Op-Ed: Does Hashem Need Us?

by Yitzchok Kaufmann

There has been much discussion recently within Lubavitch regarding the idea that Hashem “needs” us and our avodah. Some claim that this is a central teaching of Chassidus, while others argue that it is a serious distortion. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Rabbi Zalman Gupin, the Mashpia Rashi of Tomchei Temimim in Kfar Chabad, about this very question. The following is his response, which he gave me permission to publicize in his name. I’ve done my best to remain as close as possible to his original wording:

וודאי שנכון לומר שעבודה שלנו חשובה ונוגעה לעצמות (כמו שנכון לומר שעצמות אוהב אותנו). אבל כל זה מצד הכוונה שהיא מצד בחירתו ואין לומר ח”ו שמצד עצם מציאותו, דהיינו בלי בחירה, שהוא צריך העבודה שלנו.
Free Translation

It is certainly correct to say that our avodah is important and touches Atzmus (just as it is correct to say that Atzmus loves us). However, this is all from the perspective of the kavanah, which stems from His bechirah (free choice), and Heaven forbid to say that, from the perspective of His essential existence—i.e., without choice—He needs our avodah.

If I may offer a few words of explanation: Chassidus teaches that two truths can coexist. On one hand, Yidden and their avodah are profoundly significant and genuinely matter to Hashem—this is a core principle of Chassidus. On the other hand, it is equally true that, in His essence, nothing should matter to Hashem. He is not a being with a nature, needs, or inner drives which seek fulfillment. The resolution to this tension lies in Hashem’s absolute freedom: He is bound by nothing—not even by His own Being. Out of His own free and autonomous choice, He decided that Yidden and their avodah matter to Him at the very core of His Essence. And since He chose so, it is truly so. The importance of the Yidden and the value of their avodah rest entirely on that free choice. This makes us and our avodah infinitely more important than if it would matter simply by default. The same is true when we freely choose Hashem and His service.

Some sources:
מאמר ד”ה על כן קראו תשי”ג
לקוטי שיחות ח”ו שמות ב
לקוטי שיחות חי”ט נצבים ג
תורת שלום: שיחת יום שמחת תורה באולם הגדול תרד”ע