An Empowered Emissary - Chayei Sarah 5786

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I’m writing this in Brooklyn. We were blessed with the bris of a grandson in Philadelphia, born to our dear children Rivkie and Rabbi Sholom Ber Brownstein, and this weekend is the International Shluchim Convention. You have probably seen the famous annual picture of over 5,000 bearded Rabbis standing in front of Chabad Headquarters. There will be another one this week. Last year I stood next to a lamppost so that I would be able to find myself in the crowd. Well the picture was so big and intricate that they had to use seven different shots and put it together, and they photoshopped the lamppost out, so I never did find myself in the picture. But yes, I was there. 


This group is like no other (if I say so myself). It’s easy to think of this group as a great monolith of Chassidic rabbis, and I guess on some level it is. But while we all look similar and do similar things, each Shliach is serving a group of Jews with different needs and wants. While we represent the world, literally, (except for apartheid countries that don’t allow Jews) we each have a unique approach for a unique community. Halacha (Jewish law) and custom binds us together, but the implementation, while remaining steadfastly true to the Torah, differs by location and culture. 


In the Parsha this week we find the first narrative of a Shliach (emissary). Avraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Yitzchak. He did not give him exact instructions on what to do every step of the way. He told him exactly what much community to go to, and blessed him and assured him that Hashem would guide him and that he would succeed. 


Eliezer was a powerful leader, a great Torah teacher and a tremendously resourceful man. Abraham wanted him to use his mind and his resourcefulness for this mission. He did in fact come up with a way to find the needle in the haystack. Rivkah was to be Yitzchak’s mate, and she showed up miraculously as soon as he arrived at the well and prayed. His idea was to test the young women for their kindness by seeing if they would offer to draw water for his camels when he asked for a drink. Rivkah showed up and she was the one. He then negotiated with her family and got them to agree to let her go. All of that was his own initiative, but it was all in service of the mission Abraham had given him. 


The Talmudic commentaries debate how the law of a Shliach - an emissary - works. If a farmer appoints someone to tithe his produce, for example, the emissary’s action takes effect. Although it is the obligation of the owner, it is as if he himself did it. Why is this so. One opinion says the the Torah considers the emissary’s action as if it was the action of the owner. Another opinion is that the emissary’s hand is considered as if it was an extension of the hand of the one who appointed him. A third opinion is that the Torah considers it as if the emissary himself stands in for, and “becomes” the appointer. 


The Rebbe taught a fourth concept. The emissary is an independent person with his own faculties and actions, but he devotes it all to the one who appointed him. 


This was how the Rebbe defined the role of a Chabad emissary, a Shliach or Shlucha. To use all our talents and abilities as individuals, recognizing the needs of our communities, totally devoted to the mission of helping a fellow Jew in any way they may need, spreading Torah and Chassidus, and making the world a home for Hashem, culminating with the redemption by Moshiach. 


For the next few days, Rabbis from all over the world are gathering to discuss the needs of the Jewish world and ways we can address them. We support each other and learn from one another, and gain tremendous inspiration to continue the vital yet challenging work of a Shliach. (The women’s convention happens in February. Can’t do it together, somebody has to take care of the kids.)


The “Kinus” is one of the most important pillars of support for the Shluchim. I invite you to watch the grand banquet on Sunday, November 16 at kinus.com/live. The pre-show starts at 10:00 am and the main program at 11:00 pacific time. 


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