It never fails.
I always get goose bumps when we read the Torah’s account of how Abraham argued against G-d’s plan for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The cities’ inhabitants were viciously evil. Yet Abraham – supreme lover of G-d, monotheist par excellence and a man so surrendered to the Divine Will that he was prepared to give up anything and everything – can’t seem to abide by their mass punishment. “Will the Judge of all the earth not do Justice??” he challenges G-d.
Surprisingly – refreshingly? - confrontational words from a humble servant.
Abraham understood that nothing happens without G-d. And Abraham understood that his finite mind simply couldn’t grasp the depth of G-d’s Infinite intentions. Yet, Abraham knew that he couldn’t just sit back in the face of people suffering. If G-d was going to accomplish something, he wanted G-d – with His Divinely Infinite capability – to accomplish that goal without the cost of human suffering.
This exchange profoundly illustrates the true believer’s mission. We should believe in G-d – and G-d’s Goodness and Power - as firmly as Abraham did. At the same time, G-d doesn’t need us as His defense attornies, essentially shrugging off someone else’s pain as “G-d’s Will”. G-d wants us to care about each other, and be pained by each other’s pain. Our challenge is to lessen someone’s pain, not explain it.
Whenever I read this, I think of the Rebbe. The Rebbe’s absolute and total commitment to Torah, in every aspect of her minutiae, was clear. The Rebbe’s complete surrender to – and love for - G-d was impossible to miss.
At the same time, the Rebbe consistently and publicly prodded G-d, cajoling and even demanding, that G-d go easier on His creations. The Rebbe believed and trusted in G-d so much, that the Rebbe expected more from Him.
To me, the Rebbe seemed to care more about defending his people to G-d, than about defending G-d to his people. Genuine leadership, and true compassion for G-d’s creations.
This was Abraham.
It was Moses (who said to G-d about the Jews (Exodus 32:32): “…please forgive their sin; if not, please erase me from Your book that You have written”).
And I saw it in the Rebbe.
We all need to be leaders in our lives.
Let’s learn from the best.