Teaching Brotherhood
1. Ahavas Yisrael, the love of our fellow Jews, is also alluded to in the mishnah, “All Israel have a portion in the World to Come,” which we recite as an introduction to the recitation of Pirkei Avos, and in the first mishnah of that tractate, “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai.”
We study the tractate of Avos on the Shabbasos between Pesach and Shavuos to prepare to receive the Torah. The beginning of this preparation – involvement in ahavas Yisrael – is alluded to in these two mishnayos.
Undreamed of Reciprocation
2. A person might protest, “Why should I devote my time to helping another person? I could better use that time to sit and study Torah myself.”
That question can be answered by pondering the implications of the teaching, “All Israel have a portion in the World to Come.” We cannot know whose stature in that realm will be loftier. Possibly, the person one is helping is on a loftier spiritual level. After all, this world is an “upside-down world.” One may think that he is higher than the other and calculate that it is not worth his time to devote himself to the other. However, the World to Come is a “clear world”; there, the opposite may turn out to be true.
The Living Chain of Our Torah Heritage
One must always judge another favorably. Thus, we should view all the Jews with whom we are in contact as certainly having a portion in the World to Come. However, there may be a question regarding our own selves. After all, “self-love covers all transgressions,” and we are taught, “Do not believe in yourself....” Who can truly appraise his own spiritual state? By contrast, another person must always be seen in a positive light.
Now, picture this scenario: One person does a favor for another in this world. When the two reach the World to Come, the other will seek to repay him. Who knows where each of these persons will be! The one who was the teacher in this world may be in a lower place in the World to Come. There is even a possibility of a student being “in Gan Eden (“the spiritual Garden of Eden”) while his teacher who taught him Torah and brought him to the life of the World to Come is in Gehinnom (“purgatory”).”
Now, think, the instruction one gave a student can cause that afterwards the teacher will be elevated and brought to the student. When one draws another Jew close to the Torah, thereby becoming his teacher, then in the World to Come, that person will claim, “I cannot be without my teacher.” Accordingly, because of the person he drew close to the Torah, the teacher as well will be taken out of Gehinnom and placed in Gan Eden.
It Can Happen Now
This motif has been applicable throughout Jewish history. But, now, the situation has changed radically and it is no longer necessary to wait until after one hundred and twenty years (i.e., until after one reaches the World to Come). Instead, the other will be able to repay the favor in this world. Mashiach is about to come. It is possible at any moment, as it is written, “Behold, he stands behind our wall.” One of the fundamental principles of our faith is to “await [Mashiach’s] coming every day.” This means that not only the youngest of this group, but also the eldest, will see Mashiach’s coming in his days. Thus, the other will be able to repay the favor in this world.
Links in the Chain
Although bringing another person closer to the Torah is an impressive accomplishment, one must be careful not to think that his achievement is of his own doing, that “my strength and the might of my hand have brought me this success.” He needs to remember – as is understood from the aforementioned mishnah – that the ability to effectively communicate the Torah to others comes through the power of Moshe. Moshe was “a lover of the Jewish people.” He transmitted the Torah to Yehoshua, and Yehoshua to the Elders, and the Elders to the Prophets. This process has continued until today’s Rebbeim, who represent “the extension of Moshe in every generation.” From them, the potential is granted to every Jew to teach and influence others.
Adapted from a sichah delivered on Shabbos Parshas Shemini, 5712 (1952)
