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Chapter Two: | 19 22 | A New Light Chapter One: | 11

invited? How does a person with a healthy sensitivity feel if he is purpose is to choose correctly and pass these tests. That is the It came about that Rabbi Yaakov Yosef came to spend a Sabbath
forced to rely on others, to go begging from door to door? The entire meaning of our lives in this world. in Mezritsh, the home of the Maggid, and he wanted to hear a
Gemara states that “when a person needs others, his face changes teaching from the Maggid. On Friday night, he sent his meshamesh
colors” (Berachot 6b). And according to one view recorded in the You must be aware that God’s individual providence oversees (his personal assistant) to the house of the Maggid to get a sense
Gemara, “It is as though he is judged in fire and water”—i.e., his every individual to assure that he will have free will. At every of what the Maggid was like. The meshamesh returned, his face
face turns red as fire or white as water. All of this is true even if moment and in every detail of a person’s life, he is placed in the shining, and he reported, “The Maggid is saying words of Torah,
a person just needs a loan—how much more when he receives an precise conditions that will enable him to have free will. Everything and he is surrounded by a flaming fire. You yourself must go!”
outright gift. Everyone will say that he would rather work than that he has lived through until that moment, his exact state of Rabbi Yaacov Yosef put on his jacket, took his stick and went to
receive a loan, and certainly he does not want gifts or charity. health (down to a slight scratch), his children, their every sob and the Maggid’s house. But when he reached the house, the Maggid
every smile, the situation of everyone around him, every rebuke fell silent. Disappointed, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef returned to his inn.
That is why giving charity in secret is immeasurably greater than that he receives and all of the encouragement that he is given,
giving charity openly. In this way, the recipient does not know who every difficulty and lack in his life, his economic situation to the The next morning, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef again sent his meshamesh
is helping him, and he is thus spared the suffering of shame. But last cent—everything is under precise individual providence in to see if it would be fitting to come hear the Maggid speak. When
that is not yet the highest level of charity, because the poor person accordance with what his Creator knows to be the exact conditions the meshamesh returned, he told his rabbi, “What can I tell you?
still feels shame within himself shame. Therefore, the Rambam that will make it possible for him to exercise free will at every The Maggid is saying words of Torah and it is like the giving of
states that the highest level of charity is creating work for a needy moment. the Torah at Mt. Sinai!” Rabbi Yaakov Yosef took his staff and,
person from which he can earn a living, so that he does not have accompanied by his meshamesh, went to the Maggid’s house. But
to depend on others (Mishnah Torah: Matnot Aniyim 10:7). Even in For instance, the amount of money you have is exactly what you again, when he reached the house, the Maggid fell silent.
this world, receiving the “bread of shame” generates a feeling of need to enable you to have free will. If you were to possess one
powerful embarrassment, of suffering, internal strain and unceasing dollar more or less, that would compromise your free will. The same At the time of the third meal—seudah shlishit—Rabbi Yaakov
discomfort—and how much more is that the case in the upper applies to every detail in your life. Therefore, you must be aware Yosef decided that this time he would not risk missing the words
world, which is a world of truth and eternity. that everything that you lack, all of your difficulties and problems, of the Maggid. He did not send his meshamesh but came early to
and all of the tests that you undergo are exactly calibrated to give the Maggid’s tisch. When the time came to say words of Torah,
Similarly, imagine a case in which an employer told his workers, you free will in accordance with your rectification, your mission the Maggid turned to Rabbi Yaakov Yosef and said, “May the
“As soon as you finish your work, I will give you lunch.” All of and your purpose. honorable rabbi of Polnoye honor us with words of Torah.”
them worked energetically except for one, who was completely
idle. When the time came to eat, they all sat down at the table “I Have Chosen to Take Refuge in the House of my Rabbi Yaakov Yosef demurred, but after many pleas from the
except for the idle worker, who stood outside the dining room. The God” Maggid, he said, “I came here to hear Torah from your honor. I
employer asked him, “Why don’t you go in and eat?” He answered myself do not know how to deliver words of Torah. I only know
that he feels ashamed, that he doesn’t deserve the food since it was Let us continue and discover additional depths in the topic of this: that a Jew must have a powerful will!”
only meant for those who worked, whereas he didn’t work, and
that if he eats something that he doesn’t deserve, it is like stealing free will. The Maggid replied, “If you know about the topic of the
and taking something that isn’t his. That is how the soul feels in As a result of choosing good freely, not only will a person receive will, then I have no words of Torah to tell you….”
the upper world when it receives unearned delight. Not only is the reward and complete delight in the world-to-come, but even while
delight imperfect, but the soul suffers greatly from the fact that it is he is in this world, he will attain true delight and the pleasure When a person grasps the trait of will, there is no Torah that
receiving pleasure that it didn’t earn. anyone can teach him, because his will leads him and directs him
of closeness to the Creator. Every time a person overcomes his to his place, to his calling, and to his exact function. Rabbi Natan
evil inclination, he feels pleasure and delight. With the passage of of Breslov teaches:
time and with work, he begins to feel the true delight of closeness
to the Creator and of performing His will—specifically, out of the Come and see what I found written in the Midrash