“And now People of Israel, what does G-d ask of you – only to fear Him!”
This is a verse in Parshat Eikev. Moshe is speaking to the Jewish people, telling them that G-d isn’t asking much, all G-d asks is that we fear Him. That’s it.
The Talmud (Brachos 33b) asks: “Is fear of G-d such a small thing?” It’s not, of course. So why was Moshe saying that fear of G-d is not a big deal. The Talmud answers: “For Moshe, fear of G-d isn’t a big deal.”
Tanya (classic text of Chabad Chassidic thought) chapter 42 asks: This isn’t about Moses. Moses was addressing the Jewish people. You have to know your crowd. Even if its easy for Moses that doesn’t mean it would be easy for the ordinary Jew. So how does the Talmud’s answer “easy for Moses” answer it for everyone else?
Think of how many politicians lost elections because they said things that were out of touch with the average voter. Easy for Moses is no answer or comfort for regular Jews. We aren’t Moses!
Ah, but we are, says Tanya 42! Inside each and every Jew there is a mini-Moses within, and once we tap into the resources of that inner-mini-Moses, fear of G-d can be easy for us as well.
Tanya 42 goes onto explain the unique qualities of the inner-mini-Moses, and how to discover it and harness it – we can go into that another time.
But being freshmen weekend – and with a great group of dedicated freshmen here! – let’s just say this. Students at college are involved with all kinds of things, invested in various social and academic circles and clubs and activities. Not everything we do is Moses-esque. But to succeed Jewishly in a college campus environment we must be aware and connect with our inner-Moses, it has to be strong, shine and glow with “Super-Jew” powers at certain points of our day or week, in order to maintain the everyday normal challenges of Judaism on campus.
Find your inner Moses, be in touch with it, feed it, connect with it, bring it out in your life! Even if not all the time or in every aspect, keeping it going at some level makes a huge difference.
8th Day Music has a song “Mini Moses in Me” based on this teaching.