Tied to the past, eyes in the future

In the last issue, we introduced the new series exploring the paradoxes of the Rebbe, and we explained that paradoxes testify to the existence of an essential element that transcends the two opposites. That explains why we witness such a paradoxical nature when it comes to Hashem, Torah and mitzvos.

In this issue we continue to present two more paradoxes of the Rebbe with the hope that you as a reader, won’t only read on, but rather be encouraged to delve deeper into oneself, deep until the essence of the soul, the yechidah, where there are no contradictions; for everything flows from that singularity.

Our task is to emulate the Rebbe’s paradoxical approach.

In this series, we will explore many of the Rebbe’s paradoxes and try garner lessons we can incorporate into our lives and begin living as a true Jew — a paradoxical Jew.

The Rebbe is connected to the past; yet is always looking into and connecting to the future.

In society, we have people who live in the past. They wax nostalgic about the good old days. Some do not look sanguinely at the future.

In Jewish society, there are those who would point to the Talmudic statement that “if the early generations were like angels we are the like of humans, but if they were like humans we are like donkeys…” This reference was designed to show how inferior we are to our forebears. Consequently, we have to always look back to our forebears for guidance and inspiration.

The Rebbe agrees with the premise that it is important for us to connect to and have profound respect for our forebears, as the Rebbe did in the most extreme way when he connected to his father-in-law.

However, the Rebbe does not agree with the conclusion that we are necessarily inferior to our forebears. In fact that Rebbe would point to the areas in which we are superior to them.

Moreover, the Rebbe was not content to have us remember the major historical event of the past such as the Exodus and the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. While remembering these events are crucial and we must connect to them; we must also connect to the future by living our lives with Moshiach, as if the Redemption has already occurred. ■