Extending Comfort: Coping Method or Empowerment?

This week, the Shabbat preceding Tisha B'av (the fast of the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av) is known as "Shabbat Chazon," the "Shabbat of vision."

I love the irony here.

The Shabbat preceding the saddest day on the Jewish calendar is recognized as a day that flows with the energy of "seeing." One aspect of this energy of seeing (aside from the mystical notion of being shown something subconsciously) is the ability to see through or beyond the negative by creating alternate frameworks by which we process painful life experiences. "Addressing" one's sadness or grief as it is unfolding, rather than simply "dealing with it" is unconventional. The notion of boosting mindfulness that lines one's grief as it is unfolding (NOT as a way of suppressing grief) a healing ("seeing") energy that commences mid-, not post-pain is an interesting and daring approach.

The Rebbe explores this by scrutinizing the axiomatic idea of TZIMTZUM (the concealment of G-dly energy that allows for a flow of that energy that is tamped down enough to allow for the perception of the existence of a "separate" human consciousness) and stretching its understanding to better frame a re-articulating of these ancient ideas; as always, resulting in a refreshed Jewish Mysticism that speaks directly to us.

One of the classic metaphors to explain "Tzimtzum" is through the dynamic of the teacher and student. The way the teacher scales back the full idea to fit the understanding of the student while still retaining the integrity of the full idea allows us to grasp the "mechanics" of Tzimtzum.

Here is where the Rebbe innovates.

He points out that though the teacher is able to retain the original integrity of the idea, despite watering it down somewhat at the moment that he is conveying that version, THAT becomes his reality as well in that moment. In the actual process of Tzimtzum, when G-d has "withdrawn" his full presence; that reality is one-sided. We perceive G-d as scaled back but G-d (unlike the teacher metaphor) is fully himself EVEN as he is fully disguised.

When we face loss we must experience it as loss, but we too (unlike the metaphor) can learn to meet the grief as pain, while immediately and simultaneously mining it for a deeper way of seeing it as well. In doing so the Rebbe is radically redefining the notion of "comfort" beyond "coping" but rather as "EMPOWERMENT"; he is doing so strategically; with a mind to cultivate individual leadership that will rise to the challenge of a new reality; one characterized by the absence of centralized charismatic leadership.

The Rebbe was always able to encompass deep and genuine compassion for a loss, whilst never losing sight of the reality of how loss leaves a gaping hole in the universe that we are suddenly qualified and DESTINED to fill!

With blessings of only having to see blessings!