By Rabbi Asher Deren
The Shul of Tableview, Capetown, South Africa
Rabbi Moshe Gourarie was one of the pre-eminent teachers of Chabad Chassidus in Israel of the 1940’s and 50’s. His great-grandson that carries his name was my first Chassidus partner in Yeshiva (where his father was my mentor for the better part of 10 years), and did his namesake proud in his remarkable achievements of Torah study including, among many others, memorizing hundreds of pages comprising numerous tractates of Talmud almost verbatim.
So what on earth was this young progeny of Talmud and Chassidus masters doing on Wednesday morning bringing Chocolate Chip Cookies to the Toms River Fire Station on New Jersey’s Shore while helping his community recover and rebuild from Sandy?
I guess he was following the family model in studying, and living, the Torah of the day – Monday’s portion to be exact.
“And Hashem said to Avraham, the cries of (all who suffer from the evil and murderous ways of) Sodom has come to me, I will see if this is what they have done, and I will destroy it”
“And Avraham approached G-d and said will you even destroy the good with the wicked?”
Approached? How do you approach someone in middle of a conversation? Isn’t that a bit “in your face?” Avraham was known as a man of etiquette and kindness? Why would he “approach” Hashem in middle of their discussion?
Rashi explains that he “engaged” Hashem and the biblical linguistic implication of his “approach” reflect the three angles with which he engaged Hashem in his hope to save the cities of Sodom; 1. confrontational demand (literally “war”), 2. a soothing tone, and 3. Soulful prayer.
Ok, so we can see Avraham, the master of kindness approaching G-d with a soothing tone, and of course in soulful prayer – but confrontational demands – huh?
Yes, when lives are at stake Avraham was ready to speak a tone of war with G-d, if this is what is necessary to save the life of another – a critical component of his service of G-d. Yes, he was ready to speak a tone of war with G-d, as much as that was against his nature, because that is what G-d wanted him to do – to save the life of another.
In 1969 the Rebbe spoke about this (explanation of Rashi on) the example of Avraham and explained how each one of us, when faced with the physical or spiritual wellbeing of another person, must drop our inherent nature, whatever it may be, and do everything in our power to assist them.
The Rebbe, a model of Avraham in our times, set about inspiring a generation of young Avraham’s and Sarah’s who, numbering today 8,000 in total, are there to serve the needs of Hashem’s children wherever they may be, and for whatever they might need.
Yes, they speak a “soothing tone” and I know how much the community in Toms River enjoys Moshe’s Torah classes as he, like his thousands of his colleagues, teach a Torah whose “ways are pleasant and its paths are peace.”
His “soulful prayer” like Avraham is one that elevates people to a stronger and more spiritual relationship with Hashem – and with themselves.
But he can speak a “language of war” as good any U.S. Army officer in the New Jersey National Guard can, in rebuilding communities and repairing broken hearts, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy- just like his family before him.
Like Avraham who did everything to Save Sodom, let’s make sure we can be there for Moshe, and all the soldiers of the Rebbe’s Army, Surviving Sandy and rebuilding the northeastern USA.
- Many thanks to Moshe’s father, Rabbi Yosef Gourarie who taught me this explanation of Rashi, 20 years ago, today.
Wishing you a Shabbat of Surviving and Thriving,
Rabbi Oshy Deren