1) What shape are you?
a. circle
b. square
c. triangle
2) What color are you?
a. red
b. orange
c. green
3) How chassidish are you?
a. ultra
b. moderate
c. not at all
4) What word best defines you?
a. holy/ spiritual
b. learned
c. curious
Why would you let people define you? When someone asks me, 'so is she chassidish'? I think of a box. I hate the idea of putting someone in a box, labeling them.
I like the color green. And orange. I like to hang out with friends, and have a good time. I like to read books, and watch an occasional movie.
Do you drink? Do you hang out with guys? Do you wear a kippa? Does your skirt cover your knees?
Does it matter?
I am well aware that being chassidish goes hand in hand with simple basic halacha, and torah. But don't try to define me. Don't try to put me in a box, with all the other lumps.
In my opinion, the only one that matters is G-d. I will answer to Him at the end of the day. Not you, or you, or you.
Labels are stupid and misleading. So let me tell you this:
My name is Altie. I am not chassidish. I am a good Jew, who loves G-d, and tries to do what He wants. If I occasionally err, (or more than that) that is between Him and me.
My relationship with the Rebbe is my business, not yours.
And stop trying to label me, cuz all you are doing is limiting me. And I hate that.
Be who you want to be. Don't be who someone else thinks you should be.
I can't help thinking someone is frustrated with a shadchan!
ReplyDeleteNothing personal, but in case this is what you were suggesting (as is unfortunately common), I must comment that the term "chassidish" should not be used to mean "careful to keep basics of halacha." This is an insult to Chassidus. It should be used to describe someone careful to learn chitas daily, learn Chassidus, go on mivtzoim, and so on.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the complaint that one shouldn’t influence others because it constitutes “interference” with their private lives, the Rebbe says in Hisva’aduyos 5745, Vol. 5, p. 2724: "In reality, this is not a “private” matter, but one that affects the entire world.
Even scientists have discovered that a minor act on one end of the world, such as blowing one’s nose, spreads via air waves throughout the world! The same applies to the impact of the individual’s spiritual conduct."
Everything we do affects others, and is therefore their business. We are part of a whole, a community, and we are responsible to it--kol Yisroel areivim zeh bozeh. There is also the famous analogy in the Medrash of the person cutting out a hole under his seat in a boat and telling others not to interfere in his private business. This is even a de'oiraisa duty in halacha--to rebuke one's fellow Jew. The issue is only how and when to do so appropriately.
As for the statement: "be who you want to be", I think this needs explanation, for as Jews we have to be who Hashem and our Neshomo wants us to be, not who our animal soul wants us to be, ch"v. Of course, we should harness the potential of the animal soul, but at the same time we should make sure that the Neshomo is in charge.
n- lol. no that's not why i wrote it.
ReplyDeleteand thank you rabbi, you are right.
see altie!!! at least something came out of our conversation last night! a blog post!
ReplyDeleteya, very productive. what do u say abt the actual post?
ReplyDeletecongrats on finding urself
ReplyDeletewhen did i lose myself?
ReplyDeleteThis is not a very chassidishe post :)
ReplyDeleteah but I KNOW what you mean! I was talking to Adam about, I dunno, quantum physics or diseases or something, and someone commented that we "aren't very chashdish apparently" My mind exploded!! Then what IS "chashidish"?!!?!? Then it dawned on me; I was labeled as such because I was not EXACTLY like he was, and because I knew about things he didn't.
ReplyDeletefish!
ReplyDeletestaples, are you telling me im not chassidish? the gall!
ReplyDeletepianist, what fish?
respect!
ReplyDelete:) thanks. I thought you stopped reading.
ReplyDelete