One of the highlights of the month of Kislev is the holiday of Chanukah and the victory of the Maccabees. Did the Maccabees take into consideration that they were outnumbered, out-armed and out-positioned? Not at all. They knew what they had to do and did not let the facts on the ground deter them.
Shabbat Mevarchim (the last Shabbat before the beginning of a new month) of the Jewish month of Kislev, is always the date for the annual convention of Chabad emissaries (shluchim), called Kinus HaShluchim.
Thousands of Chabad chasidim converge on Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, to spend four days at workshops, farbrengens and banquets.
At one of the farbrengens, an older chasid stood up and shared an intimate moment with the Lubavitcher Rebbe during a private audience. The chasid had said something about budgeting and funding his Chabad house activities. The Rebbe looked at him and said, “Why do the shluchim keep making the same mistake? They see how much money they expect to raise and plan their activities accordingly. What they should do is see what activities must be done in the coming year to fulfill their mission and build their budget accordingly! If they need the funds G-d will send them”.
Our day to day life should be run in the same way. When we look at our strengths, we are always going to underestimate what we are capable of accomplishing. The secret is to realize that when a Jew is focused on his or her holy mission, it is not about our strengths at all. It is about G-d’s strengths. And G-d’s strengths are infinite.
Wishing you a very bright Chanukah, Shaul