An Underdeveloped Tzaddik | Rabbi Yussie Zakutinsky

The heiliger Komarner, R’ Isaac’l of Komarna, brings down in his Sefarim, in the Sefer היכל הברכה in particular, the following story. And he says he was an eyewitness to this. He said: One time, the Berditchever, R’ Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, came to visit the town of Brod. And when he came to the city, obviously, you know, you have a visiting Tzaddik like that, so all the Rabbonim, all the Tzaddikim come out to meet him and they escort him through the town, to show him around. And as they're walking with the Berditchever through the streets of Brod, Berel is coming towards them. Who’s Berel? Berel is... What can you say about Berel? Berel was a very, very, very simple Jew, unsophisticated, struggled with little things. He was not exactly one of the great Rabbonim and Tzaddikim of the town. And so Berel’s coming towards them. The Berditchever, with the Berditchever eyes, looks at Berel, and he immediately breaks from all the Rabbonim and Tzaddikim that he was with, and he makes a straight line towards Berel, runs towards Berel, gives him a big hug and kiss and picks Berel up with his hands and he says, Berel, you should know how deep the Ribono shel Olam is, how amazing it is to connect to אלוקות. And he starts talking to Berel about very, very high and lofty things, about Dveikus and attaching to Hashem, and the names of Hashem. Like very, very big, lofty concepts. And the Komarner says that while all the Tzaddikim are watching this, they begin to laugh, because they think: You know, Berel, Berel has no idea what the Berditchever is talking about. What's the Berditchever talking about such high things to Berel about? So after this whole episode is over, the Berditchever turns around and he sees the Tzaddikim and Rabbonim chuckling, and he realizes right away why. The Berditchever goes over to them and he says: Listen, I know Berel is a simple Jew. I see that. But he said: But do you know why Berel is a simple Jew? It’s because Berel looks in the mirror and he thinks of himself as a simple Jew. Because Berel thinks of himself as nothing but a simple Jew, that's why he remains a simple Jew. But what Berel doesn't realize is that inside of Berel there’s a Neshama, and every Jewish Neshama has the potential and the unbelievable strength of becoming a big Tzaddik and big עבד השם. Instead of Berel looking in the mirror and thinking of himself as a simple Jew, he has to look in the mirror and think of himself as an underdeveloped Tzaddik. And what I was trying to do was engage with him in a conversation that speaks to that part of him. And when he realizes that: Wow, the Berditchever is looking at me as not a simple guy. He's looking at me as someone that has the potential and has locked within me a big Tzaddik and a big עבד השם. that's what's going to bring out from him that strength. And the Berditchever told them that you have to look at Jews in such a way. Don't look at them for who they are. Look at them as underdeveloped and unripened Tzaddikim. When you see them as such and you talk to them and engage them in such a way, that brings out of them their strength and their Kochos. We have to strengthen ourselves with that belief, as well. We look at ourselves, don't look at yourself as just a little guy. Look at yourself as someone that's unbelievably big. Look at yourself as an underdeveloped Navi, ממש someone who's unbelievably deeply connected to God. It's just a matter of bringing it out. Speak to yourself in such a way, speak to other Jews in such a way. And from there, we'll be able to unlock and unleash that potential to become the Tzaddikim that B’ezras Hashem, the Ribono shel Olam wants and knows that we will become.