The ominous “Black Mary”, usually reserved for criminals, was now carrying one of the greatest Jewish leaders of the day. The year was 1798 and the Alter Rebbe, the first leader of Chabad, had just been arrested on trumped up charges of high treason. (Today, the 19th of Kislev marks the anniversary of his release. It is celebrated worldwide to this day, read more about this special day here).
During the course of his 53 day imprisonment, the Alter Rebbe was visited by many people, even the czar’s own ministers. They had heard of the scholarship of the Alter Rebbe and wanted an opportunity to speak with him.
One particular visitor was a high ranking official who also was a biblical scholar. He presented the Alter Rebbe with a question that had long troubled him. After Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge, the Torah describes G-d looking for Adam and Eve. “Certainly,” he asked, “G-d doesn’t need to look for Adam and Eve. Why then does G-d say to them ‘Ayeka' – Where are you?”
The Alter Rebbe offered a simple answer presented by Rashi, but the minister was not satisfied. “I want to know how the Rebbe interprets this verse,” he insisted.
The Alter Rebbe proceeded to explain that the Torah is eternal and its message reverberates in our lives today. G-d’s question of Adam, “Ayeka – where are you?” is the same question that G-d asks continually of each of us: Where are you? What have you accomplished with the time you have been allotted in this world?
An important question for each of us to ponder daily.