Adopt Today’s Chutzpah

And the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house.” (Bereishit 12:1) 

We Must March On 

There is a story of a tzaddik who stopped to observe a large military procession pass by. The soldiers marched in perfect, disciplined order. The tzaddik stood there and watched this remarkable sight for quite some time. 

Afterwards, he turned to the group that was with him and remarked that this sight taught him a fundamental idea in avodat Hashem, serving Hashem. The soldiers all walked straight with their eyes facing forward. They did not even glance to the right or the left, as per the military rules. 

“We must learn from their discipline…” explained the tzaddik, “We must each march proudly on the path that Hashem has assigned us; to be his soldiers in this world that are committed to fulfilling the mitzvot, His Commandments. We cannot look in any other direction, to any other goal or people that would try to distract us from that holy and noble charge.” 

This idea is especially relevant now. The pasuk (Mishlei 31:30) says, “Charm is false and beauty is futile; a God-fearing woman is to be praised”. R’ Yehuda Tazvi from Rozla, the author of Daas Kedoshim, explained that this verse will be understood differently in the generation just before the arrival of Mashiach. They will say: Falsehood is charming. Futility is beautiful. And fear of Hashem will be considered debauchery (sharing the same Hebrew root word as “praiseworthy)”. Fearing Hashem will be mocked in that generation, while all of the false, depraved, and vain pursuits will be glorified. 

However, we must keep in mind the teachings of the tzaddikim. In this generation, the era just before the arrival of Mashiach, when we are living with the tremendous challenges and tests, there is an incredible flow of unique powers given to every Jew to help them have the strength to choose goodness. This power gives them the ability to stand strong against the currents of the culture that try to pull them away from avodat Hashem. 

The Two Comedians 

Chazal taught (Sotah 49b) that during Ikvasa D’Meshicha, the era before Mashiach arrives, chutzpah will be proliferated throughout society. 

The Chiddushei HaRim from Gur taught, that this means that chutzpah will be easily accessible. And this trait can be used for the negative or the positive. A person can fall prey to a chutzpah that is wicked and evil, and he can just as easily access a chutzpah that empowers him to boldly and proudly fulfill the mitzvot. Hashem never presents a Jew with a challenge that He has not already given him the strength to overcome. 

Towards the end of Sotah, the Mishnah taught that the children will “shame their father” and they will not feel “ashamed” before their fathers. R’ Mordechai Letnir taught, that this Chazal is referring to two different types of children. The son who shames his father is referring to a son who disgraces his father who studies Torah and observes the mitzvot. And the one who doesn’t feel shame before their father, is a child who begins to keep Torah and mitzvot even if his father, who is non-observant, ridicules him. 

Chazal related (Taanit 22a) that there were two brothers who came to the market. They were comedians. And Eliyahu explained that they were both worthy of the World to Come. The Baal Shem Tov explained that the world mocked them, and they mocked the world. They didn’t care what society thought of their avodat Hashem. Therefore, they merited the World to Come. 

When a Jew lives with this perspective, they become elevated to the spiritual heights of Avraham Avinu. The Midrash taught (Bereishit Rabba 42:8) Avraham was referred to as an Ivri because he stood on one side while the entire world stood on the opposing side. He alone recognized his Creator and everyone else worshiped idols. And Avraham Avinu’s descendants, the Jewish people, follow in his footsteps and are, therefore, called, Ivirm, Hebrews. 

The Power to Stand in Opposition 

The Jews have a unique soul that enables them to faithfully adhere to the mitzvot while being surrounded by heretics. This fortitude cannot be found in any other people or culture. 

This is a trait that we inherited from our forefathers. We refer to them as Avraham our father, Yitzchak our father and so on. They were the first people to break their natural tendencies in order to serve Hashem properly. They bequeathed the qualities of their refined souls to all their descendants until the end of all generations. 

We see this power today. There are countless Jews who steadfastly remain committed to Torah and mitzvot despite what society might say about them. There are children who choose to go to yeshiva or seminary even if their parents do not understand their commitment. 

Learn Chutzpah 

A chassid once complained to R’ Pinchas of Koritz. People mocked his avodat Hashem and he was finding it difficult to continue. 

The Rebbe told him, “The Rama writes at the beginning of the Shulchan Aruch, ‘He shall not be ashamed of people who ridicule him in the service of Hashem.’ 

“And it is possible to interpret his words as follows: ‘And he shall not be ashamed,’ and if he asks from whom he will draw the strength not to be ashamed, the answer is: ‘from people who ridicule him in the service of Hashem.’ 

“The very people who mock you also teach you something. They have more reasons than anyone else to be ashamed of their behavior. They mock and deny the truth. Yet, they are not embarrassed. And, if they are not ashamed, certainly one of Hashem chosen people, someone who safeguards and clinches to the truth, should not be shamed by them. ” 

This idea can help us interpret our verse: 

Hashem commands Avraham Avinu: “Go to you” – follow your own path. And, if you remain steadfast, you will find the strength not to be embarrassed by those who mock you. You will find the fortitude to stand tall and proud in your avodat Hashem. 

 

Then, the pasuk continues, “From your land, from your birthplace and from your father’s house”. You can find that strength by realizing that if society, your community, even your own family, chas v’shalom, are not embarrassed by their behavior, certainly you should be proud to follow in the path of truth and righteousness. 

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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. Sign up at www.kaalov.org.