After Hashem, Even From Afar

In 1923 the Chofetz Chaim travelled to Vienna for the Agudas Yisroel convention, and there he spent time with Rav Avraham Mordechai Alter, the Gerrer Rebbe. In their conversation the Chofetz Chaim spoke about a verse from that week’s parsha, “Acharei Hashem Elokeichem teileichu,” “After Hashem your G-d shall you follow” (Devarim 13:5). He pointed out that the Torah has two words for “after.” “Acharei” suggests following from far away, and “achar” means close behind. Why does the verse use the one that suggests distance, when a person should draw as close to Hashem as he can?

His answer was that sometimes a person becomes depressed and feels that he is standing at the edge of a cliff, as far from Hashem as one can be, sure that Hashem will not help him now. He should know that this feeling is the work of the yetzer hara. Hashem is a Jew’s Father at every moment, welcomes His children when they return, and rescues them from every trouble. Even a person who is “acharei,” far away, must not give up on following Hashem. This is the thought in the prayers of the Yamim Noraim, which call fortunate the one who never forgets Hashem and who finds his strength in Him.

The Gerrer Rebbe replied, “Now I will try to explain the verse in the way of the chassidim. Precisely when a person feels far from Hashem, he can follow Him best, as Tehillim says, ‘Hashem is close to the brokenhearted.’”