Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 71

71

Kashe me’od lih’yos m’fursam [It is very difficult to be famous]

It is very difficult to be famous

[In the language of the companions] Know that it is very difficult to be m’fursam [famous], for that which makes them famous harms them greatly. For sometimes, they must suffer sufferings for the many, as it is written [Yeshayahu 53]: “U’vachavuraso nirpa lanu” [And by his wounds we were healed]. Since they are m’fursam [famous], they are in the aspect of [Yeshayahu 53]: “Lachein achaleik lo barabim” [Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many]. Thus, they must suffer sufferings for the many, for it is said of them: “U’vachavuraso nirpa lanu” [And by his wounds we were healed]. However, there are several people who need to be famous and are made specifically famous. But there are tzadikim [righteous ones] who accept sufferings upon themselves for Yisrael, and through this they exchange the influx/bounty, as explained above in Torah 63 on the verse [Yeshayahu 6]: “U’vishtayim y’chaseh panav” [And with two he covers his face]. [Note from the English translator: This elucidates how being m’fursam [famous] brings sufferings for the many, yet tzadikim [righteous ones] willingly accept sufferings to exchange the abundance, healing Yisrael through their chavuraso [wounds].]