In this week’s Parsha, Hashem compares the Jewish people to the stars in the heavens. The pasuk says, Vayeitzei Oso Hachutzah… – “Hashem brought Avraham outside and said, “Look towards the heaven and count the stars… That is how numerous your descendants will be.” The question is why? Why are Jews compared to stars? What can we learn from them?
My father Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita shared a beautiful insight based on Rav Chaim of Sanz. He says that if you look at the stars, they seem tiny. To us, from afar, stars look small. The reason why they look so small is because they aren’t in our solar system, they are very far away. In reality, though, we know that stars are huge, they are colossal and gigantic.
That says the Sanzer, is the Jew, and that’s why we are compared to stars. A Jew may look small and insignificant, he may seem empty, but really, he is huge. He looks small because you are far away from him. If you look a bit closer, you will realize how great he really is. We must realize how special each and every Jew is. We must never think of a Jew as small. Every Yid is precious. Many people just need someone to kindle their Neshama – someone to spark his soul. All you have to do is look a bit closer! Remember that every single Jew, no matter how small they look, in Hashem’s eyes they are precious and tremendous.
A non-observant, Jewish man with earnings, a ponytail, and ripped jeans once came to Rav Shlomo Freifeld zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Sh’or Yoshuv to apply for the job as the yeshiva janitor. When the man came, Rav Shlomo told the man that the job wasn’t open anymore, but he asked him if he had ever learned the Chapter of Hakones in Mesechtas Bava Kama. The man said he did many years ago as a boy in yeshiva, but he doesn’t really remember it. You won’t believe what Rav Shlomo said to him. He said, “I would like to hire you to be a rebbi.” The man said, “What? You want me to be a Rebbi? Look at me! How can I be a Rebbi? Rav Shlomo told the man in the ponytail and jeans that he has two boys who went through a lot, and they need a Rebbi to who they can relate to. They needed a Rebbi who would be able to understand them – a Rebbi who had similar experiences and challenges to what they have now. The man was shocked and after some thought, he decided to accept the job. He decided that he would learn with these boys and be their Rebbi.
Later that night the man realized that if he would be a rebbi he should really wear a yarmulka and tzitzis. For the first time in many years, he went out and bought a yarmulke and tzitzis. That night the man sat with a Gemara and started preparing for the next day’s class. He started learning again. The man connected with these boys, and together they all grew tremendously. This man ended up becoming an incredible rebbi, infusing many people with the beauty and vitality of Yiddishkeit! What greatness! The power of every Yid! When you look at someone who seems small, look far ahead and realize how great he is. Look at his potential. It doesn’t matter if he has a ponytail and ripped jeans. It doesn’t matter if he isn’t wearing a yarmulke or tzitzis. We must look at others and see how much greatness they can have. All the person may need is someone to give him that boost, someone to pick him up. Let’s try to help others reach their full potential and be shining stars! Join our email list by emailing [email protected]
