Actualizing Our Potential
כי הנה כזכוכית ביד המזגג ברצותו חוגג
"For man is like glass in the hands of the glazier...". (Maʼariv, Yom Kippur)
Here we liken the fragility of man to glass, that without the necessary care could so easily shatter. There is, however, another understanding of this phrase. Glass has a special property: when glass is held up towards light at the right angle, the light refracts and a beautiful rainbow prism of color can be perceived. To achieve this, however, one must first pick up the glass and maneuver it until the light shines at exactly the right spot. This is an additional message of the piyut: every person is a bit like this glass – everyone has their point where they can shine, sometimes it can be hard to identify, but if one looks hard enough it can always be found. Hashem, “the glazier” discerns this most aptly, and knows where we can excel and what our true potential really is. Yom Kippur is the time when we are expected to identify this for ourselves, and make a plan of how we will come to realize our potential.
“Tochacha” is something we frequently associate with Yom Kippur. The word is frequently translated as “rebuke”, and as such to many it conjures an image of an angry wagging finger or a smarting telling off. However, three great luminaries explain that really, this is something of a mistranslation, and that “tochacha” means something quite different.
Although all three emanate from somewhat different traditions (one a Lithuanian Rosh Yeshiva of acclaim², the other a chasidic master³ and the final a profound mussar thinker⁴) they share the same conceptualization. “Tochacha”, they explain, comes from the word “I’hochiach” which means to prove or to show. The tochacha of the Yom HaDin is where Hashem shows us our true potential – where we could possibly get to with the means that are at our disposal. We are reminded of the skills and abilities that we have, and how we could better channel them for positive causes.
At this time of year we are expected to enter ourselves in a process of introspection and ask: did I shine as brightly as I could have this year; how could I better actualize my potential from now on? Was the devotion I gave to my personal life and professional development consistent with the attention I paid to my growth Jewishly? Did I spend as much time doing quality activities as I doing less important things? Was I ready to spend money on important causes, just like I was for my own holidays and pleasure?
The following story is told of the Chassidic Rebbe – R' Zusha of Anipoli, the brother of R' Elimelech of Lizhensk. He once remarked: “If I were to be questioned by Hashem why I was not like my renowned brother Elimelech, I will have no problem answering. We were both endowed with very different skills and are very different people, so to that comparison I have a good retort. What I fear, however, is when I will be asked – ‘Zusha, why were you not Zusha?' For to that I will have no good answer”.
Like glass, we all have the ability to shine. On Yom Kippur we are given the opportunity of reorienting our path, and making sure that we are on the route that will actualize our greatest potential. (R' Chaim Burman)