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
AH
Chassidus agrees with the others. Not what Lubabs imagine
Another AH
Explain. What do you think “Lubabs imagine” on the subject? Note that this discussion was sparked by a video by R. Manis Friedman, who I think we can agree has a pretty good handle on what Chassidus says.
Mushkie
It makes us feel good to think that we are needed. We like to feel good. We like to feel important even when we aren’t. My ego like to think that Hashem needs me. But that doesn’t create a reality, no matter how I twist the logic. We can twist reality into non-reality, turn black into white, yes into no, night is day, but in the final analysis, the deep philosophical theories don’t change reality.
P. McDonald
I will drink to that! Finally somrone with common sense.
AH
“My ego likes to think…”? Have you actually learned the sources given at the bottom of the article? Take the reference to Likkutei Sichos 6, where the Rebbe analogizes Hashem’s desire to do good for us with that of an איש החסד who *needs* a recipient to do so? What about the Baal Shem Tov’s teaching that we give Hashem פרנסה? “Reality” is greater than what you think.
Mushkie
Hashem “needs” us like a sick person is “needed” for us to do bikur cholim. We “need” someone to die to do levaya and bury the dead. After 120 when our mitzvos are added up, remember to add one more mitzva – when we died we actually caused others to do the mitzva of levaya and
burial! We were needed!