From Potential to Actual

“But the Lord said to him, “Who gave man a mouth, or who makes [one] dumb or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” (Shemot 4:11)  

No Excuses  

People sometimes observe the mitzvot that they feel they can easily and completely commit themselves to while neglecting the mitzvot that seem too difficult. They may even rationalize that a particular mitzvah is beyond their ability or that it might take them away from other priorities, like their livelihood.  

However, this is simply an excuse rooted in flawed logic.  
 

It is analogous to the relationship between a patient and a doctor. If someone is suffering a life-threatening illness, God forbid, that person would follow every instruction and suggestion of their doctors. They would diligently follow the course of treatment and even undergo surgeries and treatments that might be brutal. However, the patient takes on everything the doctor recommends because that patient knows that his very life depends on it. He also knows that the doctor would not demand something that he and his body could not ultimately handle.  
 

This tremendous trust is placed in the medical community despite the fact that their knowledge and research are constantly evolving, developing new treatments and doing away with the old, outdated approaches.  
 

Even more so, do we need to trustingly follow the guidance of the “Healer of all Flesh”, Hashem. Not only did Hashem create the world and every being within it, but He is also constantly infusing mankind and the entire creation with life. Hashem oversees and guides every detail in this world no matter how seemingly minute it may be. As the Architect of Creation, Hashem alone knows what is required for a person to reach true perfection and completion. He knows what is required for a person to connect to true goodness in this world and the World to Come.  
 

Hashem provides us with the Torah as a guidebook, an instruction manual that can help each and very yid achieve their own level of self-perfection, obtaining true and everlasting goodness in their lives. As the Torah is described, “It is your life and the length of your days.” When a yid realizes and internalizes this reality, their entire perspective changes. Their behavior changes. How can someone ever deviate from the prescription of the “Healer of Flesh”, from Hashem?   
 

Moshe: The Least Likely Man for the Job  

We can clearly learn this lesson from the story of the Jews’ redemption from Egypt.  

Hashem instructs Moshe that he would have a new purpose in life; he would lead the Jewish people from servitude to freedom. On the surface, Moshe was the least fitting person for such a task! He was living a simple, lonely existence. After fleeing from Egypt as a fugitive with a bounty on his head, Moshe found himself living in a strange land where he became the son-in-law of Yitro, who was widely despised. Moshe ended up shepherding a flock, spending his days in solitude among his animals. He was no longer accustomed to speaking to anyone let alone kings like Pharaoh. And, on top of everything, he had a speech impediment.  

Now, Moshe would be sent to Pharaoh, the king of the largest and most powerful nation in the world. And he would be demanding that Pharaoh free millions of slaves. The entire Egyptian society and economy depended on these millions of slaves. Their emancipation would throw the entire Egyptian nation into chaos; a revolt would be likely, if not inevitable. How was he qualified for this task?!  

Potential into Actual  

This is the very reason Hashem selected Moshe for this role. By choosing Moshe, someone seemingly unfit for this role, Hashem was teaching every single yid that Hashem only asks of us what is within our capabilities. A yid does not have an excuse. He cannot neglect certain mitzvot because they are too difficult, or that they are “beyond his reach.” Embedded deep in every yid is a powerful potential to connect to Hashem through His Torah and mitzvot. Within each yid is the ability to live a life that is aligned with the Torah, our “guidebook”, to true self-fulfillment. All a yid must do to tap into that potential is to exert a little effort, and then Hashem sends him the strength to help him along the way.  

Moshe went on his mission to Pharaoh with a powerful sense of faith in Hashem. And the Jews would be redeemed even though they were on a low spiritual level; they lacked the strength and ability to grow in their Yiddishkeit. Yet, it was this generation that had fallen to the 49th level of impurity that not only merited a redemption, but to stand at Mt. Sinai and receive the Torah by saying “We will do, and we will listen”. This is the actualization of the potential that had lay dormant while they were in Egypt.

With Hashem’s help, every yid should realize that they contain within themselves the power and ability to observe the mitzvot, to withstand any challenge life presents them. With that realization, every yid should merit to bring their potential into the actual and connect to all the goodness and blessings that Hashem has prepared for him. Amen. 

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The Kalever Rebbe is the seventh Rebbe of the Kaalov Chasidic dynasty, begun by his ancestor who was born to his previously childless parents after receiving a blessing from the Baal Shem Tov zy”a, and later learned under the Maggid of Mezeritch zt”l. The Rebbe has been involved in outreach for more than 30 years, and writes weekly emails on understanding current issues through the Torah. You can sign up at www.kaalov.org.