In the aftermath of World War II, Rabbonim and activists worked tirelessly to establish Jewish infrastructure for American Jewry. The frierdiker Rebbe, the previous Chabad Rebbe, was once approached by a community activist who questioned why Chabad did not preoccupy themselves with creating kosher agencies and companies that would allow kosher food to be readily available.
The frierdiker Rebbe replied with a smile, “we are preoccupied with enlarging the customer base. We are trying to ensure there will be more and more Yidden committed to keeping kosher.”
I’m reminded of this story by a fascinating commentary of the baal haturim found in this week’s parshah. When the Torah teaches us about the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah, returning lost items, the posuk uses the language of the veasafto el baysecha, (you should gather the lost item into your house).
The baal haturim notes that this exact language is used in one other place in the entire Torah, by the affliction of tzaraas on a home.
What’s the connection, though, between hashovas aveida and tzaraas? The Ohr Hachayim provides a beautiful, deeper insight into the mitzvah of hashavas Aveida.
He explains that we’re not only referring to lost objects, We’re also referring to lost souls who have strayed and can’t seem to find their way back home. Similarly, on a deeper level, Tzaraas stems from Tzaar Ayin, a very limited prism and perspective of life. Prioritizing materiality over spirituality, cuisine and commerce over values and valor.
Perhaps that’s the underlying thread connecting these two mitzvahs. In both instances, we need the antidote V’Asafto el toch Beisecha, which means to take him or her into the Beis Medrash, and thus gather in the souls who may have lost their way, and those who suffer from tzaras ayin, limited, distorted, and misaligned values and perspectives.
Chazal teach us that the word “elul” is an acronym for ina leyado vesamti lach, a posuk referring to the arei miklat, the cities of refuge. The month of Elul is a City of Refuge in time. The solace and safety of the Cities of Refuge come from the walls that surround them. The commentaries explain that this refers to the walls of the beis medrash.
Elul is a time to enter those Torah walls and deepen our connection with Hashem. Veasafto el baysecha, the Torah urging us to gather ourselves into our home to fortify and reinforce our walls of kedushah, which is what the freidiker Rebbe communicated to this activist. We need to dedicate time and effort to curating and creating surroundings that will inspire us.
Bernard Shaw once said, “Life is not about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.” Perhaps Judaism would respond that it’s only through creating a rich and robust infrastructure of inspiration and learning that we are able to truly find ourselves. Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos.
