B.H. 14th of Tammuz, 5722

I was privileged to hear from my father-in-law of saintly memory the following story, which has an important message for all of us: 

His father, of saintly memory, was once asked, "What is a Chosid?" and he replied, "A Chosid is a 'street-lamp lighter."" (In olden days there used to be a man whose job was to light the street-lamps by means of a light which he carried at the end of a long pole). The lamps were there in readiness, but they needed to be lit. Sometimes the lamps are not as easily accessible as lamps on street corners; there are lamps in forsaken places, or at sea, but there must be someone to light even those lamps, so that they should not be wasted, but should light up the path of others. 

It is written, "the soul of man is the lamp of G-d." It is also written, "A Mitzvah is a candle, and the Torah is the light." 

A Chosid is one who puts his personal affairs aside and goes around lighting up the souls of Jews with the light of the Torah and Mitzvoth. Jewish souls are in readiness to be lit; sometimes they are around the corner, sometimes they are in a desert or at sea. There must be someone who, disregarding one's own comforts and conveniences, will go out to put a light to those "lamps." This is the function of a true Chosid. 

The message is obvious. I will only add that this function is not really limited to Chasidim, but it is the function of every Jew, and sooner or later all Jews will be Chasidim in this and in every other sense. Divine Providence sends Jews to the most unexpected places in order that they should carry out this function. 

May G-d grant that each and every one of us be a dedicated "street-lamp lighter," and fulfil his or her duty with joy and gladness of heart.