Nachal novea; makor chochma -
A flowing river; the source of wisdom (Mish. 18:4)
One commandment which exemplifies the way Torah induces people to come and work together is the requirement to help load or unload a fellow's donkey which has collapsed due to its heavy burden. This commandment, like all the commandments and teachings of the Torah, not only applies to the specific case mentioned, but also to all similar situations. Therefore, Rabbi Nachman and his main disciple, Rav Noson, expansively interpreted the scope, application and understanding of this commandment and how it applies to our daily lives. In the following paragraphs we will elaborate on Rabbi Nachman and Rav Noson's extension of this theme.
The above mentioned commandment is introduced as follows, "If you see the donkey of the one who hates you collapsed under its load, you shall prevent yourself from passing him by; help, you shall surely help [load or unload the donkey] with him [the owner of the donkey]." (Exodus 23:5) On the deeper level, the donkey refers to the human body, which is the animal part of man and is materialistic by nature [the Hebrew word for donkey, chamor has the same root as, and thus an integral connection with the word chomer, meaning material]. Just like a donkey or any other animal, the human body instinctively runs after its desires. The phrase in our verse, "...of the one who hates you..." refers to a person whose deeds have become hated (by his own soul and by others who fear Hashem, but he himself is not conscious of the dishonor he does to himself through his sins, and superficially loathes the path of spirituality which leads a person closer to Hashem]. The verse continues its description, "...collapsed under its burden..." referring to a person who is weighed down by and trapped in a grossly materialistic lifestyle which totally immobilizes his spiritual sensitivities and ability to come closer to Hashem, and is therefore unable to rise above his situation without outside help. Therefore, the Torah exhorts the observant Jew to disregard the heavy burden of sin and materialism that has dragged such a person down, far away from Hashem, to abandon him not, but rather to consider his plight and do everything possible to reach out and help this estranged Jew, Hashem is merciful and he demands the same behavior from his children. This is why the verse uses the double expression, "ah'zov ta'ah'zov", the Hebrew for "help, you shall surely help", urging us to offer assistance. The first expression of help applies to material assistance and the second refers to spiritual and emotional aid. Each tzaddik (saint) has the ability and resources to help unburden a person who has become trapped in his materialism and encourage and help him return to Hashem. This is why the verse concludes, "..with him." The tzaddik must work together with the estranged person on his own turf, relating to him in a way that he will understand and be encouraged to return to Hashem in the manner that is best suited to him. The concluding phrase "...with him." also teaches that the owner of the donkey is required to help load or unload the donkey together with the person who came to his aid. If the owner doesn't help, but sits idly by saying, "The commandment to help me is incumbent upon you, therefore, I do not need to help you unburden the donkey - you should do all the work," then the passerby is not required to assist the man. This law, as it applies to our case, teaches that only if the disaffected person truly desires to come closer to Hashem, but is unable because he is trapped in his situation, being incapable of connecting to Hashem by himself and truly yearns for someone to help extricate him, is the tzaddik [or anyone else who is capable] required to help him with all of his might. If the estranged person does not want to work, will not cooperate and expects the helper or tzaddik to do all the work alone, then the tzaddik is not required to help. Thus Rabbi Nachman said to one of his followers, "Without my spiritual guidance, you cannot accomplish anything [nor can you truly come close to Hashem], but I also cannot accomplish anything [in bringing you close to Hashem] without your help - " In other words, "I, Rabbi Nachman, cannot help you if you do not do your part in working to come close to Hashem." This is what is meant by the phrase, "...[together] with him."
The holy Ari taught that every law of the Torah, when properly fulfilled, nourishes a different part of the soul. If a person neglects a particular commandment, the so-called spiritual limb associated with that commandment will be deficient and malnourished. A soul that has received proper spiritual nourishment is able to nourish the body. For the soul to absorb nourishment from the Torah's light, the body must initially work very hard to help fulfill the soul's desire, obeying and perfon-ning the commandments of the Torah. In this initial stage the soul is happy, because it is nourished only through spiritual means whereas the body is unhappy, because it craves and is not receiving physicality. To the undisciplined, untrained body, Torah laws are at first very hard to carry out. Many of the laws go against the body's natural urges. However, after the initial stages, a little disciple and the proper conditioning, the body eventually catches up with the soul and starts to enjoy and thrive upon fulfilling the commandments of the Torah, for the body draws its nourishment from the soul. The healthier the soul, the happier the body. What was once a heavy burden, becomes a source of joy and happiness to the body. The problem comes in the initial stages, before the body adapts to the ways of the soul, when many people, lacking in the proficiency and expertise needed to handle the new situation, can collapse due to the burden of the law upon the body, just as an overloaded donkey collapses beneath too great a load. Therefore, Hashem requires that the more spiritually advanced people express their concern and love for and offer their assistance to the spiritual novice to ease his burden. The way to do this is by judging the spiritual novice favorably and actually coming to love him, as the verse says, "And only a little bit [of good that you find within the estranged person, should you exclusively focus on, ignoring, for the time being, his bad habits in order to cultivate healing] and the wicked will be no more [for the love and understanding you express will nourish him, motivating him to become closer to Hashem. FEs sins fall away for they never really become part and parcel of the person's soul but can be easily removed through repentance]. (Psalms 37:10)
The double expression "ah'zov ta'ah'zov" - help, you shall surely help - applies to the help the estranged person receives as well as to the helper or tzaddik himself Rabbi Nachman taught that the main reason why tzaddikim exert themselves so much and run after estranged people in order to bring them back to Hashem is not self-aggrandizement, but to increase their own perception and understanding of Hashem. (1 Kitzur Lekutai MoHaran 53:3) As we mentioned above, when one comes in contact with people who have different perspectives, especially those from the opposite side of the spiritual spectrum, and is forced to answer their difficult questions, the result is that he discovers a deeper level of truth, with more clarity. These encounters help expand and develop the intellectual facilities of the tzaddik, for he is forced to solve problems he would never have dealt with on his own.
The main purpose of the commandment to help load/unload, then, is to bring different people together from opposite ends of the spiritual spectnun. Rabbi Nachman taught that when there is peace and harmony between people, together they are able to come to true belief in Hashem. (1 Likutai MoHaran:62) Peace between Jews is very precious in Hashem's eyes, for their unity reveals Hashem's unity in the multi-varied creation. (2 Likutai MaHoran: 2). This shows how much Hashem cares and loves all of his creations, and that he wants even those who are far from Him to be brought closer. Therefore, Hashem is not satisfied with the actions of the spiritually advanced, unless they try to help those who are estranged from Him to come closer. (Likutai Halachoth: Choshen Mishpat: Hilchoth Ah'vay'dah U'me'tzee'ah 3:15,16). Thus the Talmud savs, "He (Hillel) used to say, "If I am only for mvself, what am I?" (Talmud: Avoth 1:14)
The Ari once had to go far away on a
business trip. He was invited to stay
at the home of a pious, upright man,
who did not spare any effort in
making his stay comfortable in every
possible way. The Ari was very
touched by his host's devotion. When
he was about to leave, the Ari said to
him, "How can I thank you for all
your trouble, for all the care you have
lavished upon me? Ask of me what
you wish, and I will bless you!" The
man gave a slight sigh and replied in
a broken voice, "What shall I say? I
have everything I need, thank
Hashem. I am blessed with riches
and health. There is only one thing I
lack to complete my happiness. My
wife, after bearing me several sons,
has stopped conceiving for no
apparent reason. The doctors are at
loss to explain it. Perhaps you can
bless us so that she will resume
having children?"
"I can see the reason for it," the distinguished Ari replied.
"Kindness and sympathy are two of the outstanding traits of all the
descendants of Avraham. A person must be on his guard at all times,
lest he cause any person or creature distress. You have a chicken
coop in your yard which used to have a ladder. The little chicks
would hop up and down the ladder to get their food from the grain bin
above and from the water trough on the ground, but when your wife saw
the mess that they were making, she told the maid to put the food and
the water trays inside the coop and take away the ladder, Since then,
the chicks have been pining away, imprisoned in the dark. They no
longer get any exercise and they miss the enjoyment of hopping up and
down the ladder.
They chirp with disappointment and frustration and the sounds of
complaint have gone up to heaven. This is counted against your wife;
it is causing her to be infertile." The man listened to the Ari open
mouthed and immediately went out to the yard to find the ladder. He
found the ladder, replaced it against the chicken coop and all the
little chicks tumbled out, squeaking with joy. Not long afterwards
the woman became pregnant and once again bore children. (Stories of
the Holy Ari)
We discussed the commandment requiring us to alleviate the
suffering of a beast of burden, to reload or unload its baggage when
it has collapsed The following true story illustrates the application
of this mitzvah for other creatures as well: