The points the Rebbe emphasizes—faith, purpose, and the practical expression of both—are well reflected in the three moments of Divine Providence that accompanied Frankl's life. When we contemplate these moments of Providence and the order of their occurrence, a structure is revealed that pertains to each of us in fulfilling our mission in the world:
The first moment of Divine Providence, of honoring parents, exemplifies submission and the tenet that, “derech eretz (proper conduct) precedes Torah.” Although honoring parents is a commandment, it is one of the commandments that our common sense also dictates. It is no coincidence that the Talmud employs the story of a non-Jew, Dama ben Netina, to exemplify the way to honor one’s parents.
The second moment of Divine Providence, the story with the Shema Yisrael, corresponds to separation, or strengthening one’s Divine soul by identifying with the Torah and the commandments. The general principle of the Torah’s commandments is self-sacrifice for the sanctification of God’s Name—the essence of Shema Yisrael (as explained in chapter 25 of Tanya). Commandments are also instruments for binding us to God—the declaration we make when saying that “God is one.”
The third moment, when he received the Rebbe’s prediction of his success, corresponds to a transition from the Divine service of birur (clarification—separating the negative from the good) to the Divine service of yichudim (unifications). Yichudim are performed specifically when engaging in actions that are not mandatory but are still done for the sake of Heaven, following the dictum that, “In all your ways [actions], you should know Him.” When we remember that, “it is God who gives you the power to succeed,” by virtue of derech eretz and Torah, we have discovered the secret of success.
