Un-Prophets - Chabad.org

If we were prophets or people of vision, we would see what is important and what is not, what will bear fruits and what will remain barren.

But we are simple people in an age of confusion. Our lives are filled with uncertainties—anything could happen; we have no way of telling.

We cannot decide which mitzvah is important and which will bear fruit. Nor are we expected to make our decisions that way.

All that’s expected of us is to simply grab whatever G‑d sends our way, and do our very best at it. What will come of it? What is its purpose? Only He needs to know.

In truth, therein lies the greatness of our deeds, beyond that of those more enlightened before us—that we are transparent, selfless agents for a force of good far beyond us.

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Decisions

Bread from Heaven

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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16 Comments

valerie becker akron March 27, 2016

"un-prophets" can't believe nearly 5 years ago, i left a comment on this very subject.

even now, re-reading it, it rings so true with me -- if we knew which mitzvahs are important and which aren't -- wouldn't that defeat the whole purpose - of simply doing our best with what G-d presents us with??? without expectations or recognition, rewards, etc.? (personally that would be awful!) Reply

Simcha US, MA March 27, 2016

we are simple people in an age of confusion. "we are transparent, selfless agents for a force of good far beyond us” - I respectfully disagree with this statement, Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. I am an agent and all people are the agents excessing our free will and making choices. G-d wanted it since creation, Hashem helped us all the time, but we have ultimate responsibility for excessing our free will. Reply

Anonymous March 25, 2016

I found myself having a thought along these lines about the increasing attention to the autistic spectrum...our vision is going away; it's an indication that our trust in order to do what needs doing is increasing, which is good :)

The light of the moon can be made like the light of the sun :) Reply

valerie akron, oh December 5, 2011

thank you Michal my heart breaks for your loss. it's unimaginable. i'm not young (numbers-wise at least) either. had to read your post a few times; then, realized what you said is pretty much how i feel also. as you, i love and trust G-d totally, and am so thankful - probably because He knows i'm far from perfect, AND...He knows me inside out. in fact, oddly enough, great losses made me trust G-d even more - how could anyone possibly know the hurts inside BUT Him; and i know only G-d got me through many things in life! I don't even need the why! Just pray and remain thankful and grateful for all the good, and for any wisdom to keep me aware of nearness, as you say, (that is so comforting to me); and to be open to all He sends my way as guidance and opportunities to be a good Jewish person, i guess. well, i wish for you what i wish for me, too! (hope this makes sense) Reply

Michal Germany December 3, 2011

re Valerie I thought more about being... ...not "doing". I am not young any more, and G-d first took my husband away within seconds, while we were on holiday, then I met some people who were not good for me. Yes, He tells me, what good is for me and what bad. Often I think: What does that mean? What does He want from me? Why does he let this or that happen? I love Him, but in trusting him I am far from perfekt. So it helps me to take it from His hands and to know He will give me one day the Why.
I wish you that you get nearer and nearer to Him. That's what I wish for me too. Reply

valerie akron, oh December 2, 2011

re michal, quiet with no fear you have someone who agrees with you. i'm not literal -- that's for others. i mean, don't we know what's right and wrong, what would please G-d? being a simple human in a VERY confusing world, literal doesn't work for me, personally. love and trust does! I feel if G-d wants more, He'll give me the wisdom to do it. till then, quiet with no fear (am working on that one) is heaven! Reply

Anonymous December 2, 2011

A goy point of view To me the comment posted by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman doesn't clarify the text because it is better to take whatever Hashem send us and do our best at it without worrying if that is a right or wrong Mitzvot I have to comply with. And no matter if this command comes from this faith system or from another I might come from.
It is better to have my neshamah at confidence so that a path to all that is good will be found. G-d permits.
I stand very much for the idea (Posted By Debby Bruck, Cary, NC) that to have a close connection to G-d and heard His word directly. Remember, if you commit murder you cannot say, as a valid statement, "the devil make me do it". Reply

Anonymous louisville, ky December 2, 2011

We are Prophets and The Divine How do you Tzvi separate the Creator from the Created. We as Jews have even got the 1st of Hashems commands correct. The love of Hashem is the love of one's self. An the love of our fellow Jew is totally missing from our communities. When all Jews Orthodox, Conservative and Reform can be in one Temple then maybe we will bring about the Tikkun Olam, the prophets are here, but as usual a "stiff necked people" are not listening. Love is the answer to all. Find the love within and all will be love. Shalom Aleichem. Reply

Michal Germany December 2, 2011

Makes me feel quiet and without fear I have only to grab what G-d sends me
into my way.
What a wonderful thought. And that it is true, makes it even more wonderful.
Yes, He, Baruch Hu, knows all the "Why"s.
I feel quiet in His nearness. Reply

Tzvi Freeman February 2, 2009

For Tim & Cynthia It took me a while to understand how you might be reading this, that you see it as the opposite of its intent. Just now I realized that there is one word that I see there but you don't--so really it must be written in. Try this:

"What's expected of us is to simply grab whatever MITZVAH G–d sends our way, and do our very best at it. "

Now does it make more sense? Reply

Debby Bruck Cary, NC February 1, 2009

The un-prophet This sounds like a thought of humility and acceptance of our humanity. The fact that we are not prophets who can foresee the future gives us permission to accept who we are and our circumstances, and only strive to fulfill our highest good, as G-d intended.

We can only strive to be like prophets who had a close connection to G-d and heard His word directly. Reply

Tim White Capet Town, South Africa February 1, 2009

Un-Profits The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, is wise and I have no doubt a man close to G_D's heart. However the "wise" words we receive in this message is absolutely "WRONG" If it were turn then the teaching "The World At Your Feet" and so many other teachings would be rendered a lie. Don't believe this message, it is not in the context. The first two sections are correct but the last is a damnation of the relationship between G_D and man. What on earth are we supposed to believe, that Torah is a game of hit and miss. Reply

Cynthia Odessa, florida January 31, 2009

too negative Many of these are positive and uplifting and I save them in a file....but this one is completely WRONG, very negative and entirely depressing. The purpose of a prophet is to offer hope. Sometimes the path isn't what we want, but there is HOPE shining at the end. This comment is just the oppositve and not reflective of the heart of a loving G-d. Reply

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