LESSON 48: Makers and Pawns

History is divided between two types of people, makers and pawns. Makers are the kinds of people who take up causes, to make things better or worst. The ones who make things better are righteous in God’s eyes, partners with Him in Creation. The ones who choose to make things worst are evil, and have no share in God’s Creation, present or future.
Then there are the pawns. Those are the vast amounts of people throughout history who simply minded their own business whenever they could. Rather than impact history, they are usually impacted by it, often the “victims” of other people’s schemes and plans. Nothing is by accident (Chullin 7b), and everything is the will of God, but if someone chooses to play the part of a pawn, then that is the role God allows him to play.
No question, it is easier to be a pawn. If history is peaceful, one can get away with simply taking as much responsibility for the fulfillment of Creation as is necessary to fulfill his own personal life. However, reward in the World-to-Come will also be limited, because, as the rabbis teach, “According to the effort is the reward” (Pirkei Avos 5:26). And, no effort earns greater reward in the World-to-Come as the ones made on behalf of the nation as a whole.
God gave some of His glory to man, so that he can be a partner with Him in Creation, building Heaven and its upper realms through all of his actions and deeds that he performs in this world. (Sha’arei Leshem, p. 76)

There is no question that every mitzvah performed brings great reward in the World-to-Come. We can’t even begin to imagine how much. There is no question that, when a person performs a chesed, Heaven smiles. And, as the Nefesh HaChaim emphasizes in the fourth section, the learning of Torah maintains Creation.
Nevertheless, there is no better way to prepare for the Final Redemption than by playing a role in it. What kind of role? It depends upon the person, the opportunity, the time of history, and the will to get involved. It may be something as basic as saying one chapter of Tehillim each day, just for the sake of speeding up the redemption, or something as involving as starting an organization that furthers the cause itself.
The reward is tremendous for a variety of reasons. First of all, according to the GR”A, though God provides Heavenly help for every mitzvah we do, the help, when it comes to redemption-oriented activities, can be many times more than the effort we ourselves make. This means that we can succeed far beyond our expectations.
Furthermore, by being a partner in redemption, we put ourselves on the inside track. This means that, rather than simply being pawns in the process, we are makers of it, together with God and all the other people who consciously choose to play a role in redemption. Not only is this very rewarding, but it adds an element of safety for all those taking an active role in Geulah Shlaimah.

Sunday, February 17, 2008