The Purpose of Exile

  

 

Wherever it is exiled, the soul has a mission. It has work to do there. In the symbolic language of the mystics, this is called "the release of the imprisoned sparks."

 

 

A few weeks before Rosh Hashanah, the Baal Shem Tov sent his disciple, Rabbi Yechiel Daytchel, away on a mission. Saddened that he could not pass this very holy day with his teacher, Rabbi Yechiel acquiesced, knowing full well that there was certainly some hidden intention in his master’s request.

 

After all sorts of unexpected incidents, he set sail and found himself on the eve of Rosh Hashanah on an unknown island. Since he had prepared for all eventualities, he had taken a ram’s horn with him.

 

He took lodging with the local inhabitants and prepared to spend the holy day in the room that they accorded him.

 

His isolation awakened in him such a fervor that he spent the two days in intense supplication. The local inhabitants were so moved by this prayer that they hastened to inform their king. "There is an extraordinary man in our midst! He has not ceased praying, crying and blowing a ram’s horn!"

 

The king sent for Rabbi Yechiel and questioned him on his origins. On learning that he was a Jew, the king said, "If that is the case, call several of your brothers and settle here. I will see that you have homes and jobs."

 

Upon his return to Medjiboj, Rabbi Yechiel related his adventure to the Baal Shem Tov, who explained, "There was something to restore there. It was decreed from On High that at entire Jewish community would be exiled to this island for very many years. Thanks to the Torah and the mitzvot that this community would perform, the "spark" would have been freed. But you broke your heart to such an extent in your prayer, that you accomplished alone the task of an entire community. Now this exile is not longer necessary and Jews will not have to settle on that island."

 

This authentic story, taken from Shivchay BaBesht explains the meaning of exile.

 

Reb Nossen stresses that this principle applies to every Jew, whatever his situation or his place of exile, as long as he at least maintains his identity.

 

Wherever we happen to be, there is something important for us to do, even if we don not know exactly what it is. What is important is that we believe, "My exile is for a purpose, it is not without reason that I am here."

 

On this basis, I will let Divine providence guide me, arranging events, encounters, discoveries and directing me toward the purpose of my exile. This can be compared to a clock with gears that intermingle perfectly to show the time and sound the alarm.

 

Exile of the body in the wanderings from one country to another, in the forced or willing travel and exile of the soul in the wildernesses of doubt and fatigue – all these exiles are God’s will. Mine is not to know, but to act; whatever the cost I must maintain my purity. If I indulge in the temptations that abound in the lands of exile, I might miss the point and not accomplish this work. I run the risk of losing myself there; but for those who have the courage to stand firm these exiles will be transformed into redemption.

 

Every beginner illustrates this rule at his level. On returning to his origins, he brings back home basic elements of faith. The importance of those sparks of holiness is proportional to the distance of his starting point. The only way in which these sparks could return to the fold was precisely through the return of their bearer, the penitent – an undertaking of messianic proportions.

 

How great is this responsibility and what a combat must be waged to hoist up from the depths these rediscovered treasures!

 

It is for this reason that the neophyte must cleave to the authentic spiritual leaders of his generation. Those masters are the guides who will show him how to succeed in this elevated and awesome mission.

 

The great homage paid to God’s glory is precisely that His most distant children return to Him. The Zohar tells us, "When Yitro (Jethro) arrived, God’s name was glorified on Earth, as it was On High." Yitro, who had devoted himself to seventy forms of idolatry, finally discovered the Torah! This was due to Moshe (Moses), the spiritual leader of his generation.

 

In the confusion of the October Revolution, armed bands roamed through the Ukraine, pillaging, murdering and terrorizing the populace. One fo the brigands, a Jew, happened to be in the town of Uman (in the Ukraine) on the anniversary of his father’s death (the yartzeit). He wished to say the Kaddish prayer, but was evicted from every synagogue that he entered. As a last resort, he entered the premises of the Chassidim. An old man took him by the hand and asked, "Did you put on Tefillin today? Come, I will help you to pray!" The brigand was so moved, he followed the old man and listened to him…

 

I personally heard the following account from someone who witnessed this episode and who knew the "brigand." After a few months, the penitent’s prayer book looked like a sponge that had soaked up floods of tears. Tears of remorse and of joy – despair does not exist!

 

Subsequently, his instructors told him what to do in order to remedy his transgressions: he was to dig into the ground until he found water to build and underground ritual bath. He dug to a depth of about fifty steps before discovering water. The entrance of this clandestine passage was concealed with a trapdoor on which lay straw. This ritual bath was used for many years and rendered immeasurable service to the small group of Jewish rebels.

 

To be continued…

 

 

(Used with permission from COURAGE by Israel Isaac Besancon. Published by Shir Chadash Publishers).