Weekly Chasidic Story #907 (s5775-30 / 24
Nisan 5775)
Psychology or Pottery?
""You are asking me what I think?" replied the Lubavitcher
Rebbe. He smiled. "Well, of course you know what I think!"
Connection: ???
Psychology
or Pottery?
Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak
Jacobson
Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak
Jacobson tells:
She was an American, a
typical Jewish Baby Boomer from a strongly Jewish but non-observant home. Spiritual
by nature, she became somewhat of a hippie in the Sixties. She wandered around
the world until she landed in New York, where she would study.
An acquaintance mentioned
Crown Heights, Brooklyn. "You really ought to see the Lubavitcher Rebbe
there. He's something else."
She accepted that it might
be worthwhile, and soon she was invited to 770, Chabad headquarters, on an auspicious
occasion.
The Rebbe was about to
give a sicha, a talk, to women and girls [in February 1973-YT]. Afterwards,
he would remain in his place while each woman who had a question or wanted a
blessing would be allowed to ascend the dais and have a few personal moments
with the Rebbe.
This woman decided to go
up to the Rebbe. "I'd like you to know," she began, "that I'm
not here because I believe in you or in any of this stuff. I don't believe any
of the miracle stories. In fact, this seems like a cult."
The Rebbe listened in good humor and smiled before responding. "Tell me,
why then did you come?"
She described her university
studies, then posed a question. "I'm majoring in psychology. My parents
want me to stay in school but frankly, I'd rather go to the Far East and study
pottery. What do you think I should do?"
The Rebbe responded. "I think both options are wonderful and interesting.
Pottery and psychology are both worthy vocations. And I can't tell you that
one is better than the other.
"But I have a third
idea." His eyes sparkled. "Why don't you devote some time to get to
know yourself? To discover what it means to be human and Jewish?"
She appreciated the Rebbe's
response. She liked his not being offended by her comments, and being totally
open to her and her needs. She respected the fact that the Rebbe offered a highly
perceptive response - as she was a deep seeker, and an idealist.
Some time later, it was
suggested to her that she attend the summer program in Bais Chana, the Chabad
women's institute in Minnesota.
She scheduled a private
audience with the Rebbe. When she entered his office, this time with more reverence,
she asked the Rebbe if he thought she should go to Bais Chana to learn more
about her Jewishness?
The Rebbe smiled. "You are asking me what I think?" He said. "Well,
certainly you know what I think! Of course I think you should go to Bais Chana."
She drove that summer to
St. Paul from her home in Pittsburgh, and the rest is history. But the real
message: here was someone flat out, in the Rebbe's face, saying she believes
in nothing. She was ostensibly being disrespectful to the entire movement to
which he devoted his life. Certainly, the Rebbe had every reason to "educate"
her - to scold her and put her in her place.
But then, what would have
been achieved? He might have educated her, but he would not have mekarved
her - brought her closer to Torah Judaism. The Rebbe wanted to give her the
gift of her self - the gift of embracing her own soul, her own identity, so
he spoke a language that related to her.
Rabbi Jacobson finished
the story by saying: "I know this story well for this woman is my mother
in law, Mrs. Rochel Shlomo."
Editor's note: And I -
Y.T. -- know it [almost as] well too, since in Minnesota that summer my future
wife was roommates with his future mother-in-law.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Expanded by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition in an "Avner Institute"
email <Rebbebook@gmail.com>.
Biographical note:
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe [11 Nissan 5662
- 3 Tammuz 5754 (April 1902 - June 1994 C.E.)], became the seventh Rebbe of
the Chabad dynasty after his father-in-law's passing on 10 Shvat 5710 (1950
C.E.). He is widely acknowledged as the greatest Jewish leader of the second
half of the 20th century. Although a dominant scholar in both the revealed and
hidden aspects of Torah and fluent in many languages and scientific subjects,
the Rebbe is best known for his extraordinary love and concern for every Jew
on the planet. His emissaries around the globe dedicated to strengthening Judaism
number in the thousands. Hundreds of volumes of his teachings have been printed,
as well as dozens of English renditions.
Yerachmiel
Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor
of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories
to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells
them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.
To receive the Story by e-mail every Wednesday--sign
up here!
A 48 page soft-covered booklet containing eleven of his most popular stories
may be ordered on our store
site.
FLASH! "Saturday Night, Full Moon" by
the first of 3 books by Yerachmiel Tilles, the Ascent storyteller, featuring
33 of his best stories, is
now
available for purchase--through ASCENT-in-Safed
or the publishers
Want to see our preview, which now includes
feedback, approbations and the spectacular cover?
back to Top back
to this year's Story Index Stories
home page Stories Archives
|