On one occasion a student
of another rebbe happened to visit Kotzk.
The Kotzker inquired as to the others rebbe’s
well being and the said to the student; “I
love your rebbe very much. But why is he always crying out to G-d to send the
messiah? Wouldn’t it be better if he
rather cried out to the people (themselves) to return (to G-d)? – This is the
meaning of the verse ‘Why cry out to Me (G-d)? Speak unto the children of
Israel.’[1] “[2]
The Kotzker Rebbe is
reminding us not to fall back onto the misleading notion so common in religious
circles to throw every challenge back at G-d.
In Kotzk spiritual deflection is
not a virtue. We only grow when we dare to face real challenges within the real
world.
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