Jews Are a Fifth Column: A Libel as Old as the Pyramids
6 min read
Have you ever felt like you were running on a treadmill you couldn’t stop? The constant demands of a super-sized life can seem relentless. Your priorities easily can become obscured. Yes, it’s a given: you have many responsibilities and commitments to fulfill. But don’t lose sight of the fact that these are a means and not an end. Where are you going? What’s the ultimate goal? Is your end game just the achievement of financial freedom, success, and living in comfort? If so, ask yourself why?
There’s a loftier goal, one that is far more expansive and enduring. It’s available to everyone, regardless of status, income bracket, or profession. The world of high-speed internet and 5G satellites does not provide us with spiritual reception. Only the Torah and mitzvot are Divinely engineered to heighten our spiritual connection. Studying the Torah, in conjunction with mindfully observing the mitzvot, enables us to build a personal relationship with God. It increases our spiritual reception, enabling us to perceive a far more expansive life’s goal. Building and strengthening our relationship with the Almighty enriches all that we do. We become more, not less—expanded, not diminished.
This heightened spiritual reception is illustrated throughout the book of Vayikra (Leviticus). It begins with the Hebrew word va’yikra, “and He called”; God called to Moses from the Mishkan. Rashi explains that although He called out with a loud and thunderous voice, only Moshe was able to hear it. Chassidic philosophy emphasizes that God is constantly calling to each and every Jew to draw near to Him in a spirit of love and awe. The Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, taught that the soul of Moses is reborn in every generation. There is a small spark of Moses within every Jew.
challenge for each of us, however, is to utilize this spark to tune in to the appropriate spiritual frequency to hear this calling. Experiencing God isn’t limited to earth-shattering, spiritual experiences. Elijah the Prophet came to realize that God’s call was to be found in a “small, thin voice.” God is reaching out to us through the circumstances in our daily lives, but we can be oblivious to this and miss experiencing God within the subtle everyday moments. Just feel your own heartbeat and take a deep breath. God constantly gifts you with life. Ask yourself, Why?
Torah tells us that “Moses was very humble, more so than any other person on the face of the Earth,” yet Moses knew his worth. He was well aware of his position of great leadership. Many of us struggle with a conflicting sense of self-worth. Sometimes you might feel worthless, thinking, “I can’t do anything right.” Conversely, you may feel, “I’m so great; just look at what I’ve done.” Both are false extremes. Integrating the Torah’s teachings can help us find a healthy balance regarding self-image. You can recognize your significance, yet at the same time remain humble and grateful.
Moses recognized his greatness but nevertheless remained humble. His humility was not self-delusional but the result of simple reasoning. “I cannot take any credit for any of my gifts or accomplishments,” he thought, “since they are all God-given. Indeed, were another person to have been given my potential, he would have accomplished more and climbed greater heights than I have.” Moses understood. When thoughts of “Who am I?” deter us from our task, we must recall that we are formed by God, each with a unique purpose. At the same time, we must recall the humility of Moses, to ensure that our self-assurance doesn’t develop into conceit.
Each of us is created in God’s image and can strive to best emulate Godly attributes. We’ve been given potential and various capacities, yet we are but His creations. Hashem is the Creator. The ultimate goal is to build and to maintain a strong relationship with Him. There can be stumbling blocks to overcome along the spiritual journey. They will challenge how we define ourselves.
A story is told about two men, both incarcerated in the Soviet Gulag. Previously, they had been prominent Moscow physicians; now they were forced laborers. One called out to the other in despair, “In Moscow we were respected and admired, but here we’re nothings. How are you still in good spirits? Why haven’t you been broken by our awful plight?” The other man replied, “Wherever I am, regardless of the circumstances, I view myself in the same way. I always strive to achieve the same goal every day: to build a strong relationship with God and serve Him in all that I do. In Moscow, I served Him as a physician. Here in the Gulag, I’m still serving God, but as a forced laborer. Our relationship hasn’t changed; it’s just as strong. The difference between you and me is that you still view your worth only as a doctor.”
Many people mistakenly think that their identity comes from what they do. They’re living an illusion. When these people are no longer able to do what they thought defined them, they’ll face an existential crisis of “Who am I?” In reality, what one does isn’t who one is. There is no such thing as “feeling like a nothing” for those who are spiritually alive and growing. Proudly serving God, no matter the circumstances, bestows one with dignity and continued purpose. Eventually, people may retire from what they do, but not from who they are. There is no such thing as spiritual retirement.
Moses led the nation of Israel out of Egypt. Although the Jewish People repeatedly complained and rebelled, he persevered and led them to Har Sinai, where he received the Torah directly from God. It might appear that he had reached his ultimate goal, but Moses would not yet receive his lifetime achievement award. There was still more to add to his resume. God called to Moshe—Va’yikra. Once again, Moses heeded God’s call.
Redefining our ultimate goals and aligning them with God’s greater purpose can be positively life-changing. We each can strive to integrate both the physical and the spiritual aspects of our lives. There’s no greater moment than right now to strengthen your relationship with the Almighty. All of your relationships will benefit, especially your relationship with yourself.
Each of us can strive to live a life of enduring spiritual value, and that is truly the ultimate goal.
