In 1952, the Purim fabrengen was held in the small shul on the second floor of 770. A college student stood in the doorway, hoping to say Lechaim with the Rebbe. The Rebbe motioned to him to enter the room.
The Rebbe asked the young man his name.
He answered “Isaac.”
The Rebbe responded, “What is your Hebrew name?”
The young man answered, “I don’t know.”
The Rebbe asked him, “Who were you named after?”
He answered, “I think I was named after Isaac our forefather.”
The Rebbe replied, “Your Hebrew name is Yitzchak after Yitzchak Avinu. And what was Yitzchak’s occupation and service?”
“I don’t know,” said the young man.
The Rebbe explained that Yitzchak Avinu’s service was digging wells.
The student commented, “I thought he was a holy man who spent all his time learning Torah, not physically digging wells!”
The Rebbe answered that digging wells is not so simple and, in fact,
Yitzchak’s Inner Intention
Yitzchak’s inner intention was very deep. “You surely know that water exists way down in the earth. To reach it, one must completely remove the earth that is blocking the way. Now the waters in the depth of the earth are given by Hashem but only when the earth is removed can the creation called water be revealed.”
The Rebbe continued. “Every Jew has the responsibility to serve like Yitzchak—to help another Jew by removing the surface earth and revealing the Jewish spark within him. How is this done? When you walk on the street and encounter a Jew, ask him if he put on tefillin yet that day. If not, suggest that he start today and continue daily.”
Hearing this, the young man jumped from his place. “What?! I am a university student preparing for my career! Are you asking that I give that up and start getting people to put on tefillin?”
The Rebbe answered, “I am not asking you to give up your plans; you will be able to continue as you are doing. Just remember that a Jew is created to accomplish a mission, to receive and give. Furthermore, what you need to share cannot be accomplished by someone else.”
“I,” the Rebbe said pointing to himself “cannot accomplish your mission. Only you can be successful in accomplishing your mission, therefore you have that responsibility.”
The student sputtered, “But I don’t don tefillin. How can I influence another to do so?”
“Despite this which you haven’t done yet, you have the responsibility to influence another. Therefore, to accomplish your mission, it is necessary for you to start to wear tefillin.”
[From hiskashrus bashalach 5778]
