What is meant by “someone who has the spirit of God within him”? One who knows how to deal with each and every individual!
Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our Teacher) asked Hashem, “Provide for the people a leader, someone who has the spirit of God within him” (Numbers 27:16). What is meant by “someone who has the spirit of God within him”? One who knows how to deal with each and every individual (Rashi on vv. 16, 18).
The Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) is destroyed and we are in exile. Our Sages teach that this sad state of affairs was brought about by sinat chinam, baseless hatred (Yoma 9a). This isn’t limited to petty jealousy – our baseless hatred has a good reason! So we think. We have a tendency to be divisive, because when we see people conducting themselves somewhat differently from ourselves, we think, “They’re not acting for the sake of Heaven.”
Rebbe Nachman said about the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov (founder of Chassidism): “There was tremendous harmony among them all, even though each one conducted himself differently. One would travel around giving public lectures, another would stay at home. One would lead the prayer service and pray at great length, loudly, with much gesticulating. Another would say the prayers quickly, sitting with the other members of the minyan. One would devote a great amount of time to Torah study, while another would be particularly involved with raising charity. All these differences, despite the fact that they all studied and were nurtured by the same teacher.”
We have a tendency to be divisive, because when we see people conducting themselves somewhat differently from ourselves, we think, “They’re not acting for the sake of Heaven”…
Why did their conduct differ so? Reb Noson explains that because God never makes or does the same thing twice, each disciple had a different soul-root and a different personality make-up. This is equally true of each of us. When we get along well, we each give a different color to Judaism. This what God means when He says, “Jews – I beautify Myself with you” (Isaiah 49:3). But the yetzer hara undermines our faith and our harmony, transforming our differences into weapons of hate.
How can we maintain a peaceful outlook with our fellow Jews? Reb Noson suggests that we tell ourselves the following:
“I know that I am doing what I’m doing truly for the sake of Heaven. Even though my friend is actively deterring me, he, too, is doing it for the sake of Heaven. He’s got a different opinion and thinks that what I’m doing is not a mitzvah, or that some other mitzvah should be done instead. But I’m certain that what I’m doing is right, and I can prove it! Nonetheless, even if the truth is on my side, who knows from what spiritual root my friend comes? Maybe, according to that root, he has to behave differently.”*
We must connect ourselves with the greatest tzaddik of the generation!
To attain this level, Reb Noson says, we must connect ourselves with the greatest tzaddik of the generation, who fills the role of Moshe Rabbeinu. The root of Moshe’s soul is in the Raava d’Raavin (Will of Wills). Such a tzaddik knows the will of each individual and how to attach that individual’s will to God’s Will; thus, he is “a person who knows how to deal with each and every individual.” By instilling faith within us, he helps us make peace with one another.
God! Help each and every one of us find this tzaddik so that we may merit to see the arrival of the Righteous Redeemer, soon, in our lifetime. Amen!
*This does not mean condoning behavior that contradicts the standards and norms of the Torah. It does mean that we have to assume that others are well-meaning in their interpretation of Judaism unless we know otherwise. This is how Pinchas reacted to Zimri’s provocation (Numbers 25:6-8, 10-15).
(Based on Likutey Halakhot, Hilkhot Shomer Sakhar 2:10-11)
