are designated by chassidim as auspicious times to farbreng, in truth, every day is a good day to farbreng. Sometimes a spacious, comfortable place is available, but other times, you make do with whatever is available. One time, some chassidim gathered together to farbreng in a cellar, as that was the only place available.

Understandably, the light there was extremely dim. In middle of the farbrengen, a chossid entered, and commented on how dim and dark it was, to the extent that he could barely see who was next to him. One of the participants replied: “Don’t worry. When you will be here for a while, you will become accustomed to it; you will adjust to the darkness and see your way around.”

Hearing this, Reb Hillel responded, “That is the problem: becoming accustomed to [spiritual] darkness and thinking it is light. Always remember that you are in a [spiritually] dark place and strive to elevate yourself above it.”

Author’s note: I usually don’t mention the lesson to be learned from a story or saying together with the story, but since the Rebbe taught the lesson to be learned from this story, I would be remiss were I not to mention it here.
 We are in golus. However, after being in exile for so many years, one may, G-d forbid, become accustomed to that situation, and perhaps even happy with it. We must always
remember that we are in golus, and no matter how good it is materially, golus is darkness.
Only when we will be redeemed with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu will it be bright
and light. We must endeavor every day to usher in that era of Moshiach.
Likkutei Sichos, vol. 2, p. 621.

In the newly expanded edition of Reb Hillel, I wrote the following thought on the above story.

The following parable is often given by mashpi’im to bring out the point that we should realize that nature does not have any independent power but is merely a tool in Hashem’s hand. They use a metaphor of someone who was thrown into a dungeon by his landowner, a common occurrence in those days when the tenant fell behind in paying his rent.

There was once a Jew who operated an inn for some years. At first, everything went well. But one year there was heavy snow which disrupted the visits of his regular customers. At the year’s end, he simply did not have enough money to pay his rent.

The landlord wasn’t interested in hearing his plea and pledge that he would make it up in the coming year. As was customary then, he threw the entire family into prison, including the married children. He hoped that their extended family and friends would bail them out.

Every day, one of the landlord’s workers would lower a basket of food into the dungeon. This is what kept the family alive.

One day, as he was lowering the basket, he heard the cry of a baby. He realized that one of the young ladies had given birth, so from then on, he added some extra food for the additional person. This continued from year to year; each time he realized there was another child, he adjusted the food basket accordingly.

As the young children grew older, they began exploring their surroundings. They realized that the dungeon was in fact a large underground cavern that had a stream with fish passing through it, as well as fields where vegetation grew and animals roamed. So while the basket which supplied them daily with food continued to be delivered, they were able to supplement their supply with additional food.

Over the years, the children and grandchildren adapted themselves to the situation and developed the resources they found.

A few generations later, a discussion took place among the many descendants. Many of them argued that this dungeon was the entire universe, while a few of them argued that there was much more than what they visualized. As proof they said, “Every morning we see baskets of food being lowered down. Doesn’t that show that there is someone who fills them up and somehow knows whenever we have additional children?”

The others responded, “That is nature; that is how our world was created. It doesn’t mean anything.”

Obviously, you can understand the futility of this counterargument!1

But the question is, how do we live our own lives?

Do we realize that everything comes from Hashem, and therefore there is no reason not to daven with a minyan and set aside time to learn each day? Or do we live as if we are creating our livelihood, and therefore the twenty-four hours of the day are not enough and we look for ways to cut some corners?

That was the message of Reb Hillel. We must realize that the life we are living right now is a life in exile. We should not be tricked by the way things appear, making us think that the world runs independently from Hashem. Nor should we become too comfortable, saying that the present situation is good. Yes, we must obviously thank Hashem for all the blessings He endowed us with.

At the same time, we shouldn’t forget for a moment that we are in exile, and that our desire is to be brought back to our Father’s table, in Eretz Yisroel with Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

1. Author’s note: When I related this parable, one person told me that he heard it with the following addition: While the grandchildren were arguing, a new prisoner was suddenly lowered into the pit. Looking at him, they all asked, “Where are
you coming from?”

He replied, “This is only a dungeon. I come from the bigger world, where there are many more people and things in existence.” Hearing this, the argument was over.
The person continued that the mashpia who related this explained: The new person is the Rebbe. Hashem sent his neshomah into this world to tell us, “I see the higher worlds
and I am telling you that everything is from Hashem.”

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com