The radical thinking of Rav Wolbe

Rav Shlomo Wolbe had such radical thoughts that I hesitate to present them here. Most of the rav's work has never been translated, in accordance with the rav's wishes, including the classic "Alei Shur." In the next several posts, I will present some of the Rav's ideas together with my own attempt to understand and reconcile them.

One of the quotes from Rav Wolbe that is probably more famous than any other is this:  "Many people believe in G-d. This is not something unusual. However, many people do not believe in the greatness of the human being, but I do."

This is a noble idea to be sure. But is it consistent with what we daven in Hallel? "It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in man." (Psalms 118:8). King David, the author of this psalm, does not say that man cannot be relied upon, or that people are not to be trusted, but his words do seem to diminish the idea that man possesses an innate nobility or inborn potential for greatness.

Furthermore, I encountered the following thought in an essay of Rav Wolbe's entitled "Pesach LeDorot" from the book "Sefer Da'at Shlomo, Ma'amarei Geula: Purim, Pesach" (pp. 306-7).

"The root and source of the yetzer (evil inclination) is (expressed in) kicking the Creator of the World. The early generations (Nimrod, builders of the Tower of Babel, residents of Sodom and Gemorrah), who cleaved to HaShem and were especially close to Him, 'clearly intended to rebel against Him.' This is not true in the later generations that are not so close to the Creator of World and do not rebel against or kick (Him), not because of their righteousness but because of their distance (from Him)."

It is as if to say that, in terms of our closeness to HaShem, we are on a lower level than the population of Sodom and Gemorrah. That's a serious indictment. However, I believe this statement must be seen in  light of something that Rav Adin Steinsaltz wrote about the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

In one of the most remarkable and inspiring speeches delivered in recent years, on the 10th yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Steinsaltz begins by mentioning that Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai argued for 2 and 1/2 years over the question of whether man should have been created. Beit Shammai answered "no," Beit Hillel answered "yes," but in the end both agreed that man should not have been created yet, now that he's here, he should "examine his deeds." (Eruvin 13b)

Rav Steinsaltz, however, brings a brilliant insight regarding the Lubavitcher Rebbe's way of thinking.  "But there is a different way of answering the question," Rav Steinsaltz said. "Instead of answering 'yes' or 'no', to find a third answer. This is what the Rebbe tried to do. He said, instead of answering the question 'is man worthy of being here in this universe?' let us make a new human being, a new kind of existence from which the answer must be positive."

I believe this is the outlook of Rav Wolbe, too. On the one hand, we may be distantly removed from G-d yet, on the other hand, we have the potential to return to G-d, go beyond ourselves, and ultimately become truly great. This is also consistent with a segment from a speech by Viktor Frankl, author of "Man's Search for Meaning."