A Liberal Dose of Repentance
I was once visited by a Liberal Rabbi, whose outlook on life is in direct contrast to mine. Nevertheless, he asked for my blessing in the merit of my forefathers. I was taken aback by his humbling himself in order to come to me. After asking for my blessing, he added, “Honored Rav, I have a friend who has tried, for a long time, to convince me to meet you so that we can discuss matters of religion. I have come today in order to do so.”
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time just then to spend with him on this subject, as the line behind the door was growing longer by the minute. People were waiting for advice and berachot, and I had to cut our meeting short. Heaven put just the right words into my mouth. I quoted the opening verse of Chumash Shemot (1:1), “And these are the names of the Children of Israel who were coming to Egypt with Jacob, each man and his household came.” I have no idea why, but I kept emphasizing the name Jacob aloud a few times. Suddenly, I noticed the man’s face turn pale. It looked like in another minute he would fall flat on the floor.
“How do you know it was my friend, Jacob, who sent me to you?” he asked weakly.
“I had no clue that he sent you. Hashem put these words into my mouth. He saw that you made the effort to see an Orthodox Rabbi, in direct opposition to your worldview, with the intention of investigating your Jewish roots. I was therefore made His emissary to say the words that would shake you into doing complete teshuvah.”
