Για να το διαβάσετε στα Ελληνικά, κάντε κλικ εδώ
Even though "it is never cold in Greece", according to the well known song, we are well into the winter these days, and ... it is cold!
This reminds me of a Jewish saying about a "Tsadik, a righteous person, in a fur coat". When it is winter and it's freezing cold, there are two possibilities. One can build a fire, or one can wrap oneself in a fur coat. In both cases, the person is warm. But when one builds a fire, all who gather round will also be warmed. With the fur coat, the only one who is warmed is the one who wears the coat.
This of course applies to spiritual matters as well. One can be a perfect Tsadik, a righteous person, in a "fur coat". There are many people who are content with themselves being good persons and do not care enough to have a positive influence on their surroundings.
Judaism teaches us not to keep the warmth to ourselves but to inspire others as well. We need to be leaders and share the warmth of Torah and Mitsvot with those around us. It is not enough to be a Tsadik, a righteous person, we also need to be leaders. We need to light up fires of enthusiasm, of positive energy, of inspiring teaching for warm up those around us.
If each one of us lights a fire and warms up his or her corner of the world, the cold and darkness of the world will recede and we will enter an era of peace and light with the coming of Mashiach.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Mendel and Nehama Hendel