On the Way

 

 

The question was put to Rabbi Mendel of Rymanov:

“The Torah says the Lord hath filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom and understanding and knowledge and all learning.  But how am I to approach my education?”

 

Rabbi Mendel replied, “Consider, too, this scripture:  They go from strength to strength.”

 

Then Rabbi Mendel told this story:

Following the Day of Atonement, Rabbi Yisrael Hopsztajn, the Maggid of Koznitz – named for our founder, Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov – was climbing Barania Góra in the Silesian Beskids with his son Moshe of Koznitz.  They were situated in the boulder field on the western slope of Barania, overlooking the fount of the Vistula River which meanders north through their Polish hometown of Opatów.  While pausing for rest at one cairn, Moshe of Koznitz remarked to his father the maggid, “This cairn was difficult to see while climbing.  We should build it up to help those who come after us.  How big and how high should we make it, father?”  Rabbi Yisrael replied, “In navigating this boulder field, one must keep in mind the objective:  Our struggles are toward the keyhole through which we must pass in order to cross over the ridge and continue our path around the backside of Barania Góra.  If we miss the keyhole, our way becomes extremely difficult, for other routes to the top entail dangers for which we, on this trip, are unprepared.  Unable to discern the keyhole from here, we depend on these markers set by those who have gone before.  But the markers only guide our footsteps generally; they do not determine each particular step.”

 

All this while, Moshe, the maggid’s son, was adding rocks to the top of the cairn while his father spoke.  At one point, the top of the cairn became unstable and cascaded to the bottom.  This struggle discouraged Moshe, and so his father spoke up again:  “The top of the cairn becomes its foundation.  We now have the ability to raise it higher, making it more visible for other peregrinators traversing this boulder field.  But lest we spend too much time here in this one spot, continuing the process of increasing one cairn’s foundation by toppling its belfry, we should be wary of our other considerations in reaching the summit.  How well is our path marked on the backside of the mountain after we have passed through the keyhole?  These puffy white clouds dotting the sky will gather together around Barania Góra and may become ominous, forcing us to take shelter or even retrace our steps and begin again.  And though no shame lies with beginning again, for we do not seek to conquer the mountain but only to share in its beauty, we should not tarry too long at any one point.  Our life is not a sojourn but a journey.”

 

Moshe this time carefully balanced a shiny rock atop the cairn.  It caught the light of the sun, reflecting and well illuminating this spot on this path for those seekers journeying from below.  Then he recalled this scripture to his father:  Meditating on Wisdom is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon be free from care.  For she herself searches everywhere for those who are worthy of her, benevolently appearing to them on their ways, anticipating their every thought.

 

Rabbi Yisrael of Koznitz replied:  “Yes, Wisdom does not look for you at stopping points.  She meets you along your path, on your way, as you toil and strive.”

 

At this, Rabbi Mendel asked his disciple, “Do you now consider how long to remain in one place?  Will one two-hour class suffice?  One semester?  One degree?  While considering such things, also be wary of other integrants.  But let us add that in the turning from one brief sojourn to the next, consider the whole of life, the whole of one’s being, and balance the generals with the particulars.  You can perhaps illuminate many possible ways while finding your own particular.  You can know God without knowing all that God knows.  We should wonder that Wisdom is met by this knowledge.”