How to get what you want

The story is told about Rabbi Gurkov who is a Shaliach of the Rebbe, around New York, that he once needed $40,000.00 to finish building a Mikvah.

 

He needed it tomorrow.

 

Being a great scholar of Jewish mysticism he knew he had to act as well.

 

“God will bless you in all you do” the verse states, indicating that though it is God’s blessing that is paramount, human action, also is important; for it is the vessel within the rain from heaven gets aggregated in.

 

So he banged on the table.

 

There are three worlds, the world of thought, the world of speech, and the world of action.

 

This world is primarily the world of action.

 

Our thoughts and speech are only preludes to giving.

 

Yet our thoughts – as preludes – of course are the determining factor of our actions.

 

Which is more important then?

 

For three years theschoolofShaamaiand Hillel debated this conundrum.

 

Is study or performance of good deeds more important, and after three years of analyzing all the Judaic texts and insights up to that point they concluded, study is more important, for it leads to action.

 

So action without direction can be calamitous, hence study is more important, but is not the end, rather the noble ennobling of noble actions.

 

In our own lives, often there is a dichotomy between our noble intentions and our noble actions – while one may have absolute selflessness, the other may be wholly selfish.

 

And this is the lesson Rabbi Gurkov / Jewish mysticism teaches, immediately attach your intent with an action.

 

If you intend to give millions to charity, give one dollar now; if you intend to study the entire Talmud study one line now; if you intend to be a loving spouse, hug your significant other today; if you intend to be a good father, study, or hug your child immediately.

 

God will bless you in all that you do – for when you take but a single step in the right direction God will ensure the rest.

 

And so the next morning a call came to Rabbi Gurkov’s Chabad House, “Rabbi do you by an chance need $40,000.00.”