Q:
You speak here often about recognizing the greatness and the holiness of the observant Jews. What about the irreligious Jews?
A:
When we speak about irreligious Jews, we must speak about the potential that they possess. Today he may be hostile to you but you might be surprised; someday he might turn out to be a tzaddik.
I’ll tell you some incidents from my experience. There was a boy that I considered him a bum when he was in the yeshiva. He was sixteen years old and he was critical of talmidei chachamim. He was chutzpadik. I lost any connection with him. Years passed by. And then when I met him again he had a black hat and a beard. And he was a good learner. It amazed me! I saw what could happen to a bad boy. He became such a fine talmid chacham. You can never tell.
An irreligious Jew has concealed in the depth of his nature all the good qualities of the Jewish people; only there’s a sediment on top – goyishe ways, wrong ideas. But there’s no question that given the right environment, the right influence, he could develop.
I’ll tell you even more. You’d be surprised but there are plenty of goyim that can develop into nice frum tzaddikim. And it happened already! There are gentiles who became Jews and became heroes for Judaism! Some gave their lives for the Torah! Yes! Count Pototski, a Polish count, became a Jew in secret. And then the gentiles discovered him so the church had him burned at the stake. He refused to recant. He died a frum Jew. Count Pototski, yes. Also Lord Gordon in England. Lord Gordon was a frum Jew, a ger, converted. Certainly! You can never tell. Everybody has certain qualities within him.
Of course, lehavdil, the Jew certainly is a goldmine of good qualities. And it’s a tragedy when he wastes his life and doesn’t bring to the surface all of the greatness which he possesses.
TAPE #881 (July 1992)
