On April 27, I was on the way to the White House, along with some colleagues, to receive from President Obama the official 2015 “Education and Sharing Day” Declaration — an annual proclamation in conjunction with the birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (1902-1994), obm.
We stopped at the Nepalese embassy in Washington, D.C., to offer our sympathy and prayers for the safety of the people of Nepal suffering from the effects of the massive earthquake.
I was surprised to hear the Nepalese charge d’affaires recognizing and praising Chabad of Nepal’s contribution in assisting after the earthquake, which had occurred two days earlier.
Indeed, many media outlets, especially Israeli, noted the tireless, 24/7 work of Rabbi Chezky and Chani Lifshitz of Chabad of Nepal in saving lives, providing first aid, shelter and food, and helping Israeli backpackers communicate with their families abroad.
Pondering the unparalleled devotion of the Chabad representatives in Nepal, I was transported back to a farbrengen — Hassidic gathering — with the Rebbe some 30 years ago, when he expounded upon the same Torah portion that was read the week of the earthquake.
The Torah enjoins, “You shall not stand by on your friend’s blood” (Leviticus 19:16). On this, the commentator Rashi writes, “To see him dying while you can save him; e.g., if one is drowning in the river, and a beast or robbers befall him [you must assist him].”
Changing words
Rashi’s source for this explanation/wording is the Midrash. However, the Rebbe pointed out, Rashi changed a few words.
Whereas the Midrash cites three examples — of drowning or a beast attacking, or robbers endangering his life — Rashi combines them into a single example — if a person is drowning in the water and while he is drowning a beast or robbers are attacking him. But why did Rashi change the interpretation?
Explained the Rebbe, Rashi is troubled by the very command, “You shall not stand by on your friend’s blood [his life is in danger].” Why must Torah declare a special command needed to save one’s friend’s life? Surely it is included in the injunction “Love your friend as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).
Rashi, therefore, interprets the situation to be when someone drowns, and, at the very same time, a beast or robbers attack him, thereby placing in harm’s way anyone attempting to save him.
Nevertheless, the Torah commands, that if there is but a possibility that you can save his life, you must do your utmost to save him.
I can hear, as if today, the Rebbe’s voice rising in an emotional outcry when he pronounced these words.
The Rebbe taught that even if there is a possibility that you yourself may be in harm’s way, nevertheless Torah requires us to step in and do our utmost to save another.
The Rebbe, whose yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) is on June 20 this year, was a Torah giant. He was primarily a teacher who taught life lessons. It has taken years until the larger Jewish community has come to grasp, appreciate and adopt his thoughts, guidance, vision and program.
For many years, the Rebbe taught his followers to put their own welfare and all personal interests aside for the good of others. In fact, he called on the entire leadership of the Jewish community, as well as every individual thereof, to assume the responsibility of reaching, teaching, elevating and contributing to those less fortunate — particularly in their knowledge and Jewish experience.
This lesson was modelled ably by Rabbi Chezky and Chani. Creating a crisis hub and actually themselves searching for lost people in the rubble of an earthquake is dangerous, but the teaching of “not standing idly by while you can possibly save a life” was the lesson (like so many others like it) that fuels them to throw themselves into what they’re supposed to without consideration to their own welfare.
Today’s Chabad of Nepal heroes are a living representation of the Rebbe’s teaching, and, more so, his living example of sacrificing his entire self for others.
On the Rebbe’s yahrzeit, let us adopt his spirit and guidance, even if in a small way, to leave our comfort zone and offer a helping hand to the less fortunate, materially and spiritually.
[Editor’s note: In the Leviticus verses quoted above, the Hebrew word %u05E8%u05E2%u05DA can be translated “friend,” “neighbor” or “fellow.”]
Rabbi Yisroel Shmotkin is executive director of Lubavitch of Wisconsin.
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