Many years ago there lived a well-loved Jewish sage named Rabbi Zusya. Rabbi Zusya was renowned throughout the world for his gifted insights as a scholar, teacher, and healer.
When the time came for Rabbi Zusya to leave this world, his students gathered at his bedside. During a tender moment the Rabbi began to weep.
“Why do you cry, Rabbi?” asked one of the disciples. “If anyone is assured a place in Heaven, it is you. You are one of the greatest and most revered spiritual teachers in the world!”
Rabbi Zusya turned his head softly toward the one who spoke, and looked him in the eye. His gaze was piercing, as one who can see through this world to another. “I will tell you why I weep, my dear one,” the sage replied. “If, when I approach the gates of Heaven, the angel who meets me asks, ‘Why were you not a Moses?’ I shall answer with conviction, ‘Because I was not born to be a Moses.’
“And if the angel challenges me, ‘But neither did you perform the feats that Elijah did,’ I shall firmly respond, ‘My mission was not the same one that Elijah was sent to accomplish.’
“But there is one question that I fear being unable to answer: ‘Why were you not a Rabbi Zusya?’”
When the time came for Rabbi Zusya to leave this world, his students gathered at his bedside. During a tender moment the Rabbi began to weep.
“Why do you cry, Rabbi?” asked one of the disciples. “If anyone is assured a place in Heaven, it is you. You are one of the greatest and most revered spiritual teachers in the world!”
Rabbi Zusya turned his head softly toward the one who spoke, and looked him in the eye. His gaze was piercing, as one who can see through this world to another. “I will tell you why I weep, my dear one,” the sage replied. “If, when I approach the gates of Heaven, the angel who meets me asks, ‘Why were you not a Moses?’ I shall answer with conviction, ‘Because I was not born to be a Moses.’
“And if the angel challenges me, ‘But neither did you perform the feats that Elijah did,’ I shall firmly respond, ‘My mission was not the same one that Elijah was sent to accomplish.’
“But there is one question that I fear being unable to answer: ‘Why were you not a Rabbi Zusya?’”
