18 July 2025
Question
I have learnt that every person has one mitzvah that is their life mission - one good deed that is the reason you have come into this world. But what is the point of that if we don’t know what mitzvah it is? How can I have a mission and have no clue what to do?
Answer
It’s a bit like Yankel, the guy who wanted to meet Elijah the prophet.
Yankel knew that Elijah would appear to very holy people. So he asked his rabbi what he needed to do to earn the honour. The rabbi told him to stay up all night studying Torah. If he did this without interruption for seven consecutive nights, surely Elijah will appear to him.
Yankel’s desire to meet Elijah was so strong that he immediately agreed. He went to the synagogue that night. It was empty except for a few beggars snoring on the benches. He took out a holy book and studied diligently the entire night, not sleeping a wink.
He repeated this the next night, and the next. He would pore over the holy books until dawn, not lifting his eyes away from the page. For he knew that only if he studied with absolute focus and devotion would he get to meet Elijah.
Finally the seventh night arrived. Yankel was exhausted from his week of sleepless nights, but determined to make it through so he could meet Elijah. As first light approached, his head was spinning, but with his last strength he kept his eyes on the book.
Just then, one of the beggars, a nightly occupant of the back bench in the synagogue, awoke and called out to Yankel, “Give me a drink, I’m dying of thirst!” Yankel knew this was just a test. Satan had sent this familiar beggar to distract him from his learning. Yankel refused to be fooled. He ignored the drunken cries and continued his studies until daybreak.
Then he looked up. No Elijah. No one was around. Even the thirsty beggar had disappeared. He was alone, tired, and deeply disappointed.
When the rabbi arrived for morning prayers, Yankel accosted him, “I did what you said and Elijah didn't come!”
“What do you mean?” asked the rabbi. “He did come. And you didn't have the courtesy to give him a drink?”
Sometimes not knowing is better than knowing. We don't know who Elijah the Prophet is. So we need to treat every person like they are Elijah the Prophet. And we don't know what our life's mission is, so we need to approach every mitzvah as if our life depended on it.
See the holiness in every person you meet, and see an opportunity in every good deed. A drunken beggar may be a holy soul. And giving him a drink may be your life's mission.
