Heels: The Lowest and the Highest
Conventional wisdom teaches us that despite being on the ground you can still climb high. Chassidic wisdom believes that because you are so low you can climb high!
The “heels” of Moshiach
This week we read the Torah portion Ekev, in which Moses relates the blessings the Jewish people can look forward to in the future if they keep G-d’s commandments. Since this portion speaks about the future, it is connected with the times of ikvesa d’Meshicha—the time immediately preceding the Final Redemption The Rebbe explains that the word “ekev” can mean “heel,” the least sensitive portion of the body. In this instance, Ikvesa d’Meshicha refers to the lowest of all levels in the spiritual history of the Jewish people, a time characterized by a redoubled spiritual darkness, in which all the undesirable omens that our sages said would precede the Era of the Redemption have taken place.
Primary among the negative characteristics of ikvesa d’meshiacha is the increased chutzpah.
This points to the lack of respect for authority.
“The Buttons Were Already Polished”
But “ekev” can also mean “after” and thus ikvesa d’Meshiacha can refer to the end of the exile. This, too, refers to our generation. For as the Previous Rebbe said, we have already “polished the buttons”—we are like soldiers of old awaiting inspection, everything is ready, even the brass buttons on our uniforms have been shined. This means that all the service demanded of us has been completed and we are on the threshold of the Redemption.
The two interpretations of the term “ikvesa d’Meshicha” are interrelated. It is precisely when the Jews have reached the low levels implied by the first interpretation, that the ultimate fulfillment promised by the second interpretation will be realized.
We may apply the Rebbe’s connection between the two interpretations to the defining vice of our generation, which as stated, is the increase in chutzpah.
On many occasions the Rebbe pointed out that the chutzpah of our generation, particularly among the youth, is one of its finest attributes.
It is this spirit of chutzpah that has motivated many of our youth, or the young at heart, to question the corruption of the past. The chutzpah of our youth in the 60’s and 70’s rebelled against the secularism, materialism and selfishness of their elders.
It is true, that the rebellious spirit of that age did lead many astray into cults, drugs and other vices, nevertheless it is not the chutzpah and rebelliousness that is the culprit, rather it is the way it was applied.
The Rebbe would stress that if the Jewish leaders would have performed their task and would have provided the youth with the proper channels for their energy and rebellious streak, it would have proven to be the most powerful force for good.
Hearts of Parents Restored Through Children!
The Rebbe also connected the holy chutzpah to the Biblical prediction of how the young will bring their parents back to their Judaism.
This, the Rebbe based on the prophecy of the last of the Biblical prophets Malachi who stated that in the end of the days G-d will send Elijah the prophet who “will restore the heart of the fathers to the sons.” Rashi, in his commentary substitutes the word “through” for “to” and renders this verse thus: “He will restore the hearts of the fathers through the sons.”
Throughout Jewish history, it was the fathers and mothers who transmitted the timeless teachings of Torah to their children. However, something tragic occurred in the last few centuries. As the secular winds started to blow, as a result of the “Enlightenment,” fathers and mothers were separated from their traditions. The chain of tradition was severed.
The Great Shofar
The 1960’s with the miraculous victory of the Six Day War, brought an unprecedented awakening, which the Rebbe referred to as the Great Shofar/ This awakening ignited the spark of our youth and propelled a major movement of Ba’alei Teshuvah—returnees to Judaism, who, in turn, influenced their parents and elders to return to the fold.
Responding to, and actually anticipating, these new positive winds that were blowing the Rebbe launched an unprecedented campaign to reach all the Jews with a Mitzvah. The Mitvzah campaigns literally involved millions of Jews in the performance of Mitzvos.
In addition, the Rebbe launched the institution of Shluchim-Emissaries who were to bring the light of Judaism, as it is illuminated further by Chasidic teaching, to every far-flung corner of the globe.
To date, hundreds and thousands of Jews were brought back to a life of observance, while millions more have been inspired to do a Mitzvah. The Rebbe emphasized the inestimable value of even one Mitzvah which can “tip the scales” of virtue and bring Redemption.
As we entered into the 20th Century, the welfare of the Jewish people (and by extension the rest of the world) degenerated to the very nadir. It would prove to be the worst period of history. The twin tragedies of the Holocaust and Soviet tyranny on one hand and the indifference and alienation of Jews from their roots in the Western World on the other hand, placed us in the unenviable position of the heels of history in the most negative sense of the word.
If the Holocaust was the worst tragedy to befall the Jewish people, it could only be matched by the indifference and insensitivity of the world to these atrocities. Here to the simile of a heel is appropriate, because of all the parts of the body it is the least sensitive to physical stimuli.
The U-Turn
And then, G-d in His infinite mercy, provided us with the ability to turn away from the negatives, An important part of this reversal of direction was the leadership of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe and particularly his successor, our Rebbe, who launched a historic and unprecedented “u-turn.”
Instead of Jews running away from Judaism, a new phenomenon emerged. Jews were returning in droves. As time progressed, as the Rebbe predicted would be a prelude to the coming of Moshiach, the Soviet Union collapsed.
To be sure, we are not out of the woods as long as even one vestige of exile remains. However this can be likened to a person going on a trip and makes a wrong turn. When he recognizes his error and makes a Uturn, it changes the entire dynamic of the experience.
Although on the road back, there can be obstacles, construction, State Troopers, deer crossings, drunk drivers, etc., we know that we are on the road that leads inevitably and inexorably to our destination.
What G-d wants of us now that we are so close to the Messianic destination is for us to get rid of the “minor” distractions from our goal. We must focus on the objective, the ekev-the end, which is Moshiach and the Final Redemption!
From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Ekev by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
