BS’D
Today, the 21 of Adar is the yahrtzeit of the Holy Noam Elimelech of Lizhensk Poland ztk’l, the prime disciple of Maggid of Mezritch, the student of the holy Ba’al Shem Tov HaKadosh. On one occasion Rabbi Elimelech and Reb Zushya ztk’l (his brother) were staying at an inn. Each night non-Jewish peasants would enter their room and jestingly beat the one who lay nearest the fireside, Reb Zushya. One night, Rabbi Elimelech offered to change places with his brother so that he could take the beatings instead. Suggesting that Reb Zushya had suffered enough of this “Divine admonishment” the agreement was made and Rabbi Elimelech lay next to the fire instead. That night, the common gentiles again entered to begin their jest. This time, however, one of them said that the one by the fire had taken his fair share of the treatment, and now it would be better to jest with the other one! Again Reb Zushya took the beatings. Afterwards, he told his brother that whatever is decided in Heaven transpires! May the zechut of the tzaddik serve as an advocate on behalf of Klal Yisrael and may we be zoche to emulate the ways of our righteous, Amen.
True freedom is a continuous pursuit of liberation – opposite of bondage – in everyday life. And what bondage does mankind experience in our day and time? The burden of the body’s desires that topple the soul’s call. There are 613 desires in us that we must correct one at a time, each desire with all of its parts. This is achieved through the study of Torah and adherence to Hashem’s mitzvot.
During the time of the korbanot which will be read in the coming parshiot, we learn how the offerings elevated the Jewish soul. The korbanot come to teach us how to correct our ‘nature’ and reveal our G-dliness. When we surrender our selfish desires and in place bestow kindness to others we essentially offer a korban to Hashem.
Unfortunately, when we fail to transform our animalistic drives, they cause us problems; the desires become negative forces in our lives. Letting ourselves be governed by these forces bring us much suffering and hardship. As we neglect to rise above our bodily impulses we are ‘forced’ to confront them through more difficult Divinely dictated ways. With each challenge overcome, more and more of our egotistic tendencies dissipate. As a result we connect more to our brethren and draw closer to Hashem.
We cannot bring korbanot to Hashem as of yet – B’sD soon! – However we can make a conscious exerted effort to free ourselves of our selfish desires and heed the calling of our soul. There is no better place for the Jew to be. And be reassured; it is nothing less than living a life of utter bliss.
