Most of the homes in Moshav Mevo Modi'in ("The Moshav") were destroyed by fire yesterday. This is a community that was established by disciples of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, most of them Americans. It's a community of prayer, joy, dancing, and creativity. A place full of spirit - which went up in flames. This morning, when I opened the book "Simply Love" by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach - this is what I found:
"Rebbe Nachman of Breslov said: 'If you believe that it's possible to destroy, believe that it's possible to repair.' They say that all it takes is one idiot with a match to burn down an entire forest. In other words, the force of destruction is quick, strong, overwhelming. A single bad word or deed has the power to destroy many years of effort and hard work. But Rabbi Nachman points out: This idea is very old. The new, better way is to believe that with one good word, a single small deed or even one thought, a person can rebuild the entire world. Therefore, Rabbi Nachman uses the word 'Believe.' If a person says to his friend: 'Believe me, I just went to synagogue, and it's in exactly the same place it was yesterday' - it would sound strange. For things that are simple, things that are easy to understand, people don't need faith. In order to believe in destruction, you don't have to be a big 'believer,' that's just human nature. But believing in the power of fixing, that rebuilds - that is what we need to work at. To believe in what the mind can't easily grasp: that the power of fixing is greater, more meaningful. Most of the righteous, our tsaddikim, taught us not to burn down the forest. This is true, but Rabbi Nachman teaches us something new: You can plant forests! The power to rebuild is greater than the power of destruction. That is what faith is. "
Dedicated to the dear and believing people of Mevo Modiin
Translated by JewishMOM.com
