Running away from Responsibility?
A Message of Unity and Purpose from the Teachings of Rabbi Steif
A few weeks ago, a flyer was circulated before Shabbat. Did you notice anything unusual about it? Let’s take a moment to reflect on a key phrase from the bottom half: “and then just leave us alone.” Is that really the message we want to send? Or perhaps we are being misled once again, as we so often have been in the past.
When we consider the deeper truths in our Torah, we see that this sentiment stands in stark contrast to our true mission. Twice1, the prophet Isaiah charges us with the responsibility to be moral and spiritual guides to the nations of the world. So why, then, would we ever desire to be left alone, when we are commanded to teach others what G-d wants from them?
Could this be a misunderstanding? Absolutely not! We are not just given this task in passing; we have the words of not one, but two great prophets—Micah2 AND Isaiah3—who tell us that the nations will turn to us to learn Torah4 and G-d’s ways:
And the many peoples shall go and say:
“Come, Let us go up to the Mount of G-d,
To the House of the G-d of Jacob;
That we may be instructed in G-d’s ways,
And that we may walk in G-d’s paths.”
For Torah shall come forth from Zion,
The word of G-d from Jerusalem.
This is no accident. We are called to be lights to the world, and the world is looking to us for direction. Is this really the time to want to be left alone? Certainly not. We are meant to guide and inspire, and the nations will seek our wisdom.
Zechariah5, too, speaks of a future where the nations seek a deeper, more personal connection with us. He tells us:
Thus said G-d of Hosts: In those days, ten people from every nations will take hold of the corners of a Jews garment and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
Imagine that! Each and every Jew will be entrusted with guiding thousands of families6 from the nations, offering them the wisdom and spirituality that will bring them closer to G-d. This is no small task—it is a responsibility and an honor.
But the prophecies do not stop there. Zephaniah7 speaks of the time when all people will worship G-d together, united in purpose:
For then I will make the peoples pure of language, So that they all call [upon] the name of G-d and to serve him united as one.
This is not a message of separation but of unity—a time when all of humanity will come together to serve G-d. This is the destiny to which we are called, and it cannot be fulfilled if we isolate ourselves.
Clearly, Hashem has a grand mission for us—a mission that involves working together, guiding the nations, and fulfilling the divine purpose He has set before us. The nations need us, and we need them. Any forces that seek to drive us apart, that try to sow division, are working against our higher calling. It brings to mind the episode of the Spies in the desert, when propaganda8 was used to convince the people not to enter the land of Israel. The mission of the Jewish people has always been challenged, but we must not be led astray.
We are reminded of the words of the prophet Jeremiah9:
For even your own kin and your father’s house—they too are treacherous toward you; They cry after you as a mob. Do not believe them when they speak cordially to you.
Our Sages10 also caution us:
Be careful with the government, for they befriend a person only for their own needs. They appear to be friends when it is beneficial to them, but they do not stand by a person at the time of his distress.
As challenging as it may be, we are warned that even those closest to us—whether family, leaders, or even brethren—might act against us at crucial moments, often out of self-interest. But as Rabbi Steif always emphasized, in such times, our strength lies in trusting in G-d alone. If we place our trust in Him, we can be assured that, no matter the challenges we face, everything will ultimately be for the best. Even when things seem difficult at first, we know that Hashem’s plan is perfect, and that what seems troubling is often part of the greater good.
“Trust in G-d, and He will make your paths straight.”11
Let us stay true to our calling and remain united in our faith. We are not meant to be isolated; rather, we are meant to be a beacon of light to the nations. May we merit to see the fulfillment of these great prophecies speedily and in our time!
What is Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Smith’s Vision
80 Billion men and women serving G-d Al-mighty with the spiritual leadership of the Jewish People and a fully built and functioning Beis HaMikdash in Yerushalayim.
42:6, 49:6 where the expression L’ohr goyim (לאור גוים)—to shed light on the nations—is used. It is this expression which is constantly misread as ohr l’goyim (אור לגוים) and thus translated as a light unto the nations. The significance of the placement of the lamed (ל) indicates the role being an active versus passive one. G-d willing, in the coming weeks, we will dedicate an article to study this expression in depth and how it relates to and appears in these 2 verses.
4:2
2:3
Another interesting thing to note is that this verse is one of the most recognized Tanach verses amongst Jews, especially because of its prominent placement in the selection of verses recited before taking the Torah’s out of the Aron Kodesh on Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. It would be beneficial to learn that what is recited at that time, however, is not the complete verse. Why some Rabbis chose to present only part of the verse is all up for speculation and is not a part of the scope of this article.
8:23
3:9
10 families · 70 nations · 4 corners = 2800 families
For a fuller treatment of this subject see Em haBanim Smeicha, chapter 3 sections 62-65.
12:6
Pirkei Avot 2:3
Proverbs 3:5