The Conversation Continues…
What is interesting about Yisroel Besser’s essay and the responses to it is that this is not a new conversation — in fact it is actually a few thousand years old.
“I don’t want to be small” the moon said to Hashem (Chullin 60b). “And no it doesn’t help me to know that the holy tzaddikim are also small or that I will be present during the night as well as by day or even that I will be a major player in the Jewish calendar. I want to be prominent like the sun.”
Interestingly even after Hashem Himself enumerates the benefits of being small the moon remains dissatisfied and the issue remains unresolved — until this very day apparently — as evidenced by the recent conversation in the pages of the Mishpacha.
There is a reason for this lack of resolution. The moon’s issue represents an existential truth woven into the very fabric of our reality. This World values prominence power status and visibility (lip service to the contrary notwithstanding) — and if you are not prominent not powerful and not visible you will be devalued. Period. Which is not very pleasant.
