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We present here a part of the introduction of the
Sefer Et Laasot by the famous tzaddik, Rabbi Hillel Lichtenstein of Kalamaye,
o.b.m., which we deem appropriate for our work.
"My dear sefer (book), that has
cost me so much time from learning Torah and so many tears, I send you out
into the world, and I exhort you to avoid neither large cities nor small
towns. Do not say or even think, that in the brazen, impudent world of today,
"Who will look at me? Who will take heed of my message? Where will I be able
to accomplish anything? On the contrary, I will cause people to commit more
sins, since they will regard me with disdain and mock me." "I say to you, dear
sefer, that even according to your view, your mission will not be fruitless,
for even if you are unsuccessful in your attempts to influence men, you may
influence women, whose hearts are softer and who are more impressionable.
Should you fail to influence the youth, you may influence elderly persons; if
you fail to impress healthy people, you may impress those sick and wracked
with pain, as well as those whose fortunes have taken a turn for the worse.
"I, however, am
convinced that you will succeed in all your travels. Fear not! Don't worry! Do
not be frightened off! Remember Abraham, concerning whom the Torah writes, "
And he believed in Hashem". His belief was as strong as a Rock. That faith is
deeply rooted in his descendants as an inheritance, so that their name is
always "Maaminim b'ney maaminim" (believers, the sons of believers). I,
therefore, am convinced that you will be very successful. Many Jewish children
will kiss you, and many will shed tears while reading you. Even if certain
elements cast you to the ground and trample upon you, there will come a time
when they themselves will pick you up and love you, because the time is
drawing closer and closer when people will come to their senses and recognize
the pure, unadulterated truth. Today, we find many who deviate from the
teachings of the Torah, some completely and some partially. The morning of the
redemption is at hand, when the Ruach hatumah, the spirit of impurity, will be
removed from the world, i.e. the Yetzer hara will be completely eradicated,
and the earth will be full of knowledge of Hashem i.e. the people will come to
recognize the complete unadulteratad truth. Then everyone will strive to
follow all the teachings of both the written and oral Torah, the Bible and the
Talmud with neither alterations nor abbreviations, but in the precise manner
that they were observed from time immemorial, not as some groups claim, that
their "Rabbis" have the power to alter or disregard the Shulchan Aruch.
Then, people
will not allow themselves to be misled by various types of misleaders, or to
be enslaved to such leaders who mean only their own monetary gain and their
own glory. The time will come when the Almighty will fulfill His promise to
"circumcise" our hearts, to remove the obstructions that clog our hearts
spiritually. As the Bible teaches us, falsehood lasts but a moment, whereas
the true tongue will be established forever. I, therefore, assure you that you
have no need to fear. You will surely succeed in disseminating and expanding
the truth." |
