The Rebbe Rashab cried as a child about not being able to see Hashem. The Rebbe uses this story as a lesson how every Jew can demand a revelation of G-dliness.
Parshas Vayeira
This week’s Parsha begins with the story of Avrohom Avinu and the revelation of Hashem to him. It may seem that this is merely a story, but at the time when the story occurred, it was a significant event that teaches us about demanding a revelation of G-dliness.
Classic Concepts
The story of the Rebbe Rashab as a child, crying because he could not see Hashem, is a powerful lesson. His grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek, explained to him that when Avrohom Avinu was ninety-nine years old, Hashem revealed Himself to him. This teaches us that even someone who has not yet reached Chinuch (the age of education) can and should desire and demand a revelation of Hashem.
Furthermore, we see from the story that even a Tzaddik who, like Avrohom, has reached great heights, must still strive for more. The lesson is that every Jew, regardless of their level, can and should demand a revelation of G-dliness in their life.
Translations
The text provides translations of key terms and phrases from the Parsha and the story, helping to clarify the concepts discussed. These include terms like "Only son," "Give over to the world," "Concerns," "Worthy," "Circumcise himself," and many others, which are essential for understanding the depth of the lesson.
Further Lessons
Even a person who has reached great spiritual heights must recognize that there is always more to achieve. The story of the Rebbe Rashab and his difficulty hearing is brought to illustrate that even when one has many advantages, there is always room for growth and improvement. The Tzemach Tzedek pointed out that Avrohom was ninety-nine years old to emphasize that spiritual growth is a lifelong process.
The practical lesson is that so long as a person recognizes that he must change and improve, he can reach the highest levels of revelation. This is the introduction to reaching the higher levels, where "and G-d revealed Himself to him," just as He did to Avrohom Avinu after his Bris.
Conclusion
The story and its lessons teach us that every Jew can become a "ruler" over their senses and their portion in the world, and through self-purification, they can cause a purification in their area of the world as well. The key is self-nullification and the recognition that one must always strive to become better and reach higher levels of connection with Hashem.
