Rabbi Meir Yechiel ascetic and scholar, known as the
Ostrovtzer Rebbe, Rabbi of Ostrowiec Poland for 40 years, was born in 5612
(1852) in the small town of Savin, near Krakow. He created a new method of
learning in Poland, the method of mental acuity. He had thousands of students
who spread his teachings throughout the world.
On Adar 19, 5688 (1928) at the age of 74, after fasting for
40 years, the Rebbe of Ostrowiec closed his eyes for the last time. A
tremendous multitude followed his casket, and when he was lowered into the
grave, the Rebbe of Radzimin said of him: “If the ground only knew who it was
receiving, it would open its mouth and recite a psalm of song and joy.”
Once, a wealthy man who came to visit the Rabbi and not very
meticulous in his observance of the Mitzvoth- commandments, feeling relaxed in
the warm hospitality of his host, asked the Rabbi; “Why does his honor, fast
(not eat) so much? Have you transgressed so much, that you feel the need to
atone for all the inappropriate and improper pleasures of the world?”
Rabbi Meir Yechiel smiled and responded. “I had the exact
same question regarding your practices. Why and how can you give yourself the
liberty of enjoying so much of the pleasures in this world. Have you fulfilled
so much of G-ds will, that you feel the right to enjoy so much of His
creation?”
The wealthy man thought about the question and lowered his
eyes. The saintly Rabbi Yechiel Meir continued, “it must be, you feel intuitively
the joy of others (who do observe and sacrifice for the sake of G-d) and
therefore you celebrate, and I feel the pain and loss (for those, who miss the
opportunity to fulfill their mission and serve G-d) so I fast.”
Everything a person does, creates a ripple effect, as the
expression goes, for every action there is a reaction.
Whatever a person thinks, speaks, or does will generate a
very real influence on himself and on his surroundings. Machines can pick up
the heat generated by our bodies. We generate an influence not only on
ourselves but on the air temperature around us.
The electroencephalography and the electrocardiogram will
record the electrical activity of the mind and the heart. The kind of food we
eat, will have a significant impact on our lives.
We are also all part of one unit. The mistake of one person,
can have worldwide ramifications as we have witnessed lately, on the worldwide
financial markets and other worldwide catastrophes. When one part of the body
isn’t operating correctly, it affects the entire rest of the body.
When a Jewish person eats food that is not kosher, it is not
on G-ds diet plan, set in His instruction book for happiness and health, called
the Torah, and this incompatible food, unsuited for the portion of G-d within,
the soul, is ingested, this will coarsen and dull the sensitivities of one’s
mind and one heart. “Things that were totally inconceivable, become suddenly
worth considering” Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson.
Our bodies and our souls were designed to be sensitive to
pain, to cold and heat. If our body is numb and doesn’t feel cold or hot, we
may freeze or burn our skin and not even realize anything happened. Some people
have become so intellectually and emotionally insensitive to spiritual values
they don’t realize they are burning themselves!! They are behaving in ways that
isn’t proper for their own lives, and as part of a family, community, city,
country and world unit, this, will have an impact on others.
Comes, Rabbi Meir Yechiel and shows us by example the extra
effort on his part to be less involved with the materialism of the world, to
compensate for the wrong choices others were making. In the same way the
negative behavior of one person can affect the entire world, even more so, the
positive acts of even just one person can help strengthen and compensate for
the shortcomings in others.
Another quick lesson from the story.
Everything around us must never be taken for granted. We are
not entitled to anything, it is a gift created by a benevolent G-d, and we
acknowledge this, every time we recite a blessing over the food, beautiful
scents and sceneries of the world. When
a person just takes from the world, G-d wonders why He wasn’t asked or
acknowledged. Making a blessing, is asking and receiving G-ds permission to
enjoy His beautiful creation. Saying grace after meals, allows us to see and
experience outside of ourselves, the greatness and goodness that exists in this
vast universe.
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