Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. TwerskiAdam - A Unique Individual

In creation, Hashem had the earth bring forth a multitude of creatures, and there were many of each species. Adam, however, was created as a single individual. The Midrash asks, "why was man created as a single individual?" and gives several reasons.

Perhaps another reason man was created as a single individual was because Hashem intended each person to be unique. "Just as their facial features are unique, so are their minds unique" (Tanchuma Pinchas 10). At least, that is how it was intended to be.

I recall people whom I knew back in the 1930's. These were people who emigrated from eastern Europe early in the twentieth century, and they were fiercely unique. Many of them were known by nicknames. Shimon was a fine talmid chacham who was known as "der krumer tzaddik" (the distorted tzaddik). Mordechai was known as "yom hashishi". There were two Chaim's: Chaim S. was "Chaim fun America" and Chaim F. was "Chaim fun Canada." Eliezer barely knew Chumash, and when he was noted to be looking in the Zohar, he was thenceforth known as "the Zohar hakadosh." Moshe W. related what he had read in the Morgen Journal series on the Queen of Sheba, which earned him the appellation, "Malka Sheba." Moshe W. must have done something to warrant being called Elifaz ben Esau. The nicknames were symptomatic of their uniqueness. (Derogatory nicknames are deplorable and are in violation of halacha, but nevertheless did indicate a person's uniqueness.)

These people's minds were not formed by the mass media or by educational institutions, hence each one's personality was as unique as his fingerprints and DNA. Each person thought for himself, yet there was surprisingly little disunity.

Today, we vote in blocs and think in blocs. We are influenced by the mass media, major corporations and by the leaders of educational institutions. Indeed, the educational system has been criticized as forcing all students into the belly of the bell curve, resulting in mediocrity as well as uniformity. We yield to whatever fad prevails. Our minds are made up by everyone except ourselves.

There are indeed rules and principles by which we must all abide, but there is ample room within these parameters to be oneself. What is my goal in life? What do I think happiness is? What are my unique abilities that I should develop? What kind of lifestyle do I want?

Rebbe Shalom Shachna, the father of the Rebbe of Rhizin, married the granddaughter of Rebbe Nachum of Chernoble. The latter's chassidim did not approve of Rebbe Shalom Shachna's ways, which did not conform to the Chernoble practices, and complained to Rebbe Nachum. When Rebbe Nachum asked his grandson why he was not conforming, the latter answered with a parable.

The egg of a duck got mixed up with the eggs of a hen. When the chicks hatched, the mother hen took them for a walk. When they passed by a stream, the duckling jumped in. The mother hen panicked, shouting, "Come out of there! You'll drown!" The duckling responded, "Have no fear, mother. I know how to swim."

Rebbe Nachum told his chassidim, "Leave him alone. He knows what he is doing." Thence came the dynasty of Rhizin, famed for its uniqueness.

Listen to the words of Rav Shlomo Wolbe. "Every individual, like Adam, is an entire world. The existence of billions of people does not detract from each person's uniqueness. Every individual is a one-time phenomenon.

Every person should know, "I, with my strengths and talents, facial features and personality traits, am unique in the world. Among all those living today and in all past generations, there was no one like me, nor will there ever be anyone like me to the end of time. Hashem has sent me into the world with a unique mission that no one else can fulfill, only I in my one-time existence" (Alei Shur vol.2 p.71),

And again, "How distant from reverence for Hashem is the person who seeks only the approval of others, and is ready to imitate whatever he sees others do." (Alei Shur vol.1 p.132).

Perhaps only tangential yet not irrelevant is a phenomenon I have observed. If one asked my older brothers where they were learning, they would say, "By Reb Shlomo," referring to Hagaon Rebbe Shlomo Heiman of Mesivta Torah Vodaas. Others would say, "By Reb Ahron," referring to Hagaon Rebbe Ahron Kotler of Lakewood.  Others would say, "By the Rav," referring to Hagaon Rebbe Yosef Dov Soloveichik. If you ask a yeshiva bachur today where he learns, he answers, "In Ponevez," or "In Brisk," or "In Tshebin" or "in YU." Students identify with a place rather than with a person.

It may be more convenient to follow the herd instinct. That spares us the need to think for ourselves. However, if happiness is the result of self-fulfillment, we may be sacrificing happiness for convenience.