It’s not the heat. It’s the humidity.
That’s the common refrain. A high temperature alone isn’t enough to change your day, but when it’s humid? Humidity is everywhere. It’s all around you, surrounding you, it affects every action, every activity – it’s inescapable.
One of the emissaries of the Rebbe once asked His permission to leave his post and move to Israel. He explained that he longed to live in its holy atmosphere. The Rebbe’s answer was simple: “Mach da Eretz Yisrael.” If you want a holy atmosphere, “make where you are the Land of Israel.” Create that spiritual climate in your own community.
Koheles teaches that “Ner mitzvah, v’Torah ohr,” and as Yidden, we use that light to guide our lives, but the light isn’t enough. We also need the heat to warm our lives. Without that warmth, the light of Torah is at risk of going out, and keeping that chayus burning strong is necessary. The Kotzker chastised the concept of “tzaddik in Peltz,” a person who used spiritual passion like a coat to keep themselves warm, rather than building a fire for the benefit of many.
Yet the fire only helps when we stand near the flames. How do we heat the rest of our lives?
We need to ignite a Yiddishkeit that is not only filled with heat, but has a climate of spiritual humidity. An atmosphere that is everywhere, that is all around you, surrounding you, affecting every action, every activity, is inescapable and is ever present.
Because it’s not the heat. It’s the humidity.
With prayers for the immediate redemption.
