"Rebbe Robots"

By Levi Liberow

It must be easy to be a robot. Aside from occasional overheating because of too many commands at once being hurled at it, it has an easy life.

Much of the stresses and anxiety we experience is because of the need to make decisions, and then from suffering the consequences of these decisions…

Wouldn’t life be easier if we were human robots programmed by Hashem with no feelings of guilt, anxiety, and stress?

***

Who are we to say, but perhaps preventing uman robots was in Moshe’s mind when he came up with an idea: let’s send representatives of the Jews to explore the land Hashem has promised them. Why? Is Hashem’s promise that it is a land flowing with milk and honey not enough? And besides, if they decide it’s not what they like, do they have other pieces of real estate to choose from?

Moshe Rabbeinu, explains the Rebbe, wanted not only the best for the Jews (which is what Hashem already chose), he wanted them to know it’s the best based on personal experience and conviction.

That’s why he chose one traveler from every tribe, so that when they all come back with a unanimous report that “the land is very, very good,” every shevet will feel it had their very own representative — who knows their preferences and needs well — in the inter-tribal committee for appreciating Hashem’s gift.

Sounds like a plan, no? So, Moshe sends it off to the Big Boss for approval. Hashem refuses to give it His blessings. Moshe insists nonetheless on implementing it. Bottom line, the Jews remain in the desert for another 38 years. Moshe’s plan seems to be a failure.

Well, what did he expect? Didn’t Hashem say it’s not a good idea?

But nothing that Moshe does ever fails, and nothing that Moshe does can be not in accordance with Hashem’s will.

If we carefully examine Moshe’s plan, we see that his plan actually did work. The meraglim came back with a glowing report on the qualities of Eretz Yisrael, and 38 years down the line, when the Jews finally entered the land, they did so happily, because of that very trip 38 years ago when their own representatives assured them that “the land is very, very good.”

Hashem “blessing” this mission would be the opposite of the purpose of this mission!

“Ani eini metzave lecha” was exactly what Moshe wanted to hear! He wanted Hashem — and so did Hashem want — to so-called “stay out” of this. He wanted the Jews to feel comfortable with Hashem’s promise of the goodness of the land, not only because of faith, but also that the Nefesh Habehamis should feel that “the land is very, very good!”

***

At a farbrengen of Parshas Shlach 5748, the Rebbe said these surprising words:

“The Rebbe — Moshe of our generation — entrusted each and every one of us … with the mission of concluding the last remnants of divine service in galus.”

“… Since this mission was entrusted to us as a “bar da’as,” we are to use our own intellect to find the best possible manner of fulfilling this mission. We are not to act as a “spoiled only-child,” who constantly inquires about the most minute details as to how to go about conducting his life. We are to decide what words will be most effective, what books should be disseminated, etc.”

“Obviously,” the Rebbe adds, “it must be based on established Torah principles and upon the specific directives of the meshaleach.” But the Rebbe gives the general direction and all the necessary powers, but we must make the decisions regarding the details.

***

One particular area where many Chassidim often wish, silently or not, the Rebbe would have given more “clearer” directions, is the Moshiach campaign.

A large part of the debate on this matter, unfortunately, is not surrounding the sichos and ma’amarim which were addressed to the public, but instead focused on different answers and horaos the Rebbe gave individuals and specific organizations.

While there is much to learn from these answers, they are “overrated” in both directions.

The Rebbe clarified many times that answers he gives to private individuals apply to them alone. The reason, I think, is quite simple. The Rebbe’s sichos, ma’amarim and public letters are where the Rebbe speaks to everyone and gives general direction. The ma’anos are where the Rebbe addresses individuals who proposed certain actions to be taken in these directions.

If the Rebbe blessed a certain peulah fulfilling a certain general hora’ah, does it mean from now and on this is the only and exclusive way it could and must be done? If the Rebbe approved a certain slogan, is that the only slogan that must be used and on any and every activity?

And if the Rebbe admonished an individual on something he did, does it mean that the Rebbe henceforth disapproves of any similar action? Or perhaps the Rebbe wants it to be finetuned and improved?

The point, however, is that every Chassid should transform his own self and make his Nefesh Habehamis useful as well. There are as many Nefesh Habehamis’ as there are people and insisting that there is one way to bring Moshiach, a notion that exists on either side of this debate, is ignoring this truth.

I personally don’t feel compelled to bring Moshiach by what the Rebbe told individuals, whether in writing or by dollars. I don’t feel compelled to bring Moshiach even by certain peulos for the general public that the Rebbe approved and blessed.

I can take ideas, cues, and inspiration from them, but I am committed to two things:

1. the Horaos the Rebbe gave me at the public farbrengens, and

2. “Finding the best possible manner of fulfilling this mission, based on established Torah principles and upon the special directives of the meshaleach.”

Bittul doesn’t mean becoming the Rebbe’s robot, Bittul means harnessing your own intelligence to do the will of the Rebbe.

If we’re looking to become the Rebbe’s robots, into which he will feed detailed information, then the Rebbe doesn’t need so many of us. He probably doesn’t need any of us, he could do it himself much better than any of us would. ■