Who We Really Are | Rabbi Naftali Reich

The legendary Gerrer Mashgiach, R’ Gad’l Eisner of blessed memory, was walking in the streets of Lodz after the second World War, seeking out survivors, those with whom he could impart words of Chizuk, support and encouragement. And he noticed across the street, there was a Bochur that was one of his former disciples. He went over to him. Yankele, how are you? Yankele wasn't wearing a yarmulke or Tzitzis and he was a little shamefaced. And he said: Rebbi, He said, During the war, I was sheltered in a basement by a Polish couple, a Catholic couple. They looked after me and their teenage daughter, every day, gave me food, endangered their lives on my behalf. She was very fond of me, this girl, and she proposed to me, and I'm going to marry her. Yankele, said R’ Gad’l. Mazel tov! You’re getting married. Wow! And he gave him a big hug. And then he said: Yankele, do you know, Hitler, may his name be erased, wanted to eradicate and erase, not just the Jewish people. It was the Midah, the characteristic of the Jewish people. We’re a nation that are Yehudim, we have Hodaah, we have thanks. You're a person that's grateful and appreciative. It's amazing. And you want to demonstrate that appreciation and marry your savior. Wow. And he gave him another hug. And then he said to him: Yankele, I'm not so well-versed in Shulchan Aruch, in Even Haezer, but such an important Bochur like you, I don't think that match is really suitable for you. I don't think it's appropriate for you. Well, today, that Jew, of blessed memory, has a legacy of beautiful Jewish generations. He left the girl, he went to Eretz Yisroel, and he built a beautiful family. Only with good things. And sometimes to us, ourselves, only with good things. The Yetzer Hara comes to us and he's super super smart. He comes with all kinds of rationalizations. You had such a difficult childhood. You're so deprived of warmth and love and connection and so, you know, you're only human and you need and why not? And you're not doing anything really wrong. And we have to know, Who am I? Said the holy Yesod Haavodah on the pasuk Shlomo Hamelech says in Mishlei, The Mussar of Hakadosh Baruch Hu is you’re my child. Don't sully yourself. You're much higher than that. You’re much greater than that. And when we know and embrace our true identity, we can withstand all the rationalizations, all the machinations of the Yetzer Hara. It's true. It's hard, it's difficult. We are very tempted with all kinds of rationalizations to succumb to the temptation and blandishments of the Yetzer Hara. But we know who we really are, and we have our identity affirmed and secure. We can withstand all the temptations that the Yetzer Hara throws to us.