My Spiritual Debt
In 1973 Moshe Levy risked his life to save the people of Israel, he is a hero in Israel and abroad and received Israel’s highest medal of recognition for his bravery.
For the full story click here (go to the one hour and 8 minute mark for his story and presentation).
Many years later he was addressing a graduating class in Israel and speaking to them about the importance of going to the army. He was asked by one of the students, “Why should I risk my life when there are others who are not going into the army?’, He responded with a question, if you borrowed $1000 would you feel obligated to pay it back? “Of course”, was the response. He continued, “I was on the battle field before you were born and I witnessed the loss of many lives, many of my own brigade. Many of them left behind families. They sacrificed their lives so that you could be born and that you could have your country. All they asked for in return was that you pay back the debt by doing what they did. No you don’t have to die but you need to stand up and defend the country for future generations.
I found this story particularly profound for me on many levels, just as we are all indebted to the soldiers in Israel and for their dedication, I began to think about the other debts I had.
My grand parents and great grand parents risked their lives and many of them died in their effort to make sure that there would be a Jewish tomorrow, so that I would have the opportunity to be a Jew today.
I am indebted to them, all they are asking of me is to stand strong and do what I must do to make sure Judaism is here for the next generation.
A few weeks ago we had a bar mitzvah for a young man whose family is from the former Soviet Union. The great grand father was there and presented his great grandson with a Talit. I was standing next to them as this was happening and I overheard the grandfather whisper into his great grandson’s ear, “Zalst blaieben a Yid”, “You should remain a Yid (Jewish)”. It sent chills down my spine. I could hear his father and grand father whispering those exact words into ear 70 years ago at his Bar Mitzvah and I could hear it being whispered into their ears when they were Bar Mitzvah’d.
This week is the yahrtzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Schneerson, who dedicated his life to the Jewish people and the world. (Click here for more information on his life and legacy.) I have a debt to pay to him as well; he dedicated his life so that I could have a more loving, caring, G-dly and spiritual world. All he asked for in return was that we do that for our children and for future generations. Give them a better and freer world, give them a more peaceful and G-dly world. A world filled with the light of the Torah, a light that illuminates the heart and mind and brings out the best in all of us.
I will be paying my debt by studying and teaching more Torah, by doing more mitzvot and by doing all I can to create a better and brighter future for all mankind.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Zalman Marcus