B"H
Thursday, Tammuz 12, 5784 / July 18, 2024
On this day, the 12th of Tammuz, 97 years ago, the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, of blessed memory, was miraculously released from Russian prison, where he was arrested and sentenced to death, for teaching and operating a network of underground schools teaching Torah to Jewish children, which was prohibited by the Stalin Communist regime. In 1940 he came to the USA and established the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in America and globally.
As a child he once asked his father, “Why did G-d create us with two eyes, when I can see even with one eye?"
His father replied, “A person needs two eyes so that with the left eye, he should look at himself to find his own faults and correct them. But at another person, one should always look with the right eye, with compassion and kindness."
This Shabbat we read from the Torah Parshat Balak. In Pirkei Avot we recite the sixth chapter.
In this Parsha the Torah tells us the story of Balak and Bila’am. They both hated the Jewish people and wanted to have them destroyed. Balak was afraid that the Jewish people would conquer his land on their way to their Promised Land. He sent for Bila’am to come and curse the Jewish people, so that he could defeat them. He promised Bila’am money and honor.
In the sixth chapter of Pirkei Avot: “Do not seek greatness for yourself, and do not desire honor. Let your [good] deeds exceed your learning… Your employer [G-d] is trustworthy to pay you for your deeds.”
In the Parsha we read that Bila’am, whom Balak hired to curse the Jewish people, desired wealth, honor and greatness. Because of this he accepted to curse the Jewish people. But in the end, it brought about his downfall. Not only did Balak chase him away in shame, it also brought his death.
Our sages tell us in the Talmud, “Whoever chases after honor, honor runs away from him; but one who runs away from honor, honor chases after him.”
One who seeks honor will not find it and if they do, it is only superficial and temporary. True and everlasting honor belongs to the one who does not care for it. Honor belongs to those who perform good deeds only for the sake of doing good.
A Chassid once came to Rabbi Bunim of Pshischa and complained, “Rebbe, our sages say that one who runs away from honor will merit honor. I am a person who runs away from honor, yet I’m not getting the honor which I deserve?”
Rabbi Bunim replied, “Our sages are speaking about a person who runs from honor completely. You keep on looking back to see if the honor is catching up to you… in your case it will never come!”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW