Realizing the Soul’s Potential
There is also a second reason for reincarnation. It is very likely that a person can live a long, productive and righteous life, but still missed the main reason for which s/he was sent into this world. One can do everything right and nothing wrong and yet – insofar as the purpose for which one’s soul was sent into this world is concerned – have accomplished zero.
Let me give a simple illustration: A person has the talent to become a brilliant researcher who can find the cure for cancer and other maladies that claim millions of lives. Yet, when they were at the crossroads and had to make a decision as to what they should do, accepted a position in a family business. Once employed in the business, he is honest, conducts business with integrity, gives a fair amount to charity and is an all-around good person.
If we had to judge this person on his actions, he would score a perfect A. There is not a flaw in this person’s behavior and there is nothing wrong with choosing a business career. This person cannot be faulted in any way.
Yet, one cannot deny the fact that this person has not realized his full potential. Quite apart from the fact that the world lost a major force that could have transformed the world in a positive way, this individual’s soul has been “asleep” insofar as its true abilities are concerned.
Everyone has heard the slogan “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Well, it is far worse for a soul, which possesses far more than just intellectual know-how – for it to not express its full potential.
Gehinnom and other forms of cleansing cannot assist the soul in realizing its full potential, for as we have discussed in Chapter sixteen, only the soul’s engagement with the physical world can make all of its hidden resources come to the surface. No action I the next world can help the soul that wasted its potential. For that the soul must return to the physical world, clad once more in a physical body.
And unlike the eastern notion that the body is no more than a garment that the soul wears and tears and that sheds it to be attired with a new one, the Jewish mystical view of reincarnation is to enhance the soul and enable it to realize its full potential. This is a feat it cannot do without the body.
The following story was related by Rabbi Adam Ba’al Shem to Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov, * Rabbi Adam sent the following story and message to Rabbi Israel. It was this story that moved the Ba’al Shem Tov to become one of the most famous and influential leaders of world Jewry and whose influence and inspiration popularized the mystical dimension of Judaism.
About 400 years ago (about 200 before the time the story was first told) there lived a simple, G-d fearing Jew in the Holy city of Tzefat in Israel One day he heard a knocking on his door. When he opened the door he was startled to find none other than Elijah the prophet. Elijah was sent from “on high” to reward this simple Jew.
What is it that you did on the day of your Bar-Mitzvah?’ Elijah asked. Because of this extraordinary act,’ Elijah continued `it was decided that you will be granted a special reward. I was sent to teach you Torah, the deepest secrets of Torah. But, there is one condition. You must tell me what it is that you did to warrant this unusual reward?’
`What I did, was for G-d and G-d alone. I will not divulge this information to you or anyone else. If that means that you will not be able to give me this reward, so be it, the humble Jew replied.
Elijah was startled. .It was unheard of that a Jew should turn down the most incredible reward, just because he did not want anyone to know what he had done to earn that reward! Such altruism was unparalleled!
There was a furor in heaven. And it was decided that the purity of this Jews intentions entitled him to receive the reward without any strings attached. So Elijah was dispatched to teach this Jew Torah, without ever discovering the original deed that he had done for the sake of G-d and G-d alone.
Needless to say, this Jew – under the tutelage of Elijah the prophet – became proficient in all aspects of Torah, including and especially the mystical teaching. He led a life of simplicity, and no time did anyone ever discover that this simple Jew was actually one of the greatest saints and scholars who merited the reward of learning Torah from Elijah the prophet.
When his time came to depart this world and his holy soul was brought before the heavenly court, there was no angel that could possibly find a fault with this soul. It was pure, unblemished. There was not a tinge of ego and selfishness Everything he did, particularly the act he performed on the day of his Bar-Mitzvah – was strictly for G-d. The greatest rewards of Paradise were awaiting this remarkable sage.
There was, however, one voice of dissent. ‘True, this prosecuting angel acknowledged, this was a flawless soul. But, what benefit did the world derive from his holiness and knowledge. Did he teach anyone? Did he impart his mystical knowledge to disciples? Did he lead the masses in the path of Torah by virtue of his inspirational talks to them? The answer was no. He was a hidden tzadik. His knowledge remained with him alone. This soul did not realize its potential of illuminating the world with its radiant knowledge and holiness’.
The Heavenly Court was dumfounded. There was no angel that could find a “defense” for that. And so it was decided that this holy soul must once more descend into this world in another body. And when this soul in its new incarnation will grow into a saintly person of similar stature to its first incarnation, the soul must then be revealed and become famous so that everyone could benefit from his knowledge and holiness.
`This soul,’ Rabbi Adam confided with Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov, ‘is your soul. Yours is the soul of the Jew from Tzefat. The very purpose for your soul descending into this world is for the express purpose of become a great Jewish leader who will share his light with everyone. If you absolutely refuse to become a public figure, you will have to leave this world and your soul will have to make the journey again and again until it fulfils its purpose’
Upon discovering the secret of his soul, Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov complied with the wishes of his mentor and the purpose for which his soul entered this world. That is how we know of the great Jewish leader known as the Ba’al Shem Tov.
In this powerful story, we come face to face with a soul that was flawless. Nevertheless, it had to descend again to fulfil its potential that it had not realized the first time around. It was not a sin, G-d forbid, or a character flaw, it wasn’t even the failure to do a mitzvah that required the reincarnation process. It was the failure of the soul to realize its full potential.
From the book Safe Kabbalah, Part Three: Journeys of the Soul by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
