Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
In the marriage of Orthodox Judaism and Western culture that we are witnessing today, it’s all about winning. What else matters? Success seems to be measured by achievement only. How much money have you made? Or spiritually, how much have you learned? In many cases we have succumbed to a false theology- we mistakenly believe that it’s quantity not quality that counts.
Judaism at its essence teaches us that we must go deeper. Rachmonah Libah Ba-ee. It’s an important fact for us to know. The good L-rd doesn’t measure the world the way we do. Hashem wants quality not quantity..(lit. Hashem wants our hearts).
Let’s take a look at what drives us. On the surface it may seem as if we have achieved much with our lives, materially - but if we haven’t magnified Hashem's presence in this world, if we haven't lived our day to day lives as ambassadors of truth and light then we haven’t truly lived up to our potential. If we have followed the laws but acted inappropriately to those around us, especially to those we love (sometimes in the name of religion), what have we really achieved? We have followed the script but left out the most important part- our hearts were not really in it, or worse, we may have chosen to be cold hearted and stern, when we needed to be warm and accepting.
It’s an old joke- one that we have all heard. But it’s full of truth. An Israeli cab driver and a rabbi go up to heaven. The cab driver gets right in.. no waiting. A hero’s welcome. The Rabbi is told to wait.
“What” says the Rabbi. I learned, I taught, I led a big congregation. “He was a simple cab driver.. Why must I wait, while he enters heaven immediately?”
“Let me explain,” says the angel at the gates. When you gave your tour d’force, your weekly sermon on Shabbos morning, your congregants slept. When the cab drivers passengers rode with him, they prayed with all their hearts that they would survive the drive!!
From a heavenly perspective things start to look differently. If davening is a time when we quietly reflect on the special relationship we have with G-d then we are on the right track. If we race through the words to ”finish” quickly. We have missed the point.
The same goes for our learning. It is a time for us to reflect on the greatness of Hashem. When we learn, Hashem is literally speaking to us. All parts of our existence are subject to the same weather vane. Making a living and working to raise a family, even household chores, these everyday actions take on a feeling of the divine when we realize that Hashem’s presence fills every corner of our lives. What might seem mundane can be elevated to greatness if we would only make it our desire.
It’s this marriage of passion and innocence that can bring meaning to our lives. When we live this way we are truly living on the cusp of greatness.
