So, as chassidim it is reasonable for us to be totally unconcerned about how others view us and what they may think about us, and be solely focused on what we know and feel inside.
And yet . .
Many times the Rebbe pointed out how in our times we can’t depend on ourselves, how it is crucial (for example) to give tzedaka and perform mitzvos with publicity and fanfare because that is the only assurance that we will actually follow through. Rabi Yochanan already remarked to his students that "יהי מורא שמים עליכם כמורא בשר ודם", and in our times it is more often than not that only the concern with the reaction of other humans is what will influence our behaviour.
In other words, while pnimiyus is most admirable, it carries a very real risk; - endeavoring to act according to what we feel inside with no regard to what is accepted and what others may think can lead to a very slippery slope, because what we really feel can end up being very at odds to what we’re supposed to be doing, and we may find ourselves far removed from the path on which we belong.
Just as – lehavdil – the presidential candidate in question, while sounding refreshingly honest to many, can prove very dangerous (I think) with the absence of the “safety net” of the need to conform with what’s accepted, so too, exactly, is with certain attitudes in life. While it may feel much more honest and genuine – and refreshingly so – to discard the shackles of public opinion and behave according to what you really feel (and convince yourself that you evolved overnight into a pnimi), that is inherently a very risky approach. Because none of us (or at least not most of us . .) can be certain about where our feelings will lead us with the absence of the “safety net” of a measure of conformism.
If I know that I want people to view me as a chosid, that I have to conform with what others consider proper and chassidish, then there is more of a chance that I will be more cautious and calculated in choosing my behavior.
So, getting back to our hachlotos: alongside our preoccupation with pnimiyus, we need to also spend some time with our chitzoniyus (as nauseating as that may be . .); - with our image. We need to make sure our appearance represents and portrays – to the onlooker – a chosid. And while our pnimiyus is always harder to accurately assess and evaluate, our appearance and actions are easily definable.
Let’s think about what the image of a chosid is, b’chitzonyus, and compare that with what we see in the mirror. And then just determine what details in the picture need to change. As the Frierdige Rebbe once said, quoting a sicha of the Rebbe Maharash: There are a lot of things “vos past far a chosid”, - that are fitting for a chosid, and a lot of others “vos past nisht far a chosid”. Regardless of what he thinks and feels inside. Of course, chassidus is about working on our mind and heart. But we also have to see to it that our overall image fits with what a chosid should look like.
A Jew was once in yechidus with the Rebbe, and was discussing the halachik permissibility (in his opinion) of shaving one’s beard. This Jew was learned, and was able to bring extensive support to his position that it is OK for a religious Jew to be beardless. During the conversation, the Rebbe gave him a very novel response: “When you picture to yourself Moshe Rabenu, Aharon, the nevi’im, the tano’im etc., do you picture them with a beard or without one?” When the Jew conceded that their image, in his mind, is bearded, the Rebbe told him: “You see, you too (despite all of your academic arguments) recognize that a Jewish image in inseparable from his beard”!
Let us crystalize, in our own minds, what our image of the quintessential chosid is, - how he should appear to the onlooker. We may have an easier time recognizing what we’re supposed to look like, and subsequently, what are some of the areas that our hachlotos need to focus on.
So be a bit more politically correct – in the area of your Yiddishkeit and chassiddishkeit. Focus on conforming with what’s acceptable and traditional, and maintaining the timeless and ageless image of chassidim. With our joint effort in improving our chassidishe image we can have the fringe benefit of avoiding all the madness that going on in the world, because our next President will be Moshiach Tzidkeinu!
L’chaim! May we take advantage of these days of slichos to strengthen both our internal and external connection with the Eibishter, and may we resolve even before Rosh Hashono to elect (or re-elect) the Eibishter as our King and ודוד עבדי נשיא להם לעולם, with the immediate revelation of Moshiach Tzidkeinu TUMYM!!!
Rabbi Akiva Wagner
לזכות 'ר שלום מרדכי הלוי בן ,רבקה לגאולה וישועה קרובה ושלימה י"תומ ממש ג"בטוהנוהנ
