Do You Realize How Important You Are?
There is a classic question in meforshim[1] and chassidus[2]:
Why is the expression in davening, “Elokeinu velokei avoseinu” (“Our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers”)? Shouldn’t the order be reversed, first “Elokei Avoseinu” and only then “Elokeinu”? After all, our forefathers precede us, both in chronology as well as in greatness, so shouldn’t we mention their connection to Hashem first?!
The classic answer in chassidus is powerful: Yes, indeed our forefathers precede us, but to us, our connection to Hashem is more important. While our forefathers’ connection to Hashem may have been objectively greater, we subjectively care about our own connection more.
That’s massive. If this is your first time hearing this idea, take a moment for it to seep in. Absorb the power of the answer and marinade in the profundity of this insight, before we go further with the Rebbe’s chiddush.
Ready?
In a sicha, from exactly 40 years ago[3], Shabbos Parshas Shemos 5746 (1986)[4], the Rebbe takes this discussion one step further, by asking simply, “So what?” Why does our subjective feeling of the greatness of Hashem being our Hashem take over the objective fact of the greatness of Hashem being the Hashem of our forefathers?![5] Especially since, the Rebbe adds to the question, seemingly there is an added benefit of mentioning the avos first in our davening, as that adds their zechus for our tefillos to be answered[6]!
The answer is, the Rebbe clarifies, when we say that our subjective feelings are more important, we don’t only mean that subjectively. We mean that they are more important, objectively speaking:
For a yid to feel the proper feelings of bittul to Hashem during davening, the experience of davening needs to be real and personal to him. He cannot be merely davening to a “Great Hashem of his forefathers”, so to speak. The yid needs to feel his personal connection to Hashem; that Hashem is first and foremost his Hashem. Not only is this a subjective point of reference for him to get excited about, but this will also objectively fulfill the goal of connection to Hashem warranted by davening, which is the best formula for his tefillos to be answered![7]
To apply this point from davening to yiddishkeit, the message is, for you, more important than the greatness of yiddishkeit is the greatness of your yiddishkeit. It is not enough to just learn about the objective importance of any given topic[8], rather it is objectively more important for you to get subjectively excited about it[9]. Obviously, you need to learn about it to get excited about it[10], but the main thing, the main thing is to get personally involved and invested in it!
Case in point, we are now in Yud Shvat season. Yud Shvat is massive. It’s global. It’s colossal. It’s about the Rebbe beginning the final stretch of the world’s journey toward ge’ulah, and bringing us all on board by empowering us as dor shvi’i, etc. etc.
But it can’t just be global. It needs to be personal. What does Yud Shvat mean to you? How will Yud Shvat affect you? What will you do to internalize the Rebbe’s message, and how will you get on board with the Rebbe’s vision?
While the answer is personal for everyone, one thing is certain: The better we prepare, the better we will experience it. And learning the year’s Basi Legani is one sure way of preparing.
Elevate your Hachana by learning Basi Legani 5726 (this year’s Basi Legani, corresponding to this year’s perek, Perek Tes-Zayin) with Rabbi Shmuel Wagner, known for his clarity and passion in teaching chassidus.
Watch on YouTube or on Spotify. New Shiurim added weekly.
Welcome to The Garden!
[1] Iyun Tefillah.
[2] See the sources quoted in Toras Menachem Hisva’aduyos vol. 36 p. 232 fn. 182.
[3] Of course I must reference the oft-quoted Gemara, Avodah Zarah 5B. Yes, that one.
[4] Toras Menachem Hisva’aduyos 5746 vol. 2 pp. 346-347.
[5] Or, to paraphrase, “Why should the facts care about our feelings?”
[6] The Rebbe references the Gemara in Talmud Yerushalmi, Yoma 3:1.
[7] It isn’t spelled out in the answer, but the Rebbe seems to be saying that bigger than zechus avos is the zechus of one own’s kavana. Although this should be obvious, it is a geshmake point upon which to dwell.
[8] Binah.
[9] Da’as. See Chassidus. Specifically, Sefer Hamaamarim 5678 p. 248.
[10] Sefer Hamaamarim 5670 p. 129.
