05 Sep NISAVIM: OUTREACH BY DEFAULT

Moshe Rabbenu tells
us in Parashat Nisavim
(29:28), “Ha’nistarot
L’Hashem Elokenu
Ve’ha’niglot Lanu
U’l’banenu Ad Olam” – “That which is
hidden belongs to Hashem our G-d; but
that which is revealed is for us and our
children, forever.” This verse establishes
the concept of collective responsibility
toward Torah observance. We committed
ourselves to the Torah together as a
nation, and not just as individuals. And
therefore, we have a responsibility to see
to it, as best we can, that all other Jews
observe the Misvot. It does not suffice
to ensure that we and our families are
devoted to the Torah. We must also be
concerned that all our fellow Jews are
likewise committed. This verse tells us
that although we are not responsible for
the “Nistarot,” for the sins we are not
aware of, the “Niglot” – the spiritual ills
and failings of which we are aware – are
our responsibility to address.
The Hafetz Haim (Rav Yisrael Meir
Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) explained

this concept through an analogy to a
borrower who borrowed a large sum of
money and asked a friend to sign as his
guarantor. Sometime later, the guarantor
sees his friend, the borrower, walking
into a casino with a wallet stuffed with
money. The guarantor rushes up to him
and reprimands him for going gambling.
“What’s it to you?” the friend angrily
retorts. “It’s my money, so I can do what
I want with it.”
“Oh no,” the guarantor replies. “This
directly affects me. If you throw your
money away, I’m the one who’s going to
have to come up with a million dollars to
repay your loan!”
Similarly, the Hafetz Haim explains, it
is very much our business whether our
fellow Jews observe the Torah, because
we accepted collective responsibility
toward it. We all jointly share the
consequences of the nation’s collective
success or, Heaven forbid, failure
to observe the Misvot, and we must
therefore do what we can to bring back
those who have strayed from observance.

Of course, this responsibility gives rise
to the question of how this can be done.
People don’t like being told what to do.
It’s clear and obvious to everyone that
if we go up to non-observant Jews and
angrily reprimand them for violating
the Torah, this tactic will not succeed.
If anything, it will breed resentment that
will further distance these precious Jews
from our heritage.
The solution is to affect people without
saying a word, to show them the beauty
of Misvot and the satisfaction they bring
without talking about it. When we see,
for example, a great Torah Sage poring
over his Torah books with passion
and excitement, we are inspired. And
even the rest of us can inspire people
by performing Misvot with fervor and
enthusiasm. If people see us feeling
happy and fulfilled for having chosen
a Torah lifestyle, they might be open
to the idea of trying it out. If we have
non-observant guests for Shabbat meal
and they see and feel the special joy of
a family sitting together, sharing ideas
and singing Pizmonim, this will have an

effect. But if people see us performing
Misvot begrudgingly, complaining about
the responsibilities and rushing through
them as fast as we can, they will remain
distant from Torah life, and will in fact
be happy that they do not embrace our
lifestyle.
We do not have to – and we should not
– go over to our fellow Jews and tell
them directly they must be observe the
Torah. But what we can and must do
is reach out to them automatically , by
default, exuding joy and fulfillment in
our performance of Misvot, and making
it clear that we view Torah life as a great
privilege and source of unparalleled
satisfaction.