As many @chabadoncampus centers, we were delivered 21 cases of the same thin book by attorney & Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz, refuting common arguments against Israel (in his style & perspective). Goal of sender is to share with students,
but the 21-case Question is:
> What life lesson/messages can be derived from unexpected shipment of 1500 of exact same book to your door? This book’s content & sender’s advocacy/education mission aside, for purposes of this thread what’s to be learned – in #BaalShemTov style to learn lessons from everything! >
(1) First, power of repetition! My mother pointed out to me how #Rebbe would often repeat same question, message, or idea in different ways during a farbrengen. #Rebbe’s writing was super concise, but at farbrengens said it many ways & times – to hammer it home! >
> Talmud (Eruvin 54b) extols the patience of R’ Preida who taught same student the same teaching 400X (!!!) until the student got it. It may take more than once or twice! Not sure 1500 of the same books is the same idea, but it can at least illustrate this educational message. >
(2) Of course an ideal library would have a broad diversity & spectrum of books, not shelves of all same. But 1500 books to our door sends a message: HAVE BOOKS! In this era of reading less, less books – appreciation for text, literacy & reading comprehension just isn’t the same. >
> We see this downward slide in literacy, reading comprehension & less appreciation for lengthier texts (even) among today’s college-educated. Having books, cherishing books, making books as a centerpiece & decor of a home is someplace to start. #Rebbe made a campaign of it. >
(3) Before 21 cases showed up at door, we got a package of 4 books. Ah! You think you only got 4, right? Little did we know! It was the tip of the iceberg, a lot more where that came from! We often don’t know half of it! 4 books were a harbinger, a glimpse of what was to come! >
(4) You know, something unexpected may show up in your life. How will you deal with it? What will you make of it? How to handle? Not hypothetical of course, happens to all of us. (Even if not a @chabadoncampus recipient of 1500 books).
(5) > Maybe there’s a lesson here about giving and going all out. Talmud (Bava Basra 71a) says: Givers give generously, abundantly. Or as the American idiom goes: Go Big or Go Home! Go all out! Don’t suffice with the minimum. Shoot for the Stars! Why 4 Books when you can do 1500!! >
(6) > The flip side of that is that Talmud (Shabbos 10b) says one who gifts must notify the recipient. And Chassidus speaks a great deal about the need for Tzimtzum contraction/limitation so as not to overwhelm & crash the system! As the expression: Less is (can be) More! >
> This issue of not overwhelming recipient capacity and the need to be especially wisely attuned to recipient’s needs & capabilities, is educational, it’s cosmic Kabbalah, and its aptly illustrated by delivery of 1500 books (1432 to be exact) to many @chabadoncampus doorsteps. >
(7) What else can be learned from this? Learn! Surrounded by many boxes of thin small books, recalls Chassidic story/parable of Chassid surrounded by huge barrels of vodka only effective once he drank a small glass. Read the book!
(8) > But it seems Mr. Dershowitz or whichever backers/sponsors sent these books is very eager to get this message out & into the hands of as many students as possible. Good lesson here! Believe in importance of your mission & message! Don’t keep it to yourself! Spread the word! >
There’s probably more to learn from this delivery of books, indeed #BaalShemTov taught to learn lessons from all our life encounters & experiences. But it’s a short Friday. Much to do before Shabbos!
Bottom line, if you want one of these books, we have plenty! Come & take!