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Created: 18 September 2014

The renowned Tzaddik, Reb Zusha, was on his death bed, crying at the thought of his imminent demise. Surprised by their Rebbe’s reaction, his students who were gathering around tried to calm him, saying that such a Tzaddik need not be afraid, for the Rebbe is guaranteed to go straight to Heaven and has no reason to fear the outcome of his Heavenly judgment.

Reb Zusha turned to them and explained that he did not fear that when he arrived at the Heavenly Court to account for his actions they would say to him ‘why weren’t you like Moshe or why weren’t a Rebbe Akiva?’ “I am worried” he said “that they will say to me, why weren’t you a Reb Zusha?”

Everyone has their individual qualities and strengths that they were blessed with at birth. These are the unique tools that allow us to become great. By using these talents properly, in the way that they were given to be used, we are showing appreciation for having received them – and this is our way of serving Hashem.

Reb Zusha was a Tzaddik who was fully aware of his righteous deeds, but he nevertheless feared that he did not live up to the great potential that Hashem had given him, and for that reason he began to cry, because he knew that even someone great has potential to be greater.

Can we really say that we are fulfilling our potential in life? Are we becoming the person that Hashem enabled us to be? These are the questions that we must answer as we face Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. G-d’s decision regarding the quality of our lives in 5775 will greatly depend on the answers we give to these questions. If we are truly honest with ourselves, we can work out what we are missing and where we need to head to in order to become who we were born to be. As a result, G-d will bless us with a happy and healthy year so that we may live up to our potential.