Page 6 - The Jewish Voice - September '22

Page 6, The Jewish Voice

From the Rabbis from page 5

chose to turn their
backs on G-d with a
shocking betrayal —
they created a calf
of gold and bowed
down to it! As a
result, Moses smashes
the two tablets.
When eventually
G-d forgives their
indiscretion, he
instructs Moses to
make the new tablets
“for himself.” The
Talmud (Nedarim 38a)
reveals to us that the Rabbi Dovid Vigler at the holy
seemingly superfluous resting place of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak
word “for himself” Schneerson
was an instruction to
Moses to carve the second tablets out of sapphire and to Florida Chabad rabbis in Kazakhstan
keep the leftover shards for himself. Indeed, these precious
shards made Moses a very wealthy man!
It seems inappropriate on all levels: Why would G-d
throw an instruction for Moses to casually “keep the change”
into a serious story of Divine reconciliation? And how is it “To save one life is to
even ethical for Moses to profit from what is clearly public
property? Besides, who cares about Moses’ personal financial
statement during this time when the future of the Jewish save the world entire.”
nation lay in the balance?
In a moving sermon in 1908, Reb Levik’s Rebbe, the Fifth
T
Chabad Rebbe, known as “Rashab,” explains the significance
of this wonderous windfall. These sapphire shards were the — he Talmud
product of man’s epic failure at Sinai. Having just recently
caused the destruction of the first tablets, G-d’s gift to
mankind, the Jewish Nation was crushed. They felt hopeless
and irredeemable. They had gone too far. Yet the origin of
Moses’ wealth in those broken, shameful remnants inspires
us to seek the positive and purposeful elements behind our
failures. Instead of seeing them as useless black holes, we can
view them as opportunities for growth and even greatness!
Our problems are our purpose. Our mistakes don’t happen
to us; they’re sent to us from Above. Though we cannot always
appreciate why we are fortified with the faith that our dysfunction
is our destiny and our failures pave the way to our fortunes. If
G-d wanted us to be perfect, He’d have made us so. He wants
us, warts and all, to climb out of our sinkholes as we overcome
our challenges with character and courage. Indeed, our purpose
lies in the potholes. That’s where the gold lies!
Moshe’s wealth deriving from the broken shards of the
second tablets proves that our prosperity is reached through
making the best of our pitfalls. What you have is what G-d
needs from you now! Instead of resenting your lot, celebrate
it, embrace it, and launch from it!
Even in our perceived mistakes, we have purpose. In fact,
your perceived detour might be precisely the exit you were
supposed to take in order to reach your specific destination.
As we clearly saw in Almaty, despite the communists’
sincerest intent to isolate Reb Levik in Kazakhstan, he
continues to inspire and uplift countless thousands of
passionate disciples who continue to travel across the
world to visit him, a full 80 years after his passing! In a
mysterious way, his faraway exile ultimately led to his far
more significant influence.
Wishing you a month of appreciating the value in the
broken parts of our lives,
Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of Palm
Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze Radio Show.
Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com.

This High Holiday season, as we seek spiritual and physical renewal for ourselves and our loved
ones, let us also remember those in Israel who nurture and renew life every day.

Whether it’s treating civilians wounded in terror attacks or responding to any number of at-home
medical emergencies, no organization in Israel saves more lives than Magen David Adom.

No gift will help Israel more this coming year.

Support Magen David Adom by donating today at
afmda.org/support or call 866.632.2763.

Shanah tovah. afmda.org/support