Two Modes of Avodas Hashem: “Influencer” and “Receiver”
There are two primary ways in which a Yid can serve the Ribbono shel Olam and thereby become close to Him:
The first method is by being a מקבל, a receptacle, a receiving vessel. This happens when the Ribbono shel Olam, as the Mashpia, gives shefa to a person, and the person submits to becoming the vessel that will receive the light. When a Yid receives this shefa from Hashem—a light of ruchniyus or of gashmiyus—he then becomes one with the Mashpia, the Ribbono shel Olam, by virtue of accepting His light.
The second method by which a person can become close to the Ribbono shel Olam is by being a mashpia, giving to and influencing those around him: This occurs when a person’s actions affect the world around him—he isn’t thinking about how he can receive from Hashem, but he is completely preoccupied with influencing others as the Ribbono shel Olam has commanded him to do.
The Mashpia Becomes Part of the Power of the Sender
This person becomes deeply connected to the Ribbono shel Olam—for if he properly executes his mission, then, by definition, the power of the Sender is ingrained in him! He becomes mamash one with the Ribbono shel Olam as he carries out his mission—if he does it because of His command, with the proper intention.
When a person is a משפיע to others, his entire essence is now connected with the Ribbono shel Olam. This means that when a person is engaged in earning a parnassah because Hashem commanded him to engage in earning his parnassah—he does so with the proper action and the proper intention—then, even when he does the most mundane things, he is incredibly tethered to the Ribbono shel Olam. Spiritually, he will grow immensely and become a true eved Hashem.
Wherever You Are, You’re a Mashpia
One may ask: How can I be a mashpia, an influencer, when I am at work? It’s one thing if I were a rebbi or a maggid shiur... but as a laborer, a simple employee? How can I be considered a mashpia? Where is the avodah of being mashpia in everyday work?
The answer is very simple: Wherever a person is, he can be a mashpia—he can influence the environment around him.
When a Yid sits in an office with a few other people, and he behaves according to Torah and its principles; he fulfills many d’Oraisa and d’Rabbanan dictates in the course of his work... he has rectified the place where he finds himself, and he is a tremendous influencer of kedushah to his entire surroundings!
Overcoming the Temptation to Steal
For example: A person had the temptation to steal in the course of his business work. It’s a tremendous nisayon, because very often people feel pressed for money, and they find leniencies they convince themselves allow them to be dishonest. He already has it all worked out, why it really is fine... and then he overcomes the great nisayon. This person has brought the Sheim Shamayim down into his business! He was the messenger from the Ribbono shel Olam to influence this place to become a holy place, because in this place he has restrained himself from doing an aveirah.
And let us not forget the rule: When a Yid has a nisayon to do an aveirah, and he withstands the temptation, because he remembered that there’s a Ribbono shel Olam on This World, say Chazal (Kiddushin 39b) that if an aveirah came your way and you didn’t do it, it is as though he has carried out a mitzvah. This Yid has now brought an influence of kedushah to this place.
Judging Favorably Despite Temptation
Another example: A person has a colleague at work who’s a difficult person—he always comes late, he pesters others, and he’s hard to get along with—this ehrlicher Yid works on himself to זכות לכף דן, to judge him favorably, even when it’s not easy.
The yetzer hara says to him, “What?! Be זכות?! לכף דן With what? I need to fool myself into pretending that this person is good?!”
But this Yid strengthens himself and overcomes the nisayon. He knows that the sugya of judging others favorably is endless. There’s so much depth to it. It doesn’t mean that we fool ourselves, but rather that we’re focused on the ממעל אלו-ה חלק of this person. We don’t judge because we remember the rule of למקומו שתגיע עד חברך את תדון אל, do not judge your fellow until you arrive at his place. We choose to find his good points and look away from the other parts.
When a Yid works on himself in this way, to see the good in others, he fulfills a mitzvah and he is now influencing the place with kedushah, leaving behind an impression and an aura of holiness!
Overcoming a Nisayon in Emunah
There are so many ways that a person can be a mashpia, an influencer. For example, when someone is bothering you, instead of being upset at that person, you recognize that it’s directly from Hashem. And if so, I accept it באהבה—for if it hadn’t been through this person, it would be through another. This person may have been the shaliach to cause me pain, but if it wouldn’t be bashert from Above, it could never have happened.
When a Yid thinks this way, he has now infused kedushah into his entire surroundings!
Waiting for a Raise
A similar example: An employee endures aggravation from his boss who didn’t pay him on time, or who refused to give him the raise he requested.
This employee knows with certainty that his boss has the money to give him, but he nevertheless drags him along even as he splurges on his own wants and desires.
Instead of thinking of his boss as cruel and callous, this Yid believes that if this money was bashert for him, it would have come to him. It has nothing to do with the boss. The boss doesn’t have the ability to hurt me or cause me pain.
When we remember this well and we overcome the nisayon of emunah, we thus become a משפיע, an influencer on our surroundings. We infuse kedushah into this place, which hastens the redemption by bringing G-dliness there.
An Influencer to Be Mekadesh Shem Shamayim
Another example of this is when a Yid finds himself in a place where he is an example for kiddush Hashem. People point at him and say: Look at a person who conducts himself according to Torah. Look at his smile... his ehrlichkeit.
When we fulfill the mitzvah of sanctifying Hashem’s Name, we are simply emissaries to bring G-dliness into this place. We bring Yidden closer to Hashem—even Yidden who are weak in their Yiddishkeit and who laugh at you.... By the very virtue of behaving like an ehrlicher Yid, you’re executing your mission. You’re bringing Yidden closer to Hashem. You’re משפיע on them!
Influencing Through Our Eyes
The same applies to a person who guards his eyes in places where there are pitfalls in this area. It’s not easy, but he is careful. Can we imagine how much holiness he brings to his surroundings? Aside from himself becoming elevated and holy, and aside from the very surroundings becoming holier, the people around him become holier. They see how he behaves, and this causes them to think: Where am I? I should be more careful...
It’s Not Only the Shehakol...
The takeaway that emanates from all these examples is that every person can fulfill so many of the mitzvos right in his workplace. There are countless examples of how a person can conduct himself according to Torah in his speech, in his conduct, in the way he deals in business, and with his entire comportment as a Torah Yid.
If a person would only pay attention to the fact that he is a messenger from the Ribbono shel Olam who was sent here, to this very place, so he would accomplish and influence the place with kedushah, he will understand that he doesn’t need to go places only in order to recite a Shehakol on a glass of water—his entire presence there is one giant influence. His entire being there infuses kedushah into his surroundings.
Every one of us can take pen and paper and make a list of all the mitzvos he fulfills every day during his day. Every workplace has its own challenges and different areas that need chizuk. Every place has its own unique opportunities for overcoming nisyonos and fulfilling so many mitzvos, according to the circumstances.
