What Makes a Mensch?
There was a sharp thinker who lived in 19th century Poland called Rabbi Mendel of Kotzk. He was known for his short, profound witticisms, among them the following pearl. I will share with you the original Yiddish, and then translate:
A frumer iz a rosho.
A kluger iz an apikores.
A gutter iz a naar.
Alle drei, a shtickl mensch.
If you're pious, then you're wicked.
If you're smart, you're a heretic.
If you're kind, you're a fool.
But if you're all three, now that's a mensch!
In this pithy little riddle, the Kotzker at once summarises the highest ideals of Judaism, and warns of the pitfalls that lurk on the path of those who try to discover truth.
Being pious, being smart or being kind all sound wonderful. But each one on its own comes with a risk.
People who are very pious can sometimes miss the point. Righteousness can turn into self-righteousness. Love of G-d may come at the expense of care for humanity. Religion can be used as a fire to burn rather than a light to illuminate. Some of the greatest evils in history have been perpetrated in the name of religion. If you only care about religious piety, at the expense of love for your fellow, you are wicked.
But then there are the intellectuals, who reject faith in favour of clear thinking. They become so impressed with their own brilliance, so stuck in their own minds that they see logic as the ultimate arbiter of truth. Anything that can't be explained, can't exist. I think it, therefore it is. These people are too smart for G-d. But intellect without absolute morality can rationalise the worst evil. Once you deny G-d, there is no good and evil. If you are a thinker who relies on logic alone, you are a heretic.
So if piety can lead to wickedness, and rationality can lead to heresy, what possible danger is there in being kind? Well, often the most goodhearted people are also the most naïve. They fall for every scam, give in to every request, allow themselves to be walked all over, and never stand up against those who do wrong. Ultimately, it is the overly kind person who allows evil to prosper, because all evil needs to succeed is for good people to do nothing. Sometimes we have to be mean and fight wrongdoing. If you are too kind to say no, you are a fool.
But someone who has all three - religious piety, rigorous thinking and gentle kindheartedness - now that is a complete person. Each trait enhances the others. Their righteousness will be thoughtful and sensitive. Their thinking will be infused with the humble recognition that not all can be known. And their kindness will be directed to worthy recipients. They can love those who differ with them, without compromising their own strongly held positions. They can question and explore without losing their firm faith. And they can be tough in fighting evil, all the while maintaining their warmth and positivity.
There aren't many people who have mastered this balance. But the Rebbe certainly did. He was an extremist in all three qualities. In him these opposites were not in conflict, but seamlessly combined to form a uniquely wise, empathetic and pious human being. He never compromised on religious observance, and yet was accepting of all, regardless of their level of observance. He had a towering intellect and mastered many fields of scholarship, and yet his entire outlook was founded on unquestioning faith. He spoke out against moral relativism and did not
The Rebbe didn't keep his approach to himself. He blessed us with volumes and volumes of his teachings, every page of which is saturated with those three powerful traits: profound piety, deep thought and boundless love. Study his works and join his revolution.
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss
This Shabbos marks 70 years since the Rebbe took on leadership of the Chabad movement. Read more here
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