השיעור לפ’ במדבר נתרם
לעילוי נשמת הרה”ח ר’ יששכר דוב בן ר’ יונה ע”ה ווייס. נלב”ע כ”ז אייר ה’תשע”א. ע”י נכדיו ר’ לוי יצחק וזוגתו מרת רבקה ומשפחתם שיחיו לוויטין
A. The Rebbe’s Personal Request
In 1986, the Rebbe announced a campaign called “Aseh Lecha Rav.” A person is biased about himself, the Rebbe explained; therefore, the Rebbe said, it is imperative for every person to appoint a mentor to guide him through important life-decision.
Bias, the Talmud says (Source 1) is a very subtle concept. When famous rabbis experienced even a slight favor from someone, they would refuse to serve as their judge. How much more so, we are biased about ourselves.
B. Chasing Angels
Who gets to be a mentor? The Talmud says (Source 2) that a rabbi must resemble an angel. When a rabbi’s reputation was tarnished, Rabbi Yehuda removed him from his post despite his expertise.
But what does an angel look like? Maimonides says that souls in the next world resemble angels (Source 3). As the Talmud explains, the world-to-come is a place devoid of jealousy and hatred (Source 4). That’s a good description of an angelic person worthy of being your mentor.
Now, Jewish law does instruct Torah scholars to be vengeful and bear grudges — but only in a very specific case: when if pertains to communal matters (Source 5). But in his personal life — he should strive to be an angel.
C. Jewish Characteristics
Now, we are all aware that angelic mentors are far and few between. But as a start, we should look for mentors with the three Jewish qualities mentioned in the Talmud: compassion, bashfulness, and kindness (Source 6). And lastly: he should be someone who makes Torah study a priority in his life.