Outwardly Lacking - Inwardly Perfect | Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed | Beit Midrash

Family and Society
Understanding Circumstances

קטגוריה משנית

The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of

Rabbi Meir b"r Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld

3042

What words can I offer at such a trying time?
I have faith in our people. The nation of Israel is an excellent nation, a strong nation, a healthy nation, an unsullied and holy nation. I am not simply trying to comfort with empty words those who have surrendered to despair because of the present situation. Rather, my intention is to show that there is indeed hope of escaping the political whirlpool which currently has us in its clutches, for this entire storm that we find ourselves in is actually nothing more than foam upon the face of the water. The crisis is external; all of the weakness and corrosion is superficial.

In Israel's depths, in the inner chamber, everything is different. Our politicians' dishonesty and deceitfulness is just an outer garb which hides and covers up the power of faith and fidelity which resides deep down in their true being.

The schisms which tear at the nation and rend it to pieces conceal the essential inner oneness which unites Israel more than any nation. Outward weakness conceals an inner greatness, the outward disavowal hides an enormous inner of faith. And because in our depths we are healthy and strong, faithful and sturdy, all that needs to be done is to remove the cover which conceals our true refinement. In the words of the Prophet, "Take the filthy garments off of him" (Zechariah 3:4).

We ask ourselves, what is the meaning of this contradiction between that which we see on the outside and that which exists within? How is it possible for there to be such a sharp disparity between our inner essence, which is completely perfect, and our outer appearance, which seems to be the exact opposite? How can we be so certain that we indeed possess all of these qualities when reality appears to negate this? Answer: the Sages teach us that it is precisely Israel's preeminence that causes all of our weaknesses to stand out so strongly.

Our eminent mentor, the late Rabbi A. I. Kook, in his seminal work, Orot, in the chapter entitled "Orot HaTekhiya," gives expression this idea as follows: "We are great and our errors are great—hence our sufferings are great and our solaces are great." Rabbi Kook further writes that "just before the 'footsteps of the Messiah,' the nation's inherent unity will flourish. The good deeds and the wisdom and the Divine light which reside in the righteous will effect the sanctity of the national body more than in any other period. This inherent genius is concealed by a covering of accusation and argumentations, but its essence boasts love and extraordinary unity which awakens a general sense of eager expectation for the salvation of the entire people."

In other words, in the said generation, unity will abound - but it will be hidden. This being the case, all that need be done is to remove the outer guise. There is no need to create new positive faculties, all of the qualities are present; we need only remove the outer veil and reveal them. This can happen suddenly. We are undoubtedly approaching that great hour in which we will be completely redeemed.

He who acts together with the Almighty in bringing about the redemption, settling the land, strengthening the Torah, protecting Israel's territorial integrity - fortunate is he and blessed is his portion; he will soon be called upon to receive his reward.

Understanding Circumstances