Tuesday 2 August 2016

63) LIFELESS TORAH IS LIKE IDOLATRY:

The Torah says: “...and make an idol or image...as G-d has commanded you.”[1]

Lest one takes this verse out of context and think that G-d commanded us to worship idols, Rashi is quick to add; ‘as G-d has commanded you not to do.

But the Kotzker Rebbe seems quite happy to leave the verse in its original form and have it read: Sometimes you can turn G-d’s commandments into a form of idolatry.

He says; “...the Torah warns us to guard ourselves against making ‘idols’ out of what G-d commanded us to do – so that we do not turn G-d’s laws into lifeless objects like wood and stone - as that would be the same as idolatry. [2]

Unless we are able to captivate the spirit, warmth and vibrancy of Judaism, the mere routine following of the law is of absolutely no spiritual value whatsoever. 

On the contrary, without meaning, even G-d’s law would be just another form of idolatry.

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[1] Devarim 4:23
[2] Amud HaEmet p. 92, par 1

Thursday 30 June 2016

62) JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD LEAD!




Pinchas was destined to take over from Moshe and become the next leader of the Jewish People. 




He acted with zealous incentive when he took a spear and killed Zimri and Cozbi, who both exemplified the mass sin which brought about a plague which destroyed 24 000 people. 

As a result of his zealotry the plague was halted and Pinchas was hailed the hero.[1]

But the Kotzker Rebbe said: 

“Moshe did not agree to this (the populist sentiment hailing Pinchas as a future leader), because...although he did a great (and necessary) deed...and averted a plague from the Jewish People - nonetheless Moshe said; ‘A fanatic should never be a leader of Israel.’...It was for this reason that Moshe then asked G-d to appoint a new (and more tempered) leader for them.”[2]

A fanatic, even if he or she is right, should never be allowed to lead!

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[1] Bamidbar ch. 25
[2] Amud HaEmet p. 87 par. 4 and 5

Sunday 26 June 2016

61) NORMATIVE LEADERSHIP:




Just before Moshe passed away, he asked G-d; “...to appoint a man over the assembly”[1] who would take over from him.



The Kotzker Rebbe pointed out that the expression ‘a man’ is crucial to the concept of leadership.

 He wrote: (The expression) ‘man’ is used instead of ‘angel’ (or scholar or sage) to emphasize (normative) humanity, which would enable people to relate to him. This is similar to (the Torah recording that) ‘Moshe went down from the mountain (i.e. from his lofty position) towards the people’.”[2]

All too often we look to create an artificial form of exalted leadership. This is true in political and especially religious leadership roles. We tend to demand and fashion an aura of near deification surrounding our spiritual leadership.

Kotzk taught that the aim was to seek out leaders who were as human and approachable as possible.

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[1] Bamidbar 27:16
[2] Amud HaEmet p.80, par. 3

Thursday 23 June 2016

60) IS FANATICISM A JEWISH TRAIT?




The Torah considers Pinchas to be a ‘fanatic’, because he; “...zealously avenged Me among them.”[1]




On this the Kotzker Rebbe commented: “Because Pinchas was consumed with G-d’s zealousness, there was implanted into all Israel (from that moment on, a degree of) fanaticism, which will not tolerate any deviant behaviour, and this is (now) intrinsic within them.”[2]

Not confusing fanaticism for extremism, is fanaticism a Jewish trait?

And is the Kotzker endorsing this trait or objecting to it?  

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[1] Bamidbar, 25:11; “bekano et kinati betocham
[2] Amud HaEmet p.86, par. 4

Sunday 5 June 2016

59) IT QUACKS - BUT IS IT A DUCK?



The Kotzker Rebbe asked; “Why does something unclean defile something which is clean, whereas something clean does not purify that which is unclean?”


And he answered his own question with another; “Something unclean is clearly unclean – whereas that which appears to be pure, who can say that is really is pure?”[1]

This is such a significant teaching especially for our times. We generally are able to identify something unclean and we can certainly identify something which is evil.

The problem though, is how to know when something dressed up, or presented as clean or righteous is really what it appears to be?

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[1] Amud HaEmet 84, par 1

Thursday 2 June 2016

58) WHO'S IN YOUR HEICHAL?

The Kotzker Rebbe said; “While Korach (who tried to oust Moshe from his position) was standing on the duchan (the platform used by the levi’im to play their musical instruments), he underwent a process of spiritual transformation. 

He became inspired and more spiritually aware than ever before. So he thought that if he would progress further into the heichal (the inner sanctuary), he would become even more elevated.

What he didn’t realize, though, was the fact that the only reason he felt so uplifted by his experience on the duchan, was because Moshe was standing in the heichal.”[1]

The Kotzker reminds us that sometimes, while basking in our sense of achievements, we forget our interconnectedness and our interdependences. 

We think we got to where we are by our own hard work and dedicated determination – and we pretend that the catalystic components - of luck, fate, G-d, timing, and help from others - played no part in our rise to success. 

But there is always someone in your heichal.

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[1] Amud HaEmet p. 91, par 4 
This is an explanation of the verse; "You have taken upon yourselves too much" (Rav lachem).

Thursday 19 May 2016

57) OUTREACH ALTRUISM AND MAGNANIMITY?



Some of our leaders are very dedicated to spreading Judaism. They really want to fill their institutions with eager students thirsty for Torah knowledge.



The Kotzker recognizes the nobility of such a pursuit. But he also cautions that there may an ulterior motive that spoils the apparent altruism. The outreach world may not always be as spiritually philanthropic as it appears. 

Often the unspoken sentiment of spiritual emissaries is that Torah institutions should be well attended as long as they are their institutions.

He said; “You are claiming spirituality? But (like Korach who ‘also wanted the priesthood’) you really want to be the Leaders!” [1]

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[1] Amud HaEmet p. 92, par.4

Sunday 15 May 2016

56) SPIRITUALITY MUST ALWAYS BE NORMATIVE:


The Kotzker Rebbe suggested that the reason why Korach and his rebellion against Moshe was misguided, was simply because Korach was a fanatic.

He asked Moshe whether a house filled with holy books required something as insignificant as a Mezuzah.

The Kotzker explained; “A ‘house filled with books’ represents the concept of spiritual overreaching. No matter how many books a house has it always needs a small Mezuzah, to remind us that spirituality is a slow, natural and incremental process.”[1]

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[1] Amud HaEmet p. 81, par. 3

Thursday 12 May 2016

55) ONE MUST BE WORTHY OF A DRESS CODE:


The Torah tells us that the two good spies 'tore their clothes' when they returned from their mission, as a sign of mourning and protest against the other ten spies who had brought back a bad report.[1]



The Kotzker Rebbe, is his typically direct manner, waxes lyrical; “The spies were the religious leaders of the nation, who wore (the equivalent of what today would be) fur hats with white frock coats. When Yehoshua and Calev saw how they had behaved, they tore their clothes (i.e. not their own clothes, as is commonly assumed - but the very visible statement-making fur hats and white frock coats of those who had misrepresented them in the name of religion).”[2]

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[1] Vayikra 14:6
[2] Amud HaEmet p.80, par. 5 The Kotzker actually says that they ‘tore off the cloths from them’. (karu... bigdehem me’alehem)

Wednesday 11 May 2016

54) KEEPING THE PRIMARY, PRIMARY:


It is sometimes very difficult to know from whom to receive guidance. 

So we turn to the ‘pious’.  


But every teacher has an agenda. 

The problem is that it’s impossible to know which agenda is closest to the truth.

The Kotzker Rebbe said regarding the ‘pious teachers’: “They turn the Secondary into the Primary, and the Primary into the Secondary.”

You know you’ve found your teacher when you walk away with the Primary remaining Primary. 

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Wednesday 4 May 2016

53) KEEP IT SIMPLE:


The leaders of the Jewish People were selected to be the spies who would scout out the land of Israel. They brought back a bad report and as a result we spent forty years wandering through the desert.[1]



The Kotzker Rebbe says; “Had Moshe selected just ordinary simple people (instead of great leaders), we would have entered Etetz Yisrael immediately.”[2]

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[1] Vayikra 13.
[2] Amud HaEmet p. 80. Par. 1.(He goes on to say that the reason Moshe selected Leaders was to show that Israel can only be acquired through great self sacrifice.)

Tuesday 3 May 2016

52) KOTZKER TRUTH:




The Kotzker Rebbe says; “What was the sin of the spies? They spoke the truth (about what they saw. How is speaking truth considered a sin)?


However, ‘truth’ does not just mean speaking what you see. That would simply be ‘not lying’.

‘Truth’ (in a religious sense) means that if one understands what it is that G-d wants, then one must exhaust oneself to find a genuinely truthful way of expressing (or explaining) G-d’s word.”[1]

There is no value in promoting G-d’s agenda, as noble as it may be, through holding back on the truth or suppressing or censoring it. 

Rather one needs to ‘exhaust oneself’ to find a way to reconcile G-d’s will with absolute unadulterated truth and with substantive facts as we know it.

Truth is its own witness and any tampering with it, even to fulfil a righteous religious agenda, is no longer considered ‘religious’.

This is why Kotzker truth is so hard to attain. -Because it is not always easy to reconcile G-d’s truth with ours.

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[1] Amud HaEmet p. 80, par 1

Monday 2 May 2016

51) WHY AM I, I?




Being fiercely independent and true to oneself is the cornerstone of Kotzker philosophy. 




The Kotzker Rebbe famously said: “If I am I because you are you, and if you are you because I am I - then I am not I and you are not you.
But if I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you – then I am I and you are you.”


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Wednesday 27 April 2016

50) 'BEFORE' IS MORE VITAL THAN 'DURING':

The Kotzker Rebbe said; “If a person only reacts to the evil inclination (once it has already began to exert its influence), he will not be particularly successful in overcoming it. The time to fight the evil inclination is before its influence is felt.”[1]


Much of Kotzker philosophy has to do with preparation for life’s events, as opposed to simply reacting to them. 

This is why he prayed quickly and didn’t make a performance out of his religious practice, because he taught that preparation was always more important than the actual deed.

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[1] Amud HaEmet p. 78 par. 1

Tuesday 26 April 2016

49) THE PRIVACY OF PIETY:



The Torah describes how Aharon must light the lamps of the Menorah. Aharon lights the lamps and the Torah says; “Aharon did so”[1]. Rashi comments; “This teaches that Aharon did not change.”


Amazingly, although Aharon just participated in what surely must have been a most uplifting spiritual event, he did not change!

The Kotzker says; “We find that Aharon was never visibly moved by any of the holy work that he performed. His spirituality was completely hidden within. External manifestations of holiness have no roots in true spirituality. The real spiritual experience takes place only within the inner recesses of the heart (and is never on show for all the world to see).”[2]

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[1] Bamidbar 8:3
[2] Amud HaEmet p. 86 par. 4